Uh... how does that work? If Subban is banking on developing into a top 10 defenseman in the league (as people are suggesting he should be paid), then why would he sign a cheaper long term deal?
The way I see it there were a few possible outcomes here:
Sign him short term huge dollars (PK wins, Management loses)
Sign him longterm, until well after he becomes UFA-elligable at what you consider a "cheaper rate" (Management wins, PK loses)
Sign him short term to a deal that's fair and not that high, with the contract ending right where he should statistically be in his offensive prime and thus can demand a heftier contract than he ever could as we speak (PK and management win some, both knowing that in two years, he'll either force the team's hand in being offered a massive contract or he'll simply bust and not be worth the money).
Hometown discounts are a thing of the past. Kid is a firecracker in his early '20s. I know a lot of older guys would wanna play for the honour of the hometown, but plenty of people (even me, for example) would definitely go where the money and the cups were.