For the second straight year, Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban will be captaining the Central Division team at the 2018 NHL All-Star Game.
Smashville scores again. For the second consecutive season, a Nashville Predators player will be captaining the Central Division at the NHL All-Star Game. P.K. Subban became the first player in Nashville Predators history to captain an All-Star team last year and will repeat at the 2018 NHL All-Star Game at Amalie Arena in Tampa on January 28.
Subban grabbed 16.21% of the votes cast by NHL fans alike to secure his captaincy. He will be joining divisional captains Alexander Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos and Connor McDavid in what promises to be a highly entertaining affair at the end of this month.
Subban will captain the actual All-Star Game on January 28, but will also take part in the skills competition January 27. Last year, Subban competed in the Honda NHL Four Line Challenge. The NHL Hockey Operations Staff will choose the other ten Central Division representatives before the week of the game.
What This Means For Subban
This All-Star game will be P.K.’s third straight and his second as captain. Many wondered how the dynamic defenseman would fair as he went south of the border to a non-traditional hockey market like Nashville. He answered those questions quickly and efficiently.
So far this season, Subban has nine goals and twenty assists for the Nashville Predators. His tenure with Nashville has been marked with plenty of success. However, getting named to an All-Star Game, and as the captain no less, means a lot to him.
“I’m just excited to represent our team again,” Subban stated. “The Predators have given me so much opportunity since coming here, and I’m just happy to make the best of it” (Bratten, 2018).
Hockey fans across the world adore Subban’s efforts and charisma and they paid it back in this vote.
What This Means For Nashville
From hosting one of the most memorable All-Star games to date to having a representative captain two straight years, the fans of the Nashville Predators certainly stand out. The loud echoes of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals still ring in the ears of all who watched.
To the surprise of many outsiders, Nashville has indeed become a hockey town. A place that fervently cheers on its teams, Smashville continues to rise. Sending Subban to the All-Star Game wearing a “C” just further demonstrates that spirit.
Many teams fade due to the irregular All-Star break. Hot streaks become ice cold. Fans take a more passive approach. Not Smashville and not the Nashville Predators. This kind of occurrence will serve only to bolster the passion of a Stanley Cup-hungry fan-base.
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Stay tuned for the release of the full 2018 NHL All-Star Game roster and what you need to know about the weekend in Tampa.