P.K. Subban sounds off against Cedric Pare following Saturday night's Patrik Laine incident
Cedric Pare took down NHL star Patrik Laine during a pre-season game, sparking criticism from former NHL player PK Subban.
The 2024/25 NHL pre-season has seen its share of unnecessary injuries, but the most significant occurred on Saturday in a game between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. In the matchup, AHL regular Cedric Pare appeared to deliberately target Patrik Laine's knee, and the latest updates suggest Laine might be sidelined for a long time.
The entire intention here was to hurt Patrik Laine.
This is not a hockey play.
Now, former Montreal Canadiens defenseman and ESPN analyst PK Subban has weighed in, strongly criticizing Pare's actions. He spoke about the disrespect shown when a player fighting for a roster spot takes out an established star in this manner.
Subban, echoing the sentiment of many fans, said:
While it's important for players like Pare to compete hard, there are better ways to stand out than targeting a 26-year-old star with a knee hit that increasingly looks intentional. As Subban stressed, it's about respect. If Pare isn't going to respect a star like Laine during pre-season, it raises questions about whether he belongs in the NHL after what happened Saturday.
