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P.K. Subban joining ESPN as NHL analyst

As expected, longtime NHL defenseman P.K. Subban is swapping his skates for a seat in a TV studio as an NHL analyst with ESPN. (Reuters)
As expected, longtime NHL defenseman P.K. Subban is swapping his skates for a seat in a TV studio as an NHL analyst with ESPN. (Reuters)

ESPN’s NHL broadcast team just got a lot more entertaining.

After announcing his retirement from hockey in September, longtime NHL defenseman P.K. Subban will be joining ESPN as an analyst for their broadcasts. He has signed a three-year contract and will be mainly in the studio, but will be on-location for some games as well, according to the Associated Press.

The 33-year-old blueliner has always strived to bring some spark of personality and flair to the sport on the ice, but now he will keep that vigour on screen, talking about the sport he loves.

"I'm excited to bring that passion and that energy that I brought on the ice to something else that I'm passionate about. I hope that they're just as excited as I am to get started," Subban said, via ESPN. "The people that follow and know me know that I keep honest. I'm going to be myself, and hopefully that's what they want to see. I think that's what people are excited about."

While NHL broadcasts are starting to slowly break out of their traditional shell of stuffy-collared men discussing the sport during intermissions, Subban could be more than enough to get rid of that stereotype completely. During his playing days, he still made time to impersonate Don Cherry, and keep a vibrant social media presence to bring more attention to the sport.

Subban has previous experience working with ESPN on a part-time basis. He was part of the broadcast team during last year’s postseason and has already appeared on the network’s top show “First Take.”

Subban’s full-time presence on the screen for new and old hockey fans is such a win for ESPN that there is no way that this could fail. He brings an excitement to the sport and a charisma that is rarely seen among its top analysts, while also having walked the walk.

Injuries might have shortened his playing career, but Subban should be a mainstay on screen for years to come.

During his 13-year NHL career, Subban scored 115 goals and 467 points in 834 games for the Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, and New Jersey Devils, and earned the Norris Trophy in 2013 for the top defenseman in the league.

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