By Canadian Press

Subban returns to the city he was traded away fro to host charity comedy show

Aug 1, 2016 | 12:30 PM

MONTREAL — If P.K. Subban felt any awkwardness in returning to Montreal for a comedy show after being traded away in June, there was no trace of it.

“Not really because I don’t feel I was (just) a hockey player in the city when I played here,” a relaxed and smiling Subban said as he met with reporters Monday ahead of the charity gala he was to host that night at the Just For Laughs festival.

The Montreal Canadiens shocked the hockey world and many of their own fans when they sent Subban, perhaps their most popular player, to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber on June 29 in a blockbuster swap of star defencemen.

Subban certainly was more than a hockey player during his seven seasons as a Canadien, when he became known as much for his high-energy personality, high profile on social media and charitable endeavours that included a pledge to raise $10 million for the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

The Toronto native agreed to host the closing gala at Just For Laughs before he was traded and wasn’t going to miss the chance to yuk it up on stage with several leading comedians. The 3,000-seat theatre was sold out, with proceeds going to the children’s hospital.

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He gave no hint of what jokes he would tell, but had no plans to take shots at the team that traded him.

“If people are expecting me to come out and bash players or coaches or teammates, that’s not going to happen,” he said. “This is a fun way to celebrate giving back, and that’s what it is.”

Subban seems to be a natural born entertainer, not only in his flashy play on the ice. When he went to Nashville after the trade, he was filmed going onstage to sing a Johnny Cash tune in a karaoke bar.

“If you’d have asked me at the beginning of the year if I’d be singing on a stage in Nashville or hosting a charity comedy gala I’d have probably said no, but I wouldn’t rule it out,” he said. “But it’s all for a good cause. At the end of the day it’s about raising money for the children.”

Just For Laughs CEO Bruce Hills said he invited Subban after seeing him handle the NHL awards gala in Las Vegas in June.

“He’s more than a hockey player, he’s a tour de force,” said Hill “He was so charismatic.

“It was a bit of a rock’n’roll scene and he handled it so well. He had great presence, great comedic timing, and he works hard. I thought it was a no-brainer.”

Some suspect that Subban’s larger-than-life personality and extensive interests outside hockey may have been at least part of the reason the Canadiens decided to trade him, although neither general manager Marc Bergevin nor any Habs players said publicly that he was any kind of distraction.

“If someone comes and tells me I’m a distraction then I’ll have that discussion with them, but nobody’s done that yet,” said Subban. “I don’t believe in rumours that float around.

“Rumours are out there for reasons. Sometimes we don’t know what those reasons are. But at the end of the day I can’t comment on what no one has said to my face. If someone says that to my face, then I’ll comment.”

Opinion is split on who got the better of the deal.

Subban is nearly four years younger and is clearly the better skater and puck carrier, while Weber is bigger, more of a physical presence around the net and scores more on the power play.

General manager Marc Bergevin also likes the leadership Weber will bring.

Subban prefers to stay out of the debate.

“I could care less what people think,” he said. “I just want to play hard and help my team win.

“Comparables are what they do every year. I don’t have the time to sit down and listen to what some analyst wants to compare on TV to this player or that. It’s about what you do on the ice when it comes time to play. We’ve seen Phil Kessel go through a trade and there was a lot being said about him. I know him personally and how he’s handled it. It’s the same attitude.

“There will be something else for them to talk about a year from now. Maybe they’ll still be talking about it, I don’t know. But I won’t.”

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press