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Nashville Predators: With the season done, focus turns to free agents

By Corey Francis

Jun 11, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators left wing James Neal (18) and center Mike Fisher (12) react after an empty net goal by Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Carl Hagelin (not pictured) in the third period in game six of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 11, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators left wing James Neal (18) and center Mike Fisher (12) react after an empty net goal by Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Carl Hagelin (not pictured) in the third period in game six of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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The season is done, and the focus turns to moves to improve the Nashville Predators, whom have several key free agents on the roster.

Sports is a business. An entertainment business, but a business all the same. As the players return to the facilities to clean up from the season, it is safe to say that a few will not return. A few will sign elsewhere, one or two may retire. But the team that made it to the Stanley Cup Final will no longer be together.

I know. That is a sad thought, but it is the truth. And, while it was an amazing end to the season, the regular season left us scratching our heads. That cannot happen in the 2017-18 season. Everyone knows that the team is capable of a deep run in the playoffs. That is no fact. No team will take them lightly. Just as the Chicago Cubs.

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What does that mean? It means the team has room to make some serious moves to improve. And, the money to do it.

The Free Agents

The difficult part for the fans will be saying goodbye to team favorites. As it stands now, the Nashville Predators have six unrestricted free agents this off-season, including Mike Fisher, Mike Ribeiro, and P.A. Parenteau. These are players that are technically no longer on the team, and therefore free to sign with any team of their choosing.

There are six other players on the Predators payroll that are also considering unrestricted free agents: Brad Hunt, Adam Pardy, Adam Payerl, Yannick Weber, Harry Zolnierczyk, and Michael Liambas. Of those, Weber saw the most ice-time playing in 73 games. Neither Payerl and Liambas played a single game.

In addition to unrestricted, there are six restricted free agents. These are players that have less than seven years of playing time and are under the age of 28. The Predators’ front office must extend qualifying offers to these players. If the player chooses not to sign the offer, they can sign an offer sheet from another team. The Predators then have seven days to match or decline. If they decline, the Predators would then get a compensatory draft pick the next year.

Those six players are Ryan Johansen, Pontus Aberg, Austin Watson, Marek Mazanec, Viktor Arvidsson, and Frederick Gaudreau.

The Good News

There is good news. The Predators now have space to sign players, and can afford at least one star. In 2016, the total salary of the team was $70.8 million. Today, that number dropped to $55.7 million. This gives the team $24 million to spend on salary in 2017.

There are positions to fill, but it is key to understand what is left in place now.  P.K. Subban is signed through 2022, as are Filip Forsberg, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm, and Calle Jarnkrok. Roman Josi is under contract thought 2020, and Pekka Rinne thought 2019. There are significant pieces in place.

Next: Waking up the morning after the season ended

With the money available, and key players on the team, the team can make tough decisions. It may mean saying bye to fan favorites, but the business demands sustainability.

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