Hal Gill: "You're an asshole, P.K."
MONTREAL - Brash Montreal Canadiens rookie defenceman P.K. Subban, who has played all of 49 NHL games, might be rubbing his older teammates the wrong way.
Tension between Subban and veteran blueliner Hal Gill appeared to surface Tuesday after the rookie scattered his equipment around the dressing room, which gave the impression he was treating the equipment staff like servants.
Noticing what was happening, Gill picked up Subban's jersey and handed it back to him, saying, "You're an a--hole, P.K."
Seeing the surprised looks on the faces of reporters around him, Gill added, "And you can write that."
Stunned by his teammate's reaction, Subban began to apologize, though it appeared to be too little, too late for Gill.
"As my dad said, your excuses aren't going to get the lawn mowed any better," Gill shot back.
Earlier this season Subban was chided for his cocky on-ice attitude by Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards. After a November game between the two teams, Richards suggested Subban still needed to earn respect from veteran players.
Having cracked the NHL in 1997, Gill can be considered an old school-player.
He says young players early in his career knew they needed to behave.
"Nowadays, they think anything goes," he said, indicating he doesn't think Subban is an exception to the rule among the younger generation of NHLers.
Now 35, Gill recalls his debut with the Boston Bruins.
"Guys like Dave Ellett and Raymond Bourque didn't make my life easy," he said. "You knew to hold the door for them and to eat your soup after they did."
Though he may not be a veteran yet, Alexandre Picard is also surprised by the attitude of some young players in the league.
"I've seen things here that would not be accepted on three-quarters of NHL teams," the Habs defenceman said. "At least it wouldn't have happened in the Philadelphia Flyers dressing room when I started in the league."
Loaded with money, testosterone and ego, the hockey world is very much a hierarchy. It is a world of unwritten rules that dictates conduct in the dressing room, on the team plane, at the hotel and with each other.
"None of that exists anymore," said Gill, adding that that money paid to young players now breaks down the hierarchy that used to exist.
In an interview earlier this season, Habs forward Scott Gomez recalled being targeted by Claude Lemieux when he started his career in New Jersey.
Arrogance and intimidation were some of his favourite weapons.
"I acted that way with him because he was already taking up a lot of space for a rookie," said Lemieux during a recent interview.
Imagine the treatment Subban would receive if Lemieux still wore the Montreal colours.
"You're an asshole, P.K."
MONTREAL - Brash Montreal Canadiens rookie defenceman P.K. Subban, who has played all of 49 NHL games, might be rubbing his older teammates the wrong way.
Tension between Subban and veteran blueliner Hal Gill appeared to surface Tuesday after the rookie scattered his equipment around the dressing room, which gave the impression he was treating the equipment staff like servants.
Noticing what was happening, Gill picked up Subban's jersey and handed it back to him, saying, "You're an a--hole, P.K."
Seeing the surprised looks on the faces of reporters around him, Gill added, "And you can write that."
Stunned by his teammate's reaction, Subban began to apologize, though it appeared to be too little, too late for Gill.
"As my dad said, your excuses aren't going to get the lawn mowed any better," Gill shot back.
Earlier this season Subban was chided for his cocky on-ice attitude by Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards. After a November game between the two teams, Richards suggested Subban still needed to earn respect from veteran players.
Having cracked the NHL in 1997, Gill can be considered an old school-player.
He says young players early in his career knew they needed to behave.
"Nowadays, they think anything goes," he said, indicating he doesn't think Subban is an exception to the rule among the younger generation of NHLers.
Now 35, Gill recalls his debut with the Boston Bruins.
"Guys like Dave Ellett and Raymond Bourque didn't make my life easy," he said. "You knew to hold the door for them and to eat your soup after they did."
Though he may not be a veteran yet, Alexandre Picard is also surprised by the attitude of some young players in the league.
"I've seen things here that would not be accepted on three-quarters of NHL teams," the Habs defenceman said. "At least it wouldn't have happened in the Philadelphia Flyers dressing room when I started in the league."
Loaded with money, testosterone and ego, the hockey world is very much a hierarchy. It is a world of unwritten rules that dictates conduct in the dressing room, on the team plane, at the hotel and with each other.
"None of that exists anymore," said Gill, adding that that money paid to young players now breaks down the hierarchy that used to exist.
In an interview earlier this season, Habs forward Scott Gomez recalled being targeted by Claude Lemieux when he started his career in New Jersey.
Arrogance and intimidation were some of his favourite weapons.
"I acted that way with him because he was already taking up a lot of space for a rookie," said Lemieux during a recent interview.
Imagine the treatment Subban would receive if Lemieux still wore the Montreal colours.
"You're an asshole, P.K."
