Subban, Stamkos to play for charity
MONTREAL – P.K. Subban was in Boca Raton, Fla., Tuesday afternoon when he took my call, soon to be on the ice with his power-skating coach, Kam Brothers.
In 30 hours’ time, the Canadiens defenceman expected to be at Toronto’s Mattany Athletic Centre, formerly known as Maple Leaf Gardens, as captain of Team Subban vs. a team led by Tampa Bay Lightning all-star and two-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner Steven Stamkos in the RBC Play Hockey Charity Challenge.
The 5 p.m. MT game Wednesday, featuring 29 NHL players and available for view via live stream on the Internet (tinyurl.com/brdq2pr), will aid grassroots hockey as supported by the NHLPA Goals & Dreams Fund and the RBC Play Hockey program.
“I hear Stammer’s been working out,” Subban said of his childhood friend and fellow RBC ambassador, the trash talk beginning almost meekly. “Maybe he’s bigger than he usually is, but compared to me, I think he’s about a buck 90 (190 pounds) and I’m 220. I don’t think it’s much of a match when we get in the corner.
“I might stand on the right side at the top of the circle just to deny him any opportunity to score. That’s where he gets 50 per cent of his goals. I have the book on him.”
By now, Subban was laughing, having warmed up to his own act, fielding a question about not having won a game since the Canadiens’ 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs last April 7.
The only other game he’s been a part of since was Operation Hat Trick, the Nov. 24 exhibition held in Atlantic City to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy. Subban was on the losing end of a 10-6 score that night.
“Hungry for a win? To be completely honest, I’m just going to try to make sure Stamkos doesn’t get a shot,” said Subban, well aware that Stamkos scored an NHL-leading 60 last season. “As long as he doesn’t score and we limit his chances, I’ll be happy.
“I’m power skating today to make sure I’m flying out there. I’m going to be all over Stammer, like a glove.”
So was it a coin toss, I asked Subban, that gave him the privilege of being the home team against fellow Torontonian Stamkos, giving his team the final change to get the matchup?
Si lence, then more laughter.
“Very good question,” he replied, adding he wasn’t certain if the game was three periods of 20 minutes, running time. “I might have to make a phone call as soon as we’re done.
“Stammer’s working with some guys he’s familiar with, so they have some chemistry. What he doesn’t know is half the guys on my team skate with me every day in Toronto. That may be a game-changer.
“I know all of my guys well. I’ve hand-picked my team. If you look at my roster, there’s a lot of hard workers. We’ve given the other guys all the superstars. But mine are the meat and potato guys.”
Subban spoke specifically of two men on his roster, San Jose’s Logan Couture and former Hab Tom Kostopoulos, an unrestricted free agent most recently of Calgary.
Couture is his team’s secret weapon, said Subban. Well, maybe not so secret now.