Predators agree to terms with Vinnie Hinostroza, Jake Lucchini, Nick Blankenburg and Matt Murray in busy first day of free agency.

As if the Nashville Predators haven't been busy enough on the opening day of NHL free agency, general manager Barry Trotz announced Monday evening that the team has agreed to terms with four players: 

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Originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round (169th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Hinostroza has recorded 151 points (54 goals, 97 assists) in 374 career NHL games. He spent the majority of last season with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, leading the team's forwards with 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists), but he also recorded three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 14 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023-24. 

Lucchini recorded five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in a career-high 40 games at the NHL level with the Minnesota Wild in 2023-24. He also played in 30 games for the AHL’s Iowa Wild last season, notching 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists), including four power-play goals. Lucchini has played in 267 career AHL games with Iowa, the Belleville Senators, Laval Rocket and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, tallying 160 points (70 goals, 90 assists) across parts of seven seasons.

Blankenburg scored one goal and added 21 hits and 15 blocked shots in 12 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets last season. He has appeared in 55 career NHL games, all with Columbus, since 2021-22, recording 18 points (6 goals, 12 assists). He also racked up 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) in 24 games at the AHL level with the Cleveland Monsters in 2023-24.

Murray owned a 14-15-2 record, 3.02 goals-against average, .896 save percentage and one shutout in 31 games for the AHL’s Texas Stars in 2023-24. He also played in one NHL game for the Dallas Stars last season, recording a 23-save shutout on Jan. 8 at Minnesota. Murray is 2-2-0 with a 2.53 goals-against average in four career NHL starts with Dallas; he is 37-26-7 with a .907 save percentage and five shutouts in 71 career AHL contests with Texas.

With all four players signed to two-way contracts for 2024-25, it's likely that they will begin the season with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals. They all bring NHL experience to a Predators team looking to become a contender in the near future, providing valuable organizational depth at every position over the next two seasons.