The New Jersey Devils are hoping that P.K. Subban can bounce back in 2021.
The New Jersey Devils made a huge splash when they added P.K. Subban on day two of the 2019 NHL Draft. He was supposed to come in and lead the defensive unit, but he wasn’t very good for most of the season. There were a few times he showed flashes of the old Subban, but he was underwhelming for most of the season. It would be great to see him bounce back once the Devils start next season.
There are plenty of excuses Subban can use for his underwhelming performance. He was on a new team and everyone around him wasn’t very good, but those don’t mean much. He wasn’t good and he deserves criticism for it. The entire defense needs to be better going forward and it starts with Subban. He makes a lot of money and takes up a ton of salary cap space, so getting good production is a must.
He feels like a bounce-back candidate for this 2020-21. He is a supremely skilled defenseman that relies a lot on shooting, passing and skating to be at his best. It is fair to assume that the system John Hynes was running didn’t maximize Subban’s potential but Lindy Ruff’s might. They are going to be a more offensive team and if the forwards around him start to develop, he might just have a really good year.
We don’t need to see him dominate his way to Norris Trophy nominations like he has the past few years with Montreal and Nashville, but it would be cool to see him play very well. He probably won’t skate like his Montreal days, but he can impact play in the offensive zone more if he is put in a position to succeed.
It is hard to predict who will be his partner next year. They probably won’t be as skilled offensively as he is. If anything, they should put someone who is known for being more defensively sound on his pair so he can do his thing.
The power play is also a big key to his success. He didn’t really utilize his big shot with the man advantage last season and he didn’t even last playing on the top unit. We mentioned Ruff earlier for even-strength play but the addition of Mark Recchi might help them get him going on the power play. If he can do that, his point numbers might start to resemble his good years in the past.
P.K. Subban is an awesome dude off the ice and is an easy guy to cheer for. If he can resemble his old self just a little bit more in 2020-21, New Jersey will have something good going. They are already an improved team just based on their additions and adding a better Subban would go a long way.