FEATURE: Subban Comments on Season Pause From a Distance

These are strange times for everyone in the NHL - for everyone across the world. And NHL athletes are no different than us all, as we live through this global pandemic and the change in lifestyle as we are asked to self-isolate.
The NHL season was paused 16 days ago, the Devils season halted with just 13 games left in the regular season.

And then, just like that, everyone was sent home.
"It was pretty sudden and abrupt," Subban told reporters on an NHL webinar call this afternoon. "It didn't really catch everyone off-guard, but that's when it began to set in how serious it was. That day was just kind of weird, to see the world kind of stop."
And now, just like everyone else, the hockey world awaits the next move.
Subban spent the first week and a half after the season was paused at home in New Jersey before he left for California to be with his fiancé. He's continuing his isolation on the West Coast and it certainly isn't lost on him his jump from one coronavirus hotbed to another, with the New York area and California the hardest hit in the US.
"It's stressful times, during these times," Subban said. "I'm just laying low, just seeing the world in this spot is kind of tough. I'm wishing everybody the best health in this time.
It is also a sobering and humbling.
"Being there and understanding that it's one of the hotbeds, it's just crazy to see," he later added. "All of us have to come together. Obviously, I do a lot of work in hospitals… it doesn't really hit you until you think about all the people that don't have what we have. Don't have the support system that we have built for ourselves through our jobs and the resources that we have, it's just kind of crazy to be in the hotbed of things and see how people have handled it."
Watching the world change around him, Subban is reminded of how privileged he and his fellow NHLers are, particularly at a time like this. The 30-year-old has the luxury of concerning himself with working out, eating right and awaiting the resumption of the season. When he reflects on the situation around the world, managing the working out and eating routine seems menial to what most others are experiencing.
"We talk so much about the season and when we're getting back to playing but there's a lot of people out there who have lost jobs, who are trying to figure out how they'll pay for their next bill and just to provide for their family. It's just a dose of reality for us. It puts everything into perspective."
He also recognizes the power as pro athletes they all can have on the greater society. Sports is a shared pastime all across the world, no matter what the sport of preference is. Right now, that world is at a standstill, with leagues across the world either cancelling or pausing their seasons until further notice. Whenever that shift may come, to being closer to playing again, it can certainly provide a sense of hope.
"Sports has the ability to bring people together," Subban said. "Obviously there's hope of seeing a sign that maybe our season gets to resume at some point and time, whether it's the NBA or NHL, and shows a sign that things are coming back to normal and I think everybody is just anticipating that, but right now the focus is just on health."

Subban has often been recognized for the work that he has done teaming up with hospitals in all three NHL cities he's played for. He's spent a lot of time giving caregivers, hospital staff, doctors and nurses his time and help, as well as the families who require their services. His appreciation runs deep for those workers, who especially right now are putting themselves on the front line.
"You've got to give crazy props to the doctors and nurses and all the people that have been putting in crazy hours and have those masks on that are doing the work all day," he said. "I put one of those masks on to go to the grocery store the other day and I wanted to take it off so bad, I couldn't imagine having one of those on for 14, 15, 16-hour shifts, working. Shout-out to all those people who are putting in the time and continue to make us all healthy and safe. It's just tough, it's just a tough time. It's crazy."
With the uncertainty of when the NHL season will resume, all players are still maintaining a workout routine, trying to stay fit and ready for when the season may return. There is a lot of unprecedented time to fill but Subban is making the most of it, working on some of his business ventures, working out, eating right and giving his fans even more content on his social media channels. He's even in the works with the NHL to host a game show.
And should the NHL season resume there are plenty of questions as to what the remainder of the 2019-20 season would look like.
Columbus Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno was also on the call with Subban and gave some thought to the situation which could impact both teams currently in and out of the playoffs in different ways.
"You've got to think about the longevity of guys careers and their health as well and also on top of that now you have possibly, and no offense P.K., but in your situation what if you don't end up playing and then we come back in November… that's a long time for you guys to be off too."
There was a certain lightheartedness on the call, as all four players poked fun at one another, lightening the mood surrounding the seriousness of the situation.
While no one has the answer quite yet, those players whose teams are currently in a playoff spot said they wouldn't mind jumping right into the post-season, while Subban had different ideas, noting the success New Jersey had recently had and wanting to see the season through.
"The pesky Devils aren't in a playoff spot, we're making a push," he said. "But I did like that idea, it was kind of floating around, about the possibility of 31 playoff [teams] format, I like that! Giving us an opportunity to get into the playoffs and play some meaningful hockey down the stretch but for us."
But in all reality, all four players on the call were focused on the greater cause right now, which is slowing down the spread of coronavirus and looking out for one another in these unprecedented times. Subban is urging everyone to do their part.
"There's a bigger cause [than the NHL returning], and quarantining and washing your hands, making sure that you try and be as disciplined as you can, because it is going to help save lives," Subban said.
His further words of advice?
"There's a lot of people going through a lot of things and for the people who are lucky enough to have a house over their heads and clothes, food and water, just do what you can do help as many people as you can within the guidelines. There's been some great stories, just continue to do that and hopefully hockey is back soon, and the world is back to being the world that we love."