Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson reportedly intervened in the P.K. Subban contract negotiations.

Molson overruled general manager Marc Bergevin and made the decision to sign the defenseman to a long-term deal, Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette reports.

The Canadiens signed Subban to an eight-year, $72-million contract earlier this month, avoiding arbitration and the possibility of a one-year deal.

From the report:

A highly place source has confirmed our theory that it was indeed Molson who overruled GM Marc Bergevin, when it appeared that the club might be saddled with a single-year arbitration contract and a disgruntled star. It was Molson’s call to sign P.K. long-term and it was exactly right.

Subban's cap hit will be the highest in the league for a defenseman in 2014-15, according to CapGeek.

The 25-year-old registered a career-high 53 regular-season points this season, adding 14 points in 17 playoff games.