Nashville secures the rights to blueliner Justin Barron, prioritizing the restricted free agent's size and NHL experience as the roster reshapes ahead of a busy market opening.
The Nashville Predators are looking to retain defenseman Justin Barron, extending him a qualifying offer on Tuesday.
Barron has become a restricted free agent upon the expiration of a two-year, $2.3 million contract that the Montreal Canadiens offered in the 2024 offseason.
He was traded the following season to Nashville for Alexandre Carrier.
The 6-foot-2, 24-year-old recorded nine assists in 52 games this past season and had 17 penalty minutes. In November, Barron missed 16 games with a lower-body injury and returned in late December.
Despite a lack of production, Barron did not play in Milwaukee last season and has not played in the AHL since the 2023-24 season.
Forward Chase Bradley, who was acquired by the Predators in a trade that sent Zachary L'Heureux and Fedor Svechkov to the Colorado Avalanche, was also extended a qualifying offer.
Jack Drury, who just signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract with Nashville, was also acquired in that trade.
Bradley did not play with the Avalanche last season, playing 42 games with the Colorado Eagles and scoring 9 goals and 3 assists for 12 points. He has played in just two NHL games since the 2024-25 season.
With the free agency market opening up on July 1, the Predators will likely see center Erik Haula and forward Tyson Jost enter as unrestricted free agents. Neither were extended qualifying offers.
