Canadiens re-sign Eller: 'This is the place I want to be'

Lars Eller is excited about his future with the Montreal Canadiens after agreeing to a four-year, $14-million contract.

Eller told media during a conference call on Thursday Montreal is where he wants to be:

I’m very happy to be a Canadien for the next four years. This is the place I want to be. Four years was a term that both sides were working on for quite some time. Many times, your salary and your expectations go hand-in-hand. I’ve seen that here in Montreal. But, I put a lot of pressure on myself, too. I think it also speaks to how much the organization believes in me. It’s nice to see that they’ve shown that faith in me. Now, it’s up to me to go out and play the best hockey that I can.

Eller described his 2013-14 season - during which he recorded 26 points in 77 games - as "mixed." He was second on the team with 13 points in 17 playoff games and knows his postseason performance helped him in contract negotiations.

"There’s no doubt about that," said Eller. "But, this goes longer than just one playoff run. It’s a long-term relationship. I’ve been here for four years now. ... It's about more than just one playoff run or one regular season."

Eller's new $3.5-million cap hit is on par with David Desharnais, who finished last season with 52 points.