Subban on 8-year deal: 'If I could do a 20-year contract with Montreal, I would'

The Montreal Canadiens headed to arbitration with their best and brightest defenseman Saturday, and it didn't last long at all. P.K. Subban and the organization agreed to an eight-year contract worth a reported $72 million.

In a conference call announcing the signing, the defenseman told the media: "If I could do a 20-year contract with Montreal, I would."

Subban also expressed his elation with the extension, signed Saturday afternoon.

"My family and I are extremely happy to know that my future will be with the Montreal Canadiens," he said. "I'm just happy to know that I'm going to be playing under Marc Bergevin and Geoff Molson for the next eight years."

Subban admitted the arbitration process was "educational," though there was little tension between the two sides. 

"It was always respectful between the Canadiens and I," he said. "I learned a lot."

Initially, general manager Bergevin took some heat for the way the situation was handled. Fans called for the team to pay Subban what he wanted, but Subban maintains Bergevin did everything he could to expedite the process.

"Marc Bergevin did great work on this. Some of those comments made about him on social media weren't justified," he said.

Subban isn't worried about any backlash as his new contract makes him the highest paid defenseman next season. 

"There's a formula for winning and the numbers don't have anything to do with that."