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BROSSARD, Que. -- P.K. Subban was still wearing his playoff beard as he answered questions about what may be a summer-long story about his contract negotiations. Since signing a two-year "bridge" deal that paid him US$3.75 million this season, the 25-year-old, who has become one of the NHLs best and most entertaining defencemen, is a potential restricted free agent in position to ink a multi-year contract for a kings ransom with the Montreal Canadiens. Or he could take a shorter contract and then become an unrestricted free agent. Subban said he hopes to sign a long-term deal and to stay in Montreal his entire career. "Im sure everybody in hockey wants a long-term contract, but for me, its not just about that," he said. "Its about being part of a team that can win a championship, and I believe we have that in this dressing room. "When it comes to contract stuff, thats why I hire my agent (Don Meehan). Thats why we pay him. Thats his job and Ill let him do his job. Ive done mine, and hell do his." The Canadiens, coming off their second trip to the Eastern Conference final in four years, gathered at their suburban training centre to clear out lockers and begin exit interviews before splitting up for the off-season. Their better-than-expected run to the third round of playoffs ended on Thursday with a 1-0 loss to the Rangers in New York. "Right now, the season just ended 48 hours ago," said Subban. "It feels weird cleaning out my stall. "Im just still trying to enjoy the last couple of days with my teammates before going home. Enjoy the summer with my family. So, I havent put much thought into (a new contract) as of right now, but obviously during the summer its something that will get taken care of." General manager Marc Bergevin, who will talk to the media only on Monday, has a heap of contracts to settle, but none will be watched with quite the rapt attention of Subbans. During his bridge deal, the Toronto native won the Norris Trophy as the leagues top defenceman in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season and followed with a career-best 53-point campaign in which he had 24:36 of ice time per game, second on the team to rearguard Andrei Markov. He also helped Canada win gold at the Sochi Olympics in February, although he was cast as the extra defenceman on a talent-packed team due to managements doubts about defensive lapses. Where Subban sits on the scale of NHL stars, or of top defencemen, is much debated. Among his Olympic teammates, Shea Weber is signed through 2020-21 by Nashville for an average of $7.8 million per season, Drew Doughty is with Los Angeles until 2018-19 at $7.0 million, while Chicagos Duncan Keith will make only $5.5 million until 2020-21. The one he is often compared with is Ottawas Erik Karlsson, who is earning $6.5 million per year through 2018-19. But with the salary cap expected to rise steadily in coming years, the scale may now he higher for a player of Subbans skill and star power. And theres always the possibility that another team (Toronto perhaps?) makes him a spectacular offer that the Canadiens would have the right to match. Asked if he feels he has reached elite status among NHL defenders, Subban said it is for others to decide. "I dont control what people say and what category people put me in," he sad. "All I can control is trying to help my team win hockey games and a championship. "Thats my goal. But in terms of what people say about me. There are always critics. There are always people that are going to characterize yourself, your game. Thats not for me to do." Two other restricted free agents who are likely to be much easier to sign are Lars Eller, who had an excellent playoffs and who is developing into a shut-down centre, and right-winger Dale Weise, a late-season pickup who sparkled in the post-season until suffering a suspected concussion in Game 5 of the conference final. Weise was not available to the media. And RFA Ryan White, who wasnt used in the playoffs, has an uncertain future with the club, although he would likely be of interest to a team needing a fourth liner with grit to his game. Markov, Thomas Vanek and captain Brian Gionta top the list of seven potential unrestricted free agents. The tough decisions involve Markov and Gionta, who are both 35 and slowing but who are leaders on the team. Both may have to take short-term deals for perhaps less money. Gionta, ending a five-year deal that pays $5 million per season, wants to stay. "My familys been here for a while," he said. "We love the city. "We love the team and believe in the team and the direction of the team, so well leave it up to (Bergevin) and my agent to take care of it." Vanek has said all season he intends to test the free agent market. The big, gifted winger showed he can be a game-changer when at his best, but he struggled in the playoffs and ended up going from the first to the fourth lines. "A year ago I made a decision that it will likely be my only time to pick my own team, and hopefully pick a team where I have a chance to win," said Vanek, who started the season in Buffalo and moved to the New York Islanders before being picked up at the trade deadline by Montreal. "Once you make the decision, you cant look back. "I loved it. Its a market that I wasnt used to. Overall, I have nothing but good things to say. Marc Bergevin really made me feel at home. When I had ups and downs he was always there for me. Hes a great guy. Ill always appreciate what he did for me." Vanek insists he wasnt injured in the playoffs, but said he struggled once he was taken off the top unit with David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty. "I thought we were one of the best lines," he said. "Once I got taken off, I just struggled to find myself on a new line. "I played with (Tomas Plekanec) most of the playoffs and it just didnt work. Were both, I believe, very good players, were just not on the same page. Its just a different game." The Canadiens may also want to keep another deadline pickup, defenceman Mike Weaver, although he is also over 35. But it may be the end in Montreal for potential UFAs Francis Bouillon, Douglas Murray and enforcer George Parros. "Id like to keep playing, but well see what happens," said 38-year-old Bouillon. While much of the talk was of who would and would not be back, the mood was upbeat. The Canadiens were expected to battle just to make the playoffs, but ended up with a 100-point regular season and a trip to the conference finals. They have a young core of Subban, Pacioretty, pesky winger Brendan Gallagher, skilled 20-year-old Alex Galchenyuk, goalie Carey Price and a few promising young defencemen that suggest they can become a Cup contender. "I think we have an excellent opportunity," said Price, who injured a knee in the opening game of the conference final. "We came just a little bit short, so well need to find ways to improve somehow. "We didnt win, so we have to get better. How that is well have to evaluate over the summer. Each player individually is going to have to figure out a way to get 10 per cent better. It might not even be that much, it might be one per cent better. But were going to have to improve somehow." Buy Shoes Black Friday .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills will head into the regular season short on experience at quarterback after trimming the roster on Friday. Wholesale Shoes Black Friday Free Shipping . Will Venable and Ryan Ludwick drove in a run each for the Padres, who have taken six of their last seven contests and clinched their third straight series win after winning the first two in this set. Clayton Richard (4-9) allowed five hits and a pair of runs over seven innings, while fanning five. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/ . -- The Sacramento Kings have signed first-round pick Nik Stauskas to his rookie contract. China Shoes Black Friday . The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made. By releasing Bailey, the Broncos would open up cap space with the 12-time Pro Bowl player scheduled to make around $10 million next season. Wholesale Shoes Black Friday . The Calgary Stampeders running back received the West Division nomination for the CFLs top individual award Thursday in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada and leagues eight head coaches.SAN DIEGO - Rookie Jesse Hahn gave himself a nice present on his 25th birthday and his teammates gave him far more run support than he needed. Hahn held St. Louis to one run and four hits in seven innings and Jedd Gyorko and Will Venable each homered and drove in four runs to lead the San Diego Padres to a 12-1 victory Wednesday night. Yangervis Solarte, obtained from the New York Yankees in the trade for Chase Headley, had four hits and the Padres tied their season high with 16. The Padres fell one run shy of their season high. "To get a win on your birthday is awesome," Hahn said. His seven wins in nine appearances are the most in Padres history and tied for the third-most by a big league pitcher since 1914. "We havent had it enough," manager Bud Black said of the scoring outburst. "But its great to see. It starts with starting pitching, and Jesse pitched a great game. Hes not a secret, even though hes facing teams for the first time. Theres video, theres scouting reports. Hes being talked about because hes made a number of starts and his innings are getting up there a little bit." Hahns latest impressive start put the Padres, buried in third place in the NL West, in position to sweep the series with a win Thursday. The Cardinals are in the race for the NL Central crown a season after going to the World Series. "It was probably our ugliest loss of the year. Thats the best way to describe it," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. Hahn (7-2) struck out three and walked two in winning his third straight start. The lanky righty retired the first seven batters before Tony Cruz beat out an infield single. Hahn was acquired in a seven-player trade with Tampa Bay on Jan. 22. Hahn took a shutout into the seventh before allowing a one-out RBI single by Peter Bourjos singled in Matt Adams. "I was a little mad but at that point I was going for the double play to get out of the inning," Hahn said. "It was a good pitch; unfortunately the runner scored. Venable hit a 379-foot, three-run homer to right to cap the eight-run seventh. It was his fourth. The Padres had five hits, three walks and a hit batter off three relievers in the inning. Gyorko hit a three-run double, his third hit. Gyorko, who returned Monday from a 44-game stay on the disabled list with plantar fasciitis, homered to left on a 1-0 pitch from Joe Kelly with one out in the fourth to give San Diego a 3-0 lead.dddddddddddd It was his sixth. Yonder Alonso followed with a triple and came in on Venables single. "It obviously feels good to swing the bat the way I wanted to," said Gyorko, who has struggled since the Padres gave him a $35 million, six-year contract extension on April 14, based on his strong rookie season. "It feels a lot like how I was swinging it there at the end of the year last year. Its something to build on but I still have a long way to go." Alexi Amarista had three hits and scored three runs, and Solarte also had three hits. Kelly (2-2) went five innings, allowing four runs and seven hits while striking out five and walking one. "Kelly was OK," Matheny said. "It looked like good pitches were getting hit hard. It should have worked out a little better for him." Overall, "Thats not the kind of baseball weve played all year," Matheny said. No excuses. We were terrible." TRAINERS ROOM Cardinals: Manager Mike Matheny said the sound of pinch-hitter Daniel Descalso getting hit on the knee by a pitch from Joaquin Benoit in the ninth inning Tuesday night was "as loud as a hit batsman as Ive heard. It sounded terrible. But I was happy to see him get up, walk around." Descalso was replaced by a pinch-runner. Padres: RHP Andrew Cashner threw another bullpen Wednesday and is scheduled to throw a simulated game during the weekend. He could begin a rehab assignment next week. Hes on the disabled list with soreness in his right shoulder. ON DECK Cardinals: Shelby Miller (7-8, 4.20) is 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA in one career start and two appearances against San Diego, both at Petco Park Padres: Odrisamer Despaigne (2-2, 1.66) tries to bounce back from rocky start in 5-3 loss to Atlanta, when he lasted only 3 2-3 innings. RBI MACHINE Solarte has eight RBIs since joining the Padres on July 23 and has knocked in at least one run in seven of eight games. TRADE The Cardinals acquired RHP Justin Masterson from Cleveland for minor league OF James Ramsey. Masterson is scheduled to start Saturday against Milwaukee in St. Louis. ' ' '