Subban optimistic he'll have long career with Habs

TORONTO -- P.K. Subban wants to remain in Montreal, and despite the fact the restricted free agent defenseman is still without a contract for next season, he remains optimistic he'll have a long career with the Canadiens.

"There's no question that people know that I enjoy playing (in Montreal)," Subban told NHL.com on Monday during a visit at Laylor Performance Systems, where he trains in the summer. "I grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan. I love playing there and I want to play there for the rest of my career."

Subban, who finished playing under his three-year entry-level contract last season, said because he doesn't know when a contract will get done with the Canadiens he's keeping his focus on his summer training. He would not divulge the terms he is seeking except to say "when you're comfortable in a place, everybody would like a long-term deal."

Subban, 23, was making $875,000 per season under the terms of his entry-level contract, according to CapGeek.com. He has 76 points in 160 regular-season games along with 12 points in 21 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"Ever since that first playoff run (in 2010), the message to me has been they've wanted me there for a long time," Subban said. "At the end of the day it's about your relationship with the team and if they want to do that."

Subban is eligible to sign an offer sheet with another club. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Canadiens would have seven days to match the offer sheet. If they opted not to, they would receive a draft compensation package based on the terms of the offer sheet.

"Maybe a lot of people were expecting me to have (the contract) done by now, but I know that it's a process," Subban said. "When it's going to happen I'm not sure. I mean, it could happen next week; it could happen a couple of weeks from now. I just hope it gets done sooner than later. That's why I have my agent, Don Meehan. I have a lot of confidence in him. I don't think there is any doubt in anybody's mind that I want to be a Montreal Canadien, so hopefully it gets done soon."

While Subban waits for the negotiations to play out he occupies his time by training rigorously with Clance Laylor, his personal trainer for the past four years. Subban said the negotiations have not gotten in the way of his training, which remains his No. 1 priority this summer.

"My job is to get myself ready for training camp," he said. "I could be sitting around on pins and needles waiting for it to happen, and then it happens and I'm not ready for training camp. I have to get myself ready for training camp and a good season. I've gotta be ready to play."

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