P.K. Subban Is A Natural-Born Game-Show Host On The NHL’s ‘Hat Trick Trivia’

P.K. Subban has never shied away from a camera, so it’s no surprise that the gregarious New Jersey Devils defenseman is a natural in his new role as host of the NHL’s weekly ‘Hat Trick Trivia’ game show.

“He’s really good,” said Steve Mayer, the NHL’s chief content officer, who’s overseeing the program. “There’s a comfort to him that you can’t really teach. He’s got ‘it.’

“He knows how to bring in the guests and he’s good with the questions. He gives you a little element of suspense as we wait for the answer. He’s been great.”

Subban says he hasn’t modelled himself after any particular host from the game shows of his childhood.

“I watched ‘Supermarket Sweep.’ Do you ever remember that?” he recalled. “I watched that with my sisters. It had to be my favorite show. I watched ‘The Price Is Right.’ My sisters used to watch ‘Jeopardy’ a lot but I could never get into it. All those questions and answers always went over my head.

“For me, what makes me comfortable doing this stuff — especially with hockey being my principal career — just be myself. If I go into this trying to be someone or be something I’m not, I don’t get as much enjoyment out of it.

“I still take as much criticism as I can from my team and my managers and people that try to help me become better at it, but I also want to be myself. That’s the only person I know how to be. I feel that things will be received better if you’re just true to who you are.”

The first episode of ‘Hat Trick Trivia’ drew more than 500,000 views across the NHL’s digital and social channels after its premiere on April 11. It has also run on broadcast TV in both the U.S. and Canada.

The show is part of the NHL’s slate of programming aimed at keeping fans engaged and entertained while the hockey season is on pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. The league is reporting that its Zoom press conferences with players and coaches have drawn more than 7 million views, and NHL players have drawn the highest average engagement rate of any major North American sport for players’ personal accounts across all social media platforms.

In each 30-minute episode of ‘Hat Trick Trivia,’ fans are asked a series of up to three hockey-related questions, with prizes of hats, jerseys and tickets to upcoming games on the line.

The show’s writers’ room is made up of the league staffers who would normally be assembling stats and data from the NHL playoffs at this time of year.

“Just like we become game show producers at the NHL, because we’re doing this all in-house, our team of writers is our team that during the year is doing the research on games and statistics,” chuckled Mayer. “They are loving this.”

The questions get more difficult as each round progresses. How does Subban think he’d do?

“I think those questions are going to be tough for anyone,” he said. “But that’s what a game show is — you need a little bit of luck. Timing is everything as well. Some of the hat tricks, they’re easier to complete, right? It’s just how well you know the category that your questions are being asked from. And sometimes you know it extremely well, but if you just get a brain cramp at the wrong time, that can be the game.

“It’s challenging. It’s fun. I think that everybody could have their moments of struggles, but I’d like to think that most hockey players could do pretty well.”

Fans can apply to be on the show on the NHL website. A staffer reviews the applications, looking for compelling backstories and good fits with potential guests and angles. A strong emphasis is being placed on spotlighting first responders and health-care professionals who are working on the front lines to help combat coronavirus.

“That works well with me because I’ve always tried to have a balance in my life as well,” said Subban, who famously committed to raising $10 million for the Montreal Children’s Hospital when he was a member of the Canadiens in 2015. He has continued his charitable endeavors as he has moved on to play with the Nashville Predators and the New Jersey Devils.

“The show, I think, has a comfortable flow to it for me, where we’re having contestants come on that are working on the front lines during COVID-19 and this whole pandemic.

“It’s nice to touch on that, because everybody obviously resonates to that right now. This trivia show is for the fans and people that have supported us and supported the league, and to give them an opportunity to interact with us and give them a source of entertainment during this time.”

Contestants on Episode 2 include a New Jersey police officer and a Boston pediatric oncology nurse, who is visibly thrilled when Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron joins the show to ask her questions.

“First of all, it was awesome for me to interact with him,” said Subban, who played two memorable playoff series against Bergeron and the Bruins while he was a member of the Canadiens.

“I’ve played a lot of hockey against him and we’ve had a lot of battles, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for him not just as a hockey player but as a person. So for me, I was very excited to have a guy like that on the show and you could definitely see him connect with the nurse. It was great to share on the show with everybody.”

Popular NHL referee Wes McCauley is so entertaining during his appearance in the second episode that he’s earned himself recurring-guest billing.

“Wes was really great,” said Mayer. “First of all, his personality is over the top. And he and P.K. are fantastic together. So we’re going to bring him back on a weekly basis, because we just think he’s so much fun.”

“He’s got a great personality,” added Subban. “He brings great energy to the show and even on the ice, he garners so much respect from the players and people who have worked in the game. He’s a great guy, and it was really fun.”

Even NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stops by in Episode 2.

“It was awesome,” said Subban. “He’s got a good sense of humor.

“It’s another side of the commissioner that not a lot of people get to see. I’m happy to see that and he did a very good job. He really added to the show and for me it was a really cool experience.”

‘Hat Trick Trivia’ also features appearances from celebrities outside the hockey world. Country star Chase Rice checks in during Episode 2 and actor-director Jay Baruchel will make an appearance in Episode 3.

Subban doesn’t hesitate when asked who his dream guest would be.

“Will Ferrell. I’m a huge fan of his. I know he’s a hockey fan but aside from that, I think that he’s one of the funniest comedians of all time. I would love to have him on the show. I think he’d be hilarious.”

Subban’s fiancee Lindsey Vonn could also guest on a future episode. For now, she’s providing invaluable technical expertise behind the camera.

“We’d love to get Lindsey on the show,” he said. “She’s done an amazing job. She’s been helping me set up cameras and my laptop. I was having trouble with Zoom and she’d just come in and help me figure it out. The first time we tried to test this out, it was a little difficult. She was a big help. So I’m sure she’d love to jump on the show for us at least once.”

Mayer says the lo-fi approach to the show’s production suits today’s self-isolation circumstances.

“I have a general philosophy during the year that we have to look amazing, we’ve got to be slick,” said Mayer. “I’ve really gone the whole opposite way.

“To me, right now, look at us — right now we’re on the Zoom call. Everybody’s used to this, and everybody’s fine with this. If it looks too slick, it’s going to take away from what I think is the best part of the show. It’s just fun and fans are involved, and we’re doing it during this period of time.

“So we’ve taken a little step back from the slickness of it, to try to make it a little more raw and real, and that’s across the board on all of our content. I think it’s okay to just watch people talk a little and have a conversation. That’s something that makes this show unique.

“I think after we come back and the show continues — because we really like the feedback we’re getting on this one — I think we’ll keep it the exact same way. This is what makes it unique and interesting.”

With two episodes now under his belt, Subban has some sage advice on how we can all look more engaged for our video meetings and calls.

“When you’re recording on Zoom or you’re recording on your laptop — any type of game show or speaking to an audience — always look at the green dot beside the camera,” he said. “Don’t look at the person on the screen.

“That’s the biggest thing that I’ve learned. It’s a small thing but it makes a huge difference in terms of what it looks like on TV.

“Another thing I’ve learned is that it’s been a lot of fun interacting with fans and people. It’s something I’m very comfortable doing in that format.”

Episode 2 of ‘Hat Trick Trivia’ drops at noon ET on Saturday on Sportsnet in Canada, then at 12:30 p.m. ET on the NHL’s YouTube, Facebook and IGTV. U.S. fans can also catch the show on NHL Network and NBCSN on Tuesday, April 21 at 9:30 p.m. ET and Wednesday, April 22 at 5 p.m. ET.