Predators' P.K. Subban on Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon: 'Best player in the league'

DENVER — P.K. Subban popped Nathan MacKinnon in the head in Game 3, said he'd do it again in Game 4 if given a chance, got deked by MacKinnon on a tying goal late in Game 5, finally helped the Predators eliminate MacKinnon's Colorado Avalanche in Sunday's Game 6 – and took a long time with MacKinnon in the ensuing handshake line.

"You know what, he's in my opinion – and you know I'm biased about (Pekka Rinne) – but in my opinion he was the best player in the league this year," Subban said of MacKinnon and that conversation after the Predators' 5-0 win to advance. "And that's not to take anything away from other guys like Taylor Hall who have had great years, but I think for him and what he's done with this team, a team that's been up and down since they brought in the new coach, he's done a great job.

"He's just come into his own, and he's a phenomenal hockey player. And you know, he's so tough to handle, so fast and strong and shifty. My expectations for him as a player is to be a Hall of Famer at the end of his career, and I think he understands that. But just tremendous respect for him and I told him that I hope he takes home that trophy that he deserves as the MVP."

So there's Subban for you. Intense to the point of vicious at times on the ice, booed by opposing fans even if they don't always know why, and then respectful and warm off it.

And there's hockey for you. These teams bludgeoned each other in six games, and it was creeping close to out of hand a few times Sunday. But that handshake line was more than a formality, highlighted by the Subban-MacKinnon interaction. No other sport matches such high levels of allowable physical retribution with players who can brush it off when a series is finished.

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As for the Avalanche, Colorado coach Jared Bednar said he thought his team earned some respect in taking this series to six games and giving the Predators all they wanted for stretches of it. And they did, although the Predators were adamant from the start that they had full appreciation of Colorado's capabilities – and a bit perturbed at the media at times for what they perceived as overlooking the Avs' potential to cause trouble in this series.

"I don't care what seed they were; that's a very, very good hockey team that could beat anyone in the playoffs right now," Subban said. "They're well-coached, and he's done a tremendous job this year with that group. They have so many young players that are really going to have great careers in this league. I think for us, we knew they were a good team, and I think we gave them the respect they deserved. I don't think there was a moment where we didn't respect them. I think that's why we came out on top. I think if we would have ever taken them lightly, maybe we'd be playing another game."

Reach Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @joerexrode.