Subban focuses on fitness, strives for injury-free year

Backup goaltender Malcolm Subban was a valuable piece of last season’s Golden Knights and believes he can take on an even more integral role this year.

He knows that won’t happen if he’s hurt.

The promise he showed in his rookie season — 13 wins in 19 starts — was tempered by several stretches of being inactive because of injury. It was certainly a focus this offseason as the 24-year-old Canadian SUBBAN

enters the final year of his contract.

“I wanted to (come into camp) in as good of shape as possible to help minimize the chance of injuries throughout the year,” the former first-round pick of the Bruins said after practice Wednesday. “I don’t think you can 100 percent prevent them, but you can minimize the chances.”

Subban’s absence during the postseason with an injured ankle, though he wasn’t likely to play in any of the games, was particularly difficult.

“It’s tough,” he said. “You want to be out there with the guys, especially down the stretch and in the playoffs, but it’s behind me now. I’m just trying to focus on this year and helping us get back there and win it this time.”

If he stays healthy, Subban will play a prominent role in allowing veteran star Marc-andre Fleury some nights off during the regular season as the Knights look again to play deep into the postseason.

Subban knows there is much he can absorb in this role that might help him as a future starter.

“There’s a lot you can learn from him in just the way he does all the little things,” he said of Fleury. “You try to look at all the little details he does and all the good things in