Why P.K. Subban retired at so early an age after strong NHL career for 3 teams originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

P.K. Subban is still on the TVs of many hockey fans these days.

It's just not as a standout player anymore. His post-retirement hockey journey has brought him to ESPN.

So as the playoffs roll on, Subban is there, providing his thoughts and commentary on the action.

It does have fans thinking back on his career, one that felt like it ended a bit abruptly.

MORE: Sabres provide Buffalo a magical night 5,472 days in the making

Subban played all 82 games in 2017-18, but he missed a bit of time with injuries in each of the four seasons that followed.

Those four campaigns ended up being his final four, and the bumpy health probably didn't help him want to stick around.

After at least 40 points in five consecutive seasons, he didn't get more than 31 in his last four. He had just five goals and 17 assists (22 points) in 77 games in 2021-22.

His ice time was also at an all-time low, 18:18 on average, in 2021-22 with the Devils. He'd never been below 20 minutes-plus of average ice time in his NHL career.

It seemed he was ready for his next steps beyond hockey, and so he left before things got too rough physically or in the diminishment of his role.

MORE: Tage Thompson turns '8 years of adversity' into crowning moments

Subban had just turned 33 years old when he decided to retire.

His birthday is May 13, 1989 -- so he'll turn 37 on that date in 2026.

Subban played for three NHL teams: the Montreal Canadiens (7 seasons), Nashville Predators (3 seasons) and New Jersey Devils (3 seasons).

He totaled 278 points with Montreal (63 goals, 215 assists), 130 points with Nashville (35 goals, 95 assists) and 59 points with New Jersey (17 goals, 42 assists).

MORE: 'Better Days,' Buffalo and a Sabres team uniting a city