The NHL free agency period is always an exciting time for hockey fans, as teams scramble to sign the best players available. This year, the Nashville Predators have come out ahead, signing several key players to long-term contracts.
The Predators signed forward Craig Smith to a five-year contract worth $21.25 million. Smith has been a key contributor for the Predators over the past few seasons, and his new contract will keep him in Nashville for the foreseeable future. The Predators also signed defenseman Matt Irwin to a two-year contract worth $2.8 million. Irwin has been a reliable presence on the Predators’ blue line, and his new deal will keep him in Nashville for the next two seasons.
While the Predators have been able to secure some key players with long-term contracts, many other NHL teams have been hesitant to offer long-term deals to free agents. This is likely due to the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming season, as the NHL is still working to finalize its plans for the 2020-21 season. As a result, many teams are opting for shorter-term contracts that can be easily adjusted if necessary.
In addition, many of the top free agents have yet to sign with any team. This could be due to a combination of factors, including teams’ reluctance to offer long-term contracts and the players’ desire to wait until the NHL’s plans for the upcoming season are finalized.
Overall, the Nashville Predators have come out ahead in this year’s NHL free agency period, signing several key players to long-term contracts. However, many other teams have been hesitant to offer long-term deals, and many of the top free agents remain unsigned. As the NHL continues to work on its plans for the upcoming season, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the free agency period plays out.
