King Salman calls for rain-seeking prayer on Thursday    Lebanon, Israel agree to US-brokered deal to end conflict    Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire designed to be permanent, says Biden    Anger in Israel at 'irresponsible and hasty' ceasefire    Al Hilal advances to AFC Champions League knockout stage despite 1-1 draw with Al Sadd    Finance minister: All Vision 2030 projects have sustainable funding that won't affect public finances    Crown Prince announces medium-term debt strategy to diversify funding sources "A resilient economy capable of overcoming challenges reflects progress towards achieving Vision 2030 goals"    'No excuses' for Israel to not accept ceasefire deal, EU foreign policy chief says    Riyadh Season draws 8 million visitors in 6 weeks    Alkhorayef highlights role of National Initiative for Global Supply Chains in boosting Saudi economy    Saudi Arabia signs investment deals worth SR35bn with foreign firms to strengthen global supply chains    Saudi Arabia unveils updates on Expo 2030 Riyadh master plan at 175th BIE General Assembly Riyadh Expo Development Company established to oversee strategic planning, operations, and legacy development    Saudi FM attends Quadripartite meeting on Sudan in Italy    Best-selling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford dies    Cristiano Ronaldo's double powers Al Nassr to 3-1 win over Al Gharafa in AFC Champions League    Al Ahli edges Al Ain 2-1, bolsters perfect start in AFC Champions League Elite    Most decorated Australian Olympian McKeon retires    Adele doesn't know when she'll perform again after tearful Vegas goodbye    'Pregnant' for 15 months: Inside the 'miracle' pregnancy scam    Do cigarettes belong in a museum?    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Subban excited to be with Predators
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 07 - 2016

P.K. Subban certainly knows how to make an entrance, especially with a team more than happy to help manage his arrival in Music City.
The Nashville Predators took their new All-Star defenseman on a whirlwind trip around town that featured Subban jumping on stage at a renowned honky-tonk to belt out Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues." Then the Predators introduced Subban to reporters and a few fans Monday in their first chance to show off the man they picked up last month in Nashville's big trade with Montreal.
Subban said the past few weeks since last month's trade have been filled with mixed emotions.
"There's no question that I'm head over heels excited about this opportunity to play here in Nashville," Subban said. "I'm excited about our team. I'm excited about our city and I'm most importantly excited about the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup. That's what this is all about. Coming here is not a popularity contest. Coming here is about helping this team to win and win a championship. That's what I'm here to do."
The Predators and Canadiens stunned the NHL on June 29 with Montreal swapping Subban for Nashville's captain and fellow All-Star defenseman Shea Weber. Nashville has been lauded for getting the better end of the deal with Subban having just turned 27 in May while Weber turns 31 in August.
Montreal has been criticized for trading away both the 2013 Norris Trophy winner and fan favorite who pledged $10 million to a children's hospital last year.
Subban said he had an amazing relationship with the Montreal fans but promised they will learn to love Weber as both a great hockey player and person as well.
"Obviously leaving Montreal is emotional for me," Subban said. "I have a lot of relationships there, a lot of great ties and I'll be connected to that city forever. Now it's time ... Christmas Day is over, it's Boxing Day and it's time to move on."
Subban was vacationing in Europe when the trade occurred. He used this quick trip to Nashville to meet general manager David Poile and some of the team's employees. He has yet to sit down with coach Peter Laviolette and his assistants to find out what they want from him. Subban ate lunch Monday with new teammates defenseman Ryan Ellis and center Mike Fisher and now has all his new teammates' phone numbers.
Nashville's new defenseman lacks Weber's size at 6-foot and 210 pounds. But Subban has more points (202) than the 6-4, 236-pound Weber (180) over the past four seasons. The Predators wanted to add Subban's offensive skills to Laviolette's scheme where defensemen are encouraged to join the attack offensively to better compete in the Central Division where they finished fourth.
The Predators lost to San Jose in the second round of the playoffs in seven games.
"Hopefully, we're either creating more offense and scoring more goals but for sure not spending as much time in our end," Poile said.
Subban already has had fans asking for his autograph and coming up to talk to him. He was in Nashville for the All-Star Game weekend last January, which gave him a chance to get to learn about his new home a bit.
"I remember leaving saying, 'Wow!' I didn't know people were so passionate about hockey here," Subban said. "It is a hockey city. I'm really excited to be playing here right now. It's different. It's definitely different from Montreal but different in a good way. I look to embrace everything about this city and definitely embrace winning."


Clic here to read the story from its source.