More than a year since playing his last NHL game and , is still pushing himself away from the ice.

Sure, heB次元官网网址檚 still training and staying in shape, but the 2013 Norris Trophy-winning defenseman is now working on

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 ever put limits on myself. I would suggest that the game of hockey do the same,B次元官网网址� Subban said. B次元官网网址淚 think that thereB次元官网网址檚 no limits on what we can do. The game is still very young in terms of how we broadcast the game and how we do things. I still think thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of room for growth.B次元官网网址�

That growth is on display across hockey media in the United States. There is a variety of voices contributing, from former womenB次元官网网址檚 star AJ Mleczko and other women on game broadcasts to Black retired players Subban, Kevin Weekes and Anson Carter analyzing from the booth or studio.

SubbanB次元官网网址檚 latest foray is a hockey show by Peyton ManningB次元官网网址檚 Omaha Productions for ESPN that puts him at the forefront of a sport eager to embrace and showcase diversity to expand what has long been a predominantly white audience.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 incredible, and I think it really shows the commitment to diversity that ESPN and Disney and Omaha and the NHL has to really growing the game and expanding the roots,B次元官网网址� ESPN senior managing producer Lindsay Rovegno said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a natural choice. HeB次元官网网址檚 passionate, heB次元官网网址檚 high energy, heB次元官网网址檚 fun. ItB次元官网网址檚 really very clear that he wants to expand the game and wants people to see that thereB次元官网网址檚 a history but thereB次元官网网址檚 also a really fun element to the sport.B次元官网网址�

Subban is having plenty of fun after hanging up his skates, and he hopes that comes through on the show, which launched Wednesday with the first episode on ESPN+. HeB次元官网网址檚 at peace with his decision to stop playing after 13 professional seasons because the right situation didnB次元官网网址檛 materialize to keep chasing the Stanley Cup.

B次元官网网址淲hen I didnB次元官网网址檛 have an opportunity to play on a team that I thought was the right fit to do that, it was a no-brainer for me to go in a different direction,B次元官网网址� Subban said. B次元官网网址淭he way I played the game was I give 150% every shift B次元官网网址� I have that same passion that I had on the ice to bring it to media.B次元官网网址�

Subban looks up to Super Bowl champion-turned-morning show personality Michael Strahan in terms of creating a second stage of his career and gets advice from the former New York Giants defensive lineman about how to follow his path. In hockey, there are also two prominent former players who are Black: Weekes, whoB次元官网网址檚 at ESPN, and Carter, whoB次元官网网址檚 an analyst for Turner Sports.

Riffing with Manning and interviewing Ray Bourque about winning the Cup and celebrating in Boston takes Subban beyond just the analyst realm and allows him to show some of the personality that made him a star in the NHL from Montreal to Nashville to New Jersey for more than a decade.

B次元官网网址淗e brings a fresh perspective,B次元官网网址� said Rovegno, who has worked on the B次元官网网址淧lacesB次元官网网址� franchise from its inception. B次元官网网址淗e brings not only his experience on the ice and sort of shares anecdotes from his time as a player, but really connects with the legends and is able to dive into the history and share the passion that he has for the game.B次元官网网址�

Subban reached a deal with Omaha and ESPN before retiring, and this show may just be the start for him. Perhaps a hockey version of Peyton and EliB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淢anningCastB次元官网网址� with brothers Malcolm and Jordan could be in store down the line.

B次元官网网址淢aybe thatB次元官网网址檚 something that weB次元官网网址檒l consider,B次元官网网址� Subban said. B次元官网网址淭o be able to do things that maybe replicate the B次元官网网址楳anningCastB次元官网网址� or any other things that are being done on broadcasts in the sports world would be something that would be huge for hockey.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擲tephen Whyno, The Associated Press

READ MORE: