Subban says he accepted trade 'way before it even happened'

P.K. Subban is back in Montreal.

No, it's not hockey related, but it's still no shock the former Hab was asked about the trade that sent him to the Nashville Predators.

In the city Monday ahead of hosting a gala with "Just for Laughs", Subban revealed to TSN that the swirling rumors tying his name to the trade served as preparation for the actual deal itself.

"I think I accepted it probably way before it even happened," Subban said. "In my case the rumors kept escalating and escalating. Montreal's not a place where rumors stay in house, they seem to kind of fly all over the place."

While the speculation brought the potential move to his attention, being shipped from Montreal was never completely on Subban's radar.

"When you're hearing your name in trade rumors for a long period of time, as a Montreal Canadien every day I tried to go out and be the hardest worker on the ice and give it everything that I had," Subban said. "Accepting that you're going to be traded, for me, I didn't expect it because I didn't see a reason for me to leave."

Subban vowed he'll remain close to his ties within the city of Montreal, but said his focus has shifted to developing his prime playing years in Nashville, where he'll get started Sept. 22 when Predators' camp opens.