When the Nashville Predators traded for Ryan Johansen in January 2016, they did so with the confidence that he could become the top center that Stanley Cup-challenging teams build around.

Their faith justified, the Predators signed Johansen to an eight-year, $64 million contract Friday.

"I really feel in these next eight years, we're going to do really well," Predators general manager David Poile said. "And when we do really well, Ryan Johansen is going to be a big, big factor in all of our winning."

It is the longest and richest contract that the Predators have offered a player. That excludes the 14-year, $110 million contract that former captain Shea Weber received in July 2012, with the team matching an offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers.

Johansen's $8 million cap hit is tied for eighth among NHL centers next season, according to capfriendly.com. He doesn't have any trade protection in the contract.

Johansen, who was a restricted free agent, tied for the team lead last season with 61 points, including a career-high 47 assists.

He, Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson merged to form what arguably was the NHL’s most fearsome forward line. They combined for 180 points and controlled 58.9 percent of total shot attempts when on the ice together, according to datarink.com. That percentage was the league’s highest among 10 lines that played at least 600 minutes.

All three players are under contract for at least the next five seasons. Arvidsson, 24, signed a seven-year, $29.75 million contract July 22, and Forsberg, who turns 23 next month, is in the second year of a six-year, $36 million contract.

"There's no better place to be right now," Johansen said. "As we were going through the process, that's what it was all about from the start. The class that they've shown with myself and committing and trusting me and believing in me for these next eight years is just so humbling."

Johansen, who turns 25 on Monday, said in April that he considered the Stanley Cup playoffs “as a great challenge and opportunity to make a big name for myself."

He succeeded through two-plus rounds, pacing the Predators with 13 points in 14 games and morphing into the game-altering No. 1 center he is expected to be.

Johansen’s postseason, however, ended before Nashville reached the Stanley Cup Final, the result of a hit to his left thigh during Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against the Anaheim Ducks on May 18.

The injury required emergency surgery to treat acute compartment syndrome. Johansen is expected to be a full participant at training camp when it begins in September.

"That's why I was brought here, to be a No. 1 center," Johansen said. "That's exactly what you want is you want three-time Stanley Cup champion (and Blackhawks captain) Jonathan Toews looking you in the eyes. And you've got to find a way to beat him.

"And then moving on to St. Louis and then Anaheim and then unfortunately with the injury, but it could've been me and (Penguins captain) Sidney Crosby going head-to-head or (Penguins center Evgeni) Malkin. ... I just embraced the challenge and the opportunity for me. I feel like moving forward now, I gained a ton of confidence from the experiences of these playoffs and believing in my abilities that I can help our team in a big way."

Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.

► More:Predators expecting decision from Fisher soon

► More:Predators sign Watson to 3-year contract

► More:Predators sign Arvidsson to 7-year contract