Subban unhappy with Canadiens' contract offers
Negotiations between the Canadiens and defenseman P.K. Subban have hit a roadblock.
Subban, the last remaining unsigned restricted free agent, has made it clear that he won't entertain an offer sheet from another team, but he and his agent, Don Meehan, haven't been happy with the Canadiens' offers to date.
The Canadiens have reportedly offered Subban a two-year deal worth a total of $5.5 million. The deal is exactly the same as the one Subban's good friend, goaltender Carey Price, signed before the 2010-11 season. Last month, Price cashed in with a six-year deal worth $39 million.
The Canadiens followed a similar route with Max Pacioretty after his entry-level deal expired. He signed a two-year deal worth $1.625 million a season and is in line for a lucrative deal next summer if he continues to put up good numbers.
The Canadiens' offer represents a considerable increase over the $875,000 Subban has been earning on an entry-level deal, but it's believed that the Subban camp is looking for a longer contract and more money.
Subban was the top-scoring defenseman for the Canadiens last season even though the club asked him to curb his offensive instincts and concentrate more on defense. He was also the team leader in ice time and formed the No. 1 defense pairing with Josh Gorges.
But the Canadiens' offer would leave Subban as the fourth highest-paid defenseman on the team. Andrei Markov, who has been injured for most of the last two seasons, tops the list at $5.75 million. Tomas Kaberle, who is unlikely to be in the top four, will make $4.25 million, and Gorges will make $3.9 million on a six-year deal he signed earlier this year.
