Nashville Predators: What Arvdisson’s deal means for rest of team
After a busy week, the roster for the Nashville Predators is coming into focus. However, the team-friendly deal for Arvidsson effects the whole team.
The offseason is slowly winding down. Arbitration hearings began on July 20, and decisions are to be finalized in the next two weeks. By signing Viktor Arvidsson to a team-friendly seven-year, $29.75 million contract, the Nashville Predators are left with only two or three other moves.
The deal for Arvidsson means two things for the Predators right now. First, the core non-goalie players of the team is in place for the next three years at least. The next major free agent is Pekke Rinne after the 2018-19 season. After that, it is Ryan Ellis in 2019-20. Then Roman Josi and Nick Bonino the following year. Filip Forsberg, Calle Jarnkrok, Mattias Ekholm, P.K. Subban, and Arvidsson are all signed through 2021-22 or later.
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Second, the team has space to keep the team in place and add needed pieces.
Cap Space
Earlier this offseason, the NHL announced the salary cap for the coming season is $75 million. By signing Arvidsson, the team is left approximately $14 million is cap space for this season. The two remaining restricted free agents, Ryan Johansen and Austin Watson, will get signed soon. Johansen is deserving of a long-term deal of at least $8 million per year. And Watson could garner a multi-year contract worth $2 million or so. The team has room to do that and more.
They could even sign Mike Fisher. But, if we know General Manager David Poile, he likes to hold onto a few dollars and stay under the cap.
And, with the current contract configurations plus adding $10 million for Johansen and Watson, the team has plenty of space coming up after each season. Using the current salary cap as a benchmark, the Predators will have $14.1 million in space next offseason. The largest contract coming off the books will be Alexei Emelin. So does Scott Hartnell. Yet, no glaring needs are seen at this time.
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There is room. Plenty of it. There is no reason to think the Nashville Predators will be a team to content with for the next five years.