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Jacques Martin explains P.K. Subban’s absence in the Habs lineup

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The trials and tribulations of Montreal’s newest favorite player, P.K. Subban, are causing a bit of a confusing stir for fans in Quebec. Subban is one of Montreal’s most popular players after arriving on the scene during last year’s playoffs. He’s youthful, he plays an exciting brand of hockey, he upsets opposing players so much they feel the need to mouth off to the press about it.

This is what makes head coach Jacques Martin’s decision to make Subban a healthy scratch the last three games tough for some Habs fans. They want to rage at Martin for sitting down their budding superstar but the “problem” they’ve got is that the Habs have won each game he’s sat out. In his place, Yannick Weber is getting a chance to start and he’s playing pretty well himself. Even in spite of that, some fans want to see Subban on the ice and for them, they might need to reflect back on how things broke down with Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak last year to see how Martin handles things with Weber and Subban. Dave Stubbs of The Montreal Gazette tells the story.


Martin loves this in-house battle, just as he enjoyed goalies Jaroslav Halak and Carey Price scrapping for action last season before Halak seized the No. 1 job.

His comparison of Weber-Subban to the goalies might be a little off-kilter; Halak was all-universe from the Olympics onward and not Price nor Ken Dryden nor Patrick Roy would have taken the job from him.

But still…

“It’s healthy to have competition and that’s what we have now,” Martin said. “There’s nothing wrong with that.

“(And) it’s important to keep in perspective that it’s a privilege to play at this level and there are lots of responsibilities attached to it,” he added, addressing Subban’s growth into the NHL.

“There’s nothing wrong when you’re not in the lineup. Last year was a very important year in Carey’s development. There was a process established that really helped him grow and made him a better player.

“With our younger players, whether a Weber or Subban or Lars Eller, they’ll be better for it in the long run.”


You can’t really argue with Martin’s final point as Carey Price has gone from being a potential bust in Montreal to the newest goaltending savior. Whether or not his lost battle with Halak for playing time last year and the lessons learned in taking things seriously to stick in the league played into that is debatable.

For now though, Martin’s cerebral work is being put to the test on Subban. Subban’s got a world of talent and the ability to be like another Dan Boyle on the blue line. He’s fast, he’s got the offensive skills, he’s not afraid to play physically when needed. Having him compete with another young guy like Weber rather than a been-around-the-block veteran is what he needs to push himself to play better. Whether or not this dance continues all season long or not remains to be seen, but if nothing else, Habs fans are ready for a season-long duel. Team Yannick or Team P.K. anyone?