While most of the world’s top players are off preparing for the World Cup of Hockey and youngsters are gearing up for various team prospect camps, other NHL vets are preparing for the opening of training camps in less than two weeks.
P.K. Subban is one of those players who many thought would (and perhaps should) be at the World Cup for Canada, but since he was left off the roster, Subban has ample time to prepare for the coming season. It’s a big one for him after a massive off-season trade that shipped Subban off to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber. It’s a huge year for the team as well — the Predators franchise has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs, but sure look to have a roster capable of taking a run at the Stanley Cup.
Welcome to a new era.
Subban was in Nashville Tuesday and stepped on to the ice in Predators yellow for the first time. The team said nearly every NHL regular was there for a practice and a scrimmage run by James Neal.
“Just to get on the ice is a good feeling,” Subban said. “I don’t really skate too much in the summer, so just to get in a little early and get some good skates in is good.”
“It’s a long time off the ice in a game situation for me, but I’m looking forward to getting into training camp, back into an intense atmosphere and back into some games,” Subban said. “I just want to play hockey and win hockey games, that’s it.”
Nashville’s training camp opens Sept. 22.
