The Predators signed Novak in what should prove to be a steal of a contract for its entirety.
The Predators signed Novak in what should prove to be a steal of a contract for its entirety.
The Nashville Predators have been fortunate to have such a talented player in Tommy Novak on two great one-year deals last season and this season. Of course, the Predators didn't know what they had yet since Novak was a late bloomer and even spent a short period of time in the ECHL at 24 years old in 2020-21.
Novak was under contract for just $750,000 last season where he dominated the AHL and then shocked many in the NHL. The Predators were able to get him on a one-year prove-it deal for the 2023-24 season at $800,000 and both sides are very happy that the center proved it.
Novak has matched his games played from last season with 51, and even though his offensive output is a bit less, the Predators knew it was going to be very difficult to repeat that breakout performance. Not playing in the same role this season has caused the step back in offense, but at a price of $3.5 million AAV for three years, it is still a big steal for the Predators if he can stay relatively close to his production all over the ice.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFtPFKR00U8[/embed]
Novak doesn't just score and produce a good amount of points from a middle-six role. The 26-year-old forces turnovers and even though he isn't physical, knows how to position himself in front of the net to screen the goalie and box defenders out, helping create more offense. He is described as a player who is creative off the rush and beats the goalies with his quickness with the puck.
Novak has shown the potential to be a 25-goal, 60-point player when he's on his game. That is the pace he has played on in the NHL since being recalled last season. So at the price tag the Predators got him for through 2027, the team is going to really like the contract for the entirety of it.
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