P.K. Subban
Alright, this one is a hard sell, but let’s look at the facts. The Hockey Hall of Fame continues to vote in defensemen who have inconsistent numbers long-term but had these incredible impacts in their primes. P.K. Subban falls directly in that argument. When looking at the likes of Shea Weber, Kevin Lowe, and Sergei Zubov, we see players with similar impacts as Subban.
Some might be surprised to learn that today, Subban is just 35 years old. He retired incredibly early, and unlike Weber, injuries did not force him to hang up his skates. Subban walked away on his own volition and jumped into an ESPN studio. Still, when Subban was at his peak, he was untouchable.
Subban had this incredible mix of a ridiculous shot, scintillating speed, and a hard-hitting ability that included sticking up for his teammates. Most would think this made Subban very popular in hockey crowds, but it seemed many, including media members, didn’t see him as impactful as he actually was.
At the end of his career, Subban had one of the best offensive careers from a defenseman ever, at least when considering peaks. From the time Subban entered the league through his second year with the Nashville Predators, it was undeniable that he was one of the best in the league. Often, that gets a player into the Hall of Fame.