Adam Vingan

avingan@tennessean.com

The Predators introduced defenseman P.K. Subban on Monday, three weeks removed from acquiring him from the Canadiens in the biggest trade in recent NHL history.

Following his formal press conference, Subban spoke to The Tennessean about his transition to Nashville and other topics:

Do you believe that your particular style of play will better mesh with Predators coach Peter Laviolette’s uptempo scheme?

I think uptempo, that's hockey now. The majority of the teams now, when you look at the successful teams that play that uptempo game, that's hockey now. It's fast, it's quick, it's about skill, puck movement, puck possession. The more you have the puck, the easier the game is, so I look at our team as a puck-possession team, a team that can have the puck a lot more than the other team, and that's what you want.

You’re coming from a franchise with a century-long history to one that’s approaching two decades. What is the perception of the Predators among players in the NHL?

They're a team that's up-and-coming. The organization is a team that's grown so much over the past five, 10 years, and definitely over the past five because of their team and how much it's improved and how competitive they are and the city now and how much it's grown. I think me coming to this team, obviously being a guy that was in the news every day in Montreal and for the past six years has kind of been a household name in Canada, to be coming here, it's an extremely big opportunity for me to be on a team that's winning, but also I think it just kind of sets a spark among the league and brings more awareness to Nashville. I think in a lot of ways I'm just really, really excited about the opportunity to help bring a Stanley Cup back here.

Your former Canadiens teammate, Lars Eller, told reporters after being traded to Washington last month that he had “pulled the plug” on Montreal, so to speak. For yourself, what is the balance between remaining entrenched in that community and focusing on your new environment?

I don't see it as if I'm 'pulling the plug' on Montreal as a city or a community. I think you pull the plug on your ties with the team, obviously, and you just want to turn the page that way. As far as the community, the city goes, I'm going to be connected to that city for the rest of my life.

With your platform, you have an ability to inspire others, not only hockey players, but people from all aspects of life. How do you like to do that?

I think just by the way you conduct yourself. I think handling situations the right way, always having an optimistic outlook on life and being optimistic in every situation that you're in. I think it's very easy for people to look at things when they change in your life or paths when they change as a negative. I choose to look at everything as a positive, and for me, that's how you become successful. That's how you get ahead, so I want to be a positive example of taking an opportunity and turning it into one of the best experiences of my life. I think that winning a championship here would do that.

You’ve dabbled in ventures beyond hockey. Are there any particular opportunities that Nashville provides that you’d like to explore?

Other than winning a Stanley Cup, that's my No. 1 thing I'm going to explore in Nashville. I want to raise the Cup over my head and hand it to one of my teammates. I want to see our general manager, David Poile, raise it. I want to see ownership happy. I want to see this city literally turn upside down. That's my dream. I want that to happen.

Reach Adam Vingan on Twitter @AdamVingan.

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