Where Did the Predators' Unsigned UFAs End Up in Free Agency
The Predators parted ways with a number of players and upgrades their team in a big way and some found interesting new homes.
Where Did the Predators' Unsigned UFAs End Up in Free AgencyThere were 10 players from the Nashville Predators' organization that hit free agency this year. One of them was brought back, four signed elsewhere, and five have yet to be signed by any team.
With the players the Predators brought in like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei, there were no free agents the team could lose this summer that would result in Nashville feeling like they didn't do enough or get better.
The only UFA that was brought back was Alexandre Carrier. He was fortunately the best player to bring back as well considering the right side of the defense is weaker and Carrier had a strong first round playoff series scoring one goal and three points in six games.
The Predators got a great deal on Carrier's contract as he was signed for three years at $3.75 million AAV. For a right-shot d-man who will be playing in the top-4, killing penalties, getting a bit of time on the second power-play unit, and is only 27 years old, this was without a doubt a team-friendly deal.
Former Predators Who Signed Elsewhere
Three of the four former Predators who have already signed with another team this offseason were brought in at one point during the 2023-24 season. This includes Jason Zucker, Anthony Beauvillier, and Jaret Anderson-Dolan. The other former member of the team was Kiefer Sherwood who had been in the organization for the last two seasons.
Sherwood signed a two-year, $1.5 million AAV deal with the Vancouver Canucks, the team that knocked the Predators out of the first round in the playoffs this past season. He split the first season in the Predators organization between the Predators and the Milwaukee Admirals, but proved himself a full-time NHL player. He played 68 games for the Predators in 2023-24 and stayed in the NHL the entire season, scoring 10 goals and 27 points while adding one goal in the playoffs. Sherwood is a solid bottom-6 player, but the 29-year-old shouldn't play higher than that.
Zucker inked his second one-year deal in a row by signing for $5 million and heading to the Buffalo Sabres. His deal with the Arizona Coyotes last season was for one-year at $5.3 million AAV and he was traded at the deadline to the Predators. Zucker is a solid third line player who can score and play physically. He played higher up in the Predators lineup, but Nashville didn't have the team they do now. The 32-year-old scored five goals and seven points in 18 games with the Predators, but scored 14 goals and recorded 32 points in 69 games overall last season.
Beauvillier has bounced around a lot over the past couple of seasons and he landed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in free agency for one year at $1.25 million AAV. He is coming off a three-year, $4.15 million AAV deal signed with the New York Islanders, but split last season between the Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Predators. He was fairly ineffective for Nashville in his 15 games, scoring one goal and adding two assists. It was inevitable that the Predators were moving on from Beauvillier this offseason with the potential to make big moves and spend money.
Anderson-Dolan was claimed by the Predators near the beginning of March last season and he only played one game. He was an extra body for the Predators down the stretch and didn't have good numbers in the games he did play for the Los Angeles Kings before being waived. The Predators have much better young talent and Anderson-Dolan signed with the Winnipeg Jets on a two-year, $775,000 AAV deal.
Unsigned Players Who Left Nashville
As mentioned, there are five players who the Predators haven't brought back this year and also haven't signed with any other team. This group of players includes Kevin Lankinen, Tyson Barrie, Liam Foudy, Wade Allison, and Gustavs Grigals.
The most shocking so far is Lankinen considering he had two solid years as a backup in Nashville. The assumption is that he was looking for a better opportunity to play more and have a chance at starting. With Juuse Saros signing for eight more years with the Predators, that wasn't going to happen. There is still at least one team that could do well signing a goalie like Lankinen this summer.
Barrie wasn't a fit in Nashville, but he still has some offense to give in the right situation. He's 32 years old and a little bit removed from his 10+ goal, 40+ points seasons he would constantly provide his teams. It remains to be seen if a team will sign him as a depth piece or he will just call it a career. I think he still has some more seasons in him.
Foudy is a former 2018 first-round pick and is only 24 years old. There is still time for him to break out, but time is running out. The Predators picked him up on waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets at the start of last season only to place him on waivers in December. He went unclaimed and only played 12 games for the Predators, recording three assists. He played 28 games in Milwaukee. He should get a contract somewhere as organizational depth or if a team takes a chance on him at no risk.
Allison was acquired in a trade in March with the Philadelphia Flyers and didn't play a game for Nashville. The 26-year-old played 14 games for the Admirals and four games in the AHL playoffs, but wasn't of any use for the Predators. He may sign a two-way contract somewhere, but it probably won't be in Nashville.
Grigals played one game in the AHL last season and spent most of his time in the ECHL posting a 3.34 GAA and .900 SV%. It's not a big loss at all to lose the 25-year-old goaltender.
Some of the players who left the Predators to play elsewhere may turn out to be solid pickups for their teams, but Nashville is all set with a great offseason so far. Where the remaining UFAs sign will be something to also keep an eye on for the next couple of months ahead of next season.