As of August 23, defenseman P.K. Subban remains an Unrestricted Free Agent.
The 33 year old is coming off three underwhelming seasons with the New Jersey Devils, where he went from undisputed No. 1 to third-pair defender.
However, the 2013 Norris Trophy winner still has game. He can still be productive in the right role and on the right team.
In Hockey Tactics 2020, I detail Subban’s struggles and attribute them to his poor movement patterns.
When defending the rush, NJD76 overuses backward crossovers and has trouble gapping up to deny entries.
When carrying the puck, Subban’s weight is on his heels and his upper-body is overly stiff. He has difficulties changing speed and tends to lose the puck when pressured.
Subban has gotten lighter on his feet in the past two years, but his rush defense and puck-carrying are unlikely to become strengths at this point in his career.
However, he does have three significant strengths he can leverage at 5v5.
1. Scanning Frequency
A hallmark of effective play-drivers is their ability to scan the ice and gather useful information. Despite (or because of) his clunky footwork, Subban has become proficient at using shoulder checks to identify passing options and forecheck pressure.
In the clips above, Subban’s frequent scanning becomes a critical compensation mechanism for his inability to beat F1 with a carry.
2. Net-Front Physicality
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