Subban says 'I'd love to be' Canadiens captain

NEW YORK -- Defenseman P.K. Subban said he's ready to be captain of the Montreal Canadiens if the role is offered to him.

"It would be a great honor. I'd love to be the captain of the Montreal Canadiens," Subban said Tuesday during the NHL Player Media Tour. "I embrace responsibility. ... I've always been a guy who has had to perform for my team. I have always expected that out of myself. It doesn't change anything for me. The only thing that would change is a letter on my jersey, but in Montreal that means something. That means something to the fanbase. That means something to the team."

Montreal has a vacancy at captain after forward Brian Gionta signed with the Buffalo Sabres this offseason as a free agent. Other candidates include forward Max Pacioretty, forward Tomas Plekanec and defenseman Andrei Markov.

"I think anyone who wants to be a leader on their team would want to be a captain of a team, especially with a franchise with such history like that," Pacioretty said, according to the Canadian Press.

Pacioretty, in fact, also endorsed Markov, a 13-season veteran who was an alternate captain last season.

"He's a guy that leads by example, and he's been around Montreal for a while," Pacioretty said. "Behind closed doors he's one of the hardest workers I've seen and I think that goes a long way, especially with some of the young guys, as well."

Subban, 25, signed an eight-year contract this offseason. He had 14 points in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games last season, when the Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference Final, where they lost to the New York Rangers in six games.

"This is how I see myself, as a player that at the end of the day, whether I have a letter or not, I know that when we're in overtime or it's a deciding moment in the game my teammates are looking at me to step up," Subban said. "To me that's all I need to know."