PK Subban signs $72 million contract with Montreal Canadiens
By William Lewis
After sitting through a four-hour salary arbitration hearing in Toronto the day before, the only thing Montreal Canadiens defensemen PK Subban was assured of on Aug. 2 was a one-year contract. He was either going to get what he asked for, what the Canadiens offered him, or what the arbitrator decided was a fair salary. In the end, all of the bad blood between the player and organization was put behind them as he signed an eight-year deal worth a total of $72 million. This gives Subban an average yearly paycheck of $9 million and he’s under contract to the NHL club until the end of the 2021/22 season.
Subban and the Canadiens appeared to be worlds apart on negotiations and the arbitration meeting confirmed that. In addition, the Canadiens tried to explain to the arbitrator why the defenseman wasn’t worth what he was asking for, which often jeopardizes the relationship between a franchise and the player. But Subban was obviously happy with the deal which now sees him as ranked as the 12th highest-paid player and third-highest-paid defenseman in the league for the 2014/15 campaign.
Subban told the press that he made it clear during the arbitration meeting that he wanted to stay with Montreal and sign a long-term contract. He remarked, “It’s a strong commitment. It’s not about the numbers or the term. When you talk about the Canadiens committing to me on a long-term basis, it sends a strong message to me that they want me here and they appreciate everything I’ve done to this point. They believe in me as a player.”
Subban won the James Norris Trophy in the shortened 2012/13 NHL season as the top defenseman in the NHL. He scored 10 goals and 43 assists for 53 points last campaign in 82 games, which tied him for fifth in scoring for NHL defensemen. He then led the Canadiens in postseason scoring with 14 points in 17 playoff contests as he helped lead his team to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since the 2009/10 season.
Marc Bergevin, the general manager of the Canadiens, said the organization is happy to tie up Subban to a long-term deal since he’s a big part of the club’s future plans. He added that Subban plays the game with a lot of intensity and energy has a lot of intelligence, leadership, and experience for a 25-year old. Subban was originally drafted by the Canadiens in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in the second round with the 43rd-overall pick.
He’s played 284 regular-season games with Montreal and has 167 points for the team on 42 goals and 125 assists. He also has 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points in 43 career postseason contests and played on Canada’s gold-medal winning team at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Subban said the huge contract won’t change him as a person or a hockey player and his teammates and the fans should expect to see the same guy on the ice once the NHL season faces off in October.
Check back with eBetting101.com for more great NHL Betting news as the upcoming season unfolds.
No comments