New Jersery Devils Defenseman Shed Positivity Off Of the Ice

The New Jersey Devils have struggled to get things going to start the 2019-20 season that has caused a frenzy among die-hard Devils fans. The frustration from fans is justifiable after an exciting off-season that all but anointed them playoff contenders. Instead of dwelling on the negative, let’s shed some light on some of the positives from a players perspective. Two players that should be acknowledged for their off ice contributions are P.K. Subban and Connor Carrick. Here are two people who are using their platform to spread awareness for causes that they strongly believe in.

P.K. Subban is as big of a superstar personality as he is an NHL defenseman. His impressive pedigree includes being a three-time NHL All-Star, a Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s best defenseman and an Olympic gold medal winner for Team Canada. Many would say his greatest achievement to date is being engaged to Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn. While those are all incredible, his charitable work may be his most inspiring work to date.

Subban has made his off ice impact felt as both a member of the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators, and has vowed to do the same in New Jersey. Early in his career with the Canadiens, he created The P.K. Subban Foundation, and has worked exclusively with the Montreal Children’s Hospital to help raise money for childhood disease and family medical bills. Long gone from Montreal, he continues to make his impact felt by attending events associated with the Montreal Children’s Hospital with the hopes of reaching his goal of 10 million dollars.

During his tenure in Nashville, he created the Blue Line Buddies program designed to build cohesiveness in the community between underprivileged youth and law enforcement of the Metro Nashville Police Department. The goal was to unite the two for a pre-game meet and greet with Subban, tickets to the game and dinner. Since his trade to the Devils, Subban still has his presence felt as the Predators have continued the Blueline Buddies Program.

Connor Carrick is a defenseman looking to make an impact on the ice for the Devils after signing a two-year contract over the summer. One thing you will not have to worry about is his impact off of the ice. NJ.com journalist Chris Ryan highlights some of the ways that Carrick has made his impact on social media that could be seen here.

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Carrick is utilizing his likeness to become a mental health advocate. While Carrick has openly said that he does not suffer from a mental illness himself, he has dealt with adversity early in his NHL career struggling to stay with an organization for an extended period of time or playing sparingly given his role on most teams. If you follow his social media accounts, he is very candid about the anxieties in his life. Carrick sets daily goals for himself, and just as importantly has maintained a positive mindset to overcome those anxieties. He interacts with people who struggle with mental illness, and no question his own adversity helps those who are in need of a voice. It’s great to see Carrick shed some light on a subject many consider taboo in the sports world.

Both P.K. Subban and Connor Carrick may not be lighting up the stat sheets or wowing fans with their play right now, but they should win you over just by being good humans. They understand the platform that they have to make a positive impact on people, and by all accounts they have been succeeding. In a society where social media drains negativity, these two are a shining light of optimism that the world needs. Devils fans have not had much to cheer for this season, but Subban and Carrick should make people proud for what they do off the ice.

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