Subban was claimed off waivers by the Golden Knights in October and went on to post a 13-4-2 record with a .910 save percentage in a backup role behind starter Marc-Andre Fleury. Subban also dealt with an upper-body injury and was part of the team's wild goalie carousel that never seemed to end. It's clear Vegas has plenty of faith in Fleury as its starter, but 2018-19 will be important for Subban in establishing himself as a capable backup. The Golden Knights will likely regress in 2018-19, but as long as Subban stays healthy, he should see a decent amount of starts and build upon the 13 victories he posted in 2017-18.
A 2012 first-rounder, Subban is coming off a disappointing 2016-17 campaign in which he logged an 11-14-1 record with a 2.41 GAA and .917 save percentage in 32 regular-season outings with AHL Providence. At this stage of his career, Subban remains a work in progress as he continues to jostle for slotting on the Bruins’ organizational goaltending depth chart with fellow prospect Zane McIntyre. At the NHL level, Tuukka Rask is signed for the next four seasons, while veteran backup Anton Khudobin is under contract for one more campaign. It’s possible that Subban could supplant Khudobin with a stellar training-camp effort, but based on what transpired last season, McIntyre has probably jumped ahead of Subban in the pecking order.
Subban recorded a 14-8-5 record with a .911 save percentage and 2.46 GAA for AHL Providence last season prior to suffering a fractured larynx back on Feb. 8. He has since recovered from the scary injury and is in line to participate fully in training camp. In fact, he went so far as to say that at this stage he feels "like a tank." After the Bruins let Jonas Gustavsson walk in free agency, it looked like Subban might have a chance to secure the top backup role behind starter Tuukka Rask, but with the team having added veteran Anton Khudobin to the goaltending mix, it looks like the 22-year-old Subban will probably start the season at the AHL level, a scenario that would result in valuable ice time for the 2012 first-rounder.
With Tuukka Rask still in his prime, the Bruins have no reason to rush the 21-year-old Subban into a high-pressure NHL assignment. However, with last year’s top backup in Niklas Svedberg having left the organization, the No. 2 goalie spot behind Rask is wide open. Unless the team signs another veteran option, Subban’s competition on that front is slated to be Jeremy Smith, who is coming off a strong AHL campaign, and Zane McIntyre, who turned pro after a stellar 2014-15 season with the University of North Dakota, in which he captured the Mike Richter Award. With that in mind, unless Subban dazzles this preseason, he might be best served by another season of regular action at the AHL level, where he compiled a 2.44 GAA and .921 save percentage in 35 contests with Providence in 2014-15. For a little perspective, Smith posted a 2.05 GAA and a .933 save percentage in 39 games last year with Providence, while working in tandem with Subban. At the age of 26, Smith has an obvious edge in terms of experience, but Subban -- a 2012 first-rounder -- remains a top prospect with plenty of upside, and one who maintains high value in keeper formats. Rask is locked in for a while on a long-term deal, so there’s always the chance that the Bruins could move Subban in a trade down the road, but for the time being, the youngster is knocking on the door of the NHL and poised to mount a challenge to stick with the big club to start the coming season.
With Chad Johnson having signed with the Islanders, Niklas Svedberg has the edge in claiming the job as Tuukka Rask's top backup in 2014-15. In such a scenario, Subban has a chance to see plenty of action this coming season as Providence's top netminder. In his first campaign as a pro, Subban put together a 15-10-5 record, 2.31 GAA and .920 save percentage in 33 games for Providence while working in tandem with Svedberg, who appeared in 45 AHL contests. With Rask in his prime, the Bruins have no reason to rush the 20-year-old Subban to the NHL, but the 2012 first-rounder remains a top prospect and maintains value in keeper formats.
The 19-year-old Subban is a long shot to stick with the big club, with an assignment with AHL Providence – where he'd likely be split time with either Niklas Svedberg or Chad Johnson – likely on tap for him. In what was likely his final junior season, Subban compiled a 29-11-4 record along with a 2.14 GAA and superb .934 save percentage (both OHL bests) for the Belleville Bulls, to go along with five shutouts. With Tuukka Rask around for the long haul though, Subban won't be rushed along, but the Bruins do believe that the 2012 first-rounder is ready to move on to the pro level, where he is likely to need at least a couple of seasons of minor league experience before graduating to the NHL.
Subban, who was drafted by the Bruins with the 24th pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, is a few years away, but the B’s are delighted to have him on board as a potential high-upside franchise goalie. Subban needs work on his technique like most young goalies, but he is athletic and quietly confident, using his quickness and excellent flexibility to make acrobatic saves, while also bringing size, skill and good hockey sense to the table. He plays like a hybrid of Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price, but probably doesn’t have their elite skills in any of the same categories. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be a solid NHL – and fantasy – goalie. His career trajectory will be slow – his game needs work. But when he arrives, he should become an instant fan favorite.
