Subban: 'I'm still one of the top defensemen in the league'

New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban still believes he's one of the league's top defenders despite his poor performance during the 2019-20 season.

"In my opinion, I'm still one of the top defensemen in the league," Subban said when asked how important winning a second Norris Trophy is to him in an interview with Men's Journal. "In the biggest games, in the biggest moments, I feel that I'm one of the players that teams would love to have on their team and that they can rely on, and that's always been my game."

Subban was in the midst of one of the worst seasons of his career before the NHL's current hiatus. He posted seven goals and 18 points in 68 games while averaging a career-low 22:07 of ice time in his debut campaign with the Devils.

The 31-year-old previously spent three seasons with the Nashville Predators and seven with the Montreal Canadiens. He played integral roles on both teams, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals with Nashville in 2017 and winning the Norris Trophy as a Canadien in 2013.

"The past two years, definitely, have been different experiences," Subban added. "When you're on a team like Nashville that's got one Presidents' Cup Trophy, Stanley Cup Finals, conference finals, winning divisions, and then going to (New Jersey, which) hasn't made the playoffs or has made it one year and out - and is a younger team - it's just a different situation.

"So, it's an adjustment, but I definitely believe that there's better things to come for me in my career, whether it's winning a Norris Trophy or Stanley Cup."

Subban has two seasons remaining on his eight-year, $72-million contract.

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