How will the trade affect P.K. Subban's $10M pledge to the Children's Hospital? - Action News
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Montreal

How will the trade affect P.K. Subban's $10M pledge to the Children's Hospital?

The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation says P.K. Subban will "continue to honour his commitment" to the health-care facility, despite now being based 1,800 kilometres away in Nashville.

Star defenceman shipped to Nashville leaves behind a legacy extending far beyond the ice

P.K. Subban, whose $10-million pledge to the Montreal Children's Hospital had some arguing he should've been the Habs' next captain, has been traded to the Nashville Predators. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation says P.K. Subban will "continue to honour his commitment" to the health-care facility,where he spent hours with sick kids and pledged to raise $10 million.

Subbanendeared himself to the city with his historic pledgelast fall,described by the health-care facility at the timeas "the biggest philanthropic commitment by a sports figure in Canadian history."

It could be a little more difficult to honour, however,now that he will be based in Nashville, nearly 1,800 kilometres away.

In a statement released this morning, the foundation said its members were "saddened to learn yesterday that our favourite hockey player" had been traded to Nashville.

Obviously, I look forward to continuing to work in Montreal with the hospital and helping that community.- P.K. Subban

"However, we are grateful that P.K. will continue to honour his commitment to our patients and their families," the statement said.

"We look forward to continuing to work together with P.K. to support our hospital's most vulnerable families and are very proud to be part of the legacy he has built here in Montreal."

P.K. Subban announced last September that his foundation would raise $10 million for the hospital. (Graham Hughes/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

In a video posted to Twitter after the trade, Subban said he would still be involved with the hospital despite the trade.

"Obviously, I look forward to continuing to work in Montreal with the hospital and helping that community,"Subbansaid.

"Thank you guys so much.I love you guys, merci beaucoup."

Neither Subban nor the statement from the hospital specifically mentioned the financial commitment to the hospital.

Subbanhas organized numerousevents to raise money for the hospital over the past, including jersey signings,a pajama party on Christmas Eveand a Just for Laughs gala scheduled for next month.

According to his website, Subbanhas so farsucceeded in raising10 per cent of the $10-million target over seven years.

P.K. Subban meets a young patient after making his pledge to the hospital last fall. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)

In an interview,Marie-JoseGaripy, president of the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation, said she hasn't yetspoken withSubban, who is on vacation in Europe,but that she already spokenwith his sister, who is heading Subban's foundation.

"As you heard yesterday, P.K. is fully committed to honour his pledge to the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation, so we are very, very grateful," she told CBC Montreal's Daybreak.

P.K. Subban launched a #CanadaCarols jingle bells campaign during the 2015 Christmas holidays. (Via @PkSubban1)

At the hospital on Thursday, staff and patients were still coming to terms with the trade.

TeenagerAdrienColassaidhe's been talking about the trade with his friends ever since the news broke.

"His name is literally around everywhere," he said of the new facility, which opened last year.

"Like, we just saw his name and we were like, 'oh, P.K.'!"

Dr. Mel Schloss alsosaid he's reeling from the news.

"I thought he had settled here in Montreal and he was going to be here for a long, long time," he said.

with files from Kate McGillivray