Nearly two years have passed since Matt Duchene's unceremonious exit from Nashville, when newly hired general manager Barry Trotz made the rather shocking choice to buy out the remaining three seasons of his eight-year, $56 million contract with the Predators.

Duchene was shrewdly snatched up by the Dallas Stars on a one-year, $3 million contract ahead of the 2023-24 season, and they brought him back on an identical deal in 2024-25. The 34-year-old had 82 points (30 goals, 52 assists) in 82 regular-season games and six points (1 goal, 5 assists) in 18 Stanley Cup Playoff games this season – all while remaining on the Predators' payroll.

The Stars' season came to an end when they were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference final, and Duchene finds himself entering free agency once again. He hopes to return to Dallas, he said, this time on a multi-year deal. 

Per the terms of his buyout, Duchene is still owed roughly $11 million and will continue to be paid by the Predators through the 2028-29 season. His cap hit in Nashville peaks this season at $6.5 million, after which it will drop to $1.5 million in each of the next three seasons. 

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