Time for Bruins' Malcolm Subban to prove his worth

Malcolm Subban has become an enigma.

The one-time goalie prospect enters his fifth pro season and there’s still no real evidence the former first-round pick is ready for the NHL. The 23-year-old netminder will start the Bruins’ first preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens tonight at Videotron Centre in Quebec. He will split the game with fellow goalie Zane McIntyre.

To say Subban has dealt with the normal ebbs and flows in pro hockey would be a major understatement. Being stuck behind Tuukka Rask would be a lazy excuse to describe Subban’s career path.

He’s had two opportunities to showcase his ability but failed in both NHL games he played (0-2 with a 5.81 goals-against average and a .727 save percentage) and has yet to play a full 60 minutes: he was pulled both times.

It didn’t help that he suffered a fractured larynx during warmups of an AHL game on Feb. 6, 2016 in Portland, Maine and missed the remainder of the season.

“Clearly, the injury in Portland in warmup really set him back,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, who was coaching in Providence that season. “He was really starting to find his game and was pushing to be the No. 1 goaltender and he lost that year.

During Subban’s hiatus, McIntyre played well for the P-Bruins and earned the No. 1 spot.

“Now, it’s back to Square 1 again and (Subban’s) fighting for the No. 1 job in Providence,” Cassidy said. “He’s been around. He’s not a kid anymore, in terms of being around pro hockey, so he’s got to understand the competition level. Someone’s always coming along to take your job.”

Daniel Vladar is the next wave. The Bruins drafted him with their seventh pick (No. 75 overall in 2015). He hasn’t been able to participate in camp due to an offseason training injury and he recently had pins removed from both wrists.

Meanwhile, Cassidy has been impressed with Subban’s play but it’s only practice.

“This exhibition season, and where his game’s at now, will be a big indicator,” Cassidy said. “He looks good and ready to go in practices, but until you get in games, we’re all curious to see where he’s at.”

Cassidy’s practices are high-tempo. Goalies see a lot of puck at a rapid pace. Normally at the end of a drill, there are a lot of pucks in the net, but that’s only because relentless speed and attack the goalies are facing.

“I like it,” Subban said. “He was my coach in Providence for three years and it was the same types of practices and it’s good. For a goaltender, it either gets you up to speed, or keeps you at the same speed, or slows the game down when you get into the games. It can only help you and I feel like it’s helped me a lot.”

To start training camp, Anton Khudobin is the front-runner for the backup position behind Rask. It’ll be interesting to see if Subban or McIntyre push for that role during the preseason games.

“I try not to put too much pressure on myself,” Subban said. “I know I’ve got to go out, whether it’s a small opportunity or big opportunity, you’ve got to play the same way and play to the best of your ability and that’s what I try to do.”

Subban’s work ethic has been challenged in the past, and even though he’s an athletic goalie, he’s needed to make adjustments during his brief pro career.

The game is getting faster, younger and older players have tweaked their offseason routines in order to make the proper adjustments. There’s more to goaltending these days than simply seeing the puck and stopping it.

“If you look at the third and fourth lines now, they’re not big grinders all the time," Subban said. "A lot of guys can skate, make plays and score, but I came up playing against those same guys and there are a lot of guys in the NHL that I played against in junior. The NHL is a little faster, so you need to slow your game down and be more technical.”

Just because he played for Cassidy in Providence, Subban doesn’t expect any special treatment. He hasn’t earned any of that yet and there are still too many questions surrounding his ability to progress to the next level.

“He’s a great coach. I love playing for him and he gets the best out of you,” Subban said.

We haven’t seen it yet. Maybe that starts tonight in Quebec.