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Nashville Predators: Duchene not a great fit, RFA’s next in line

By Corey Francis

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 22: The Nashville Predators celebrate with the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl after defeating the Anaheim Ducks 6 to 3 in Game Six of the Western Conference Final during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 22, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 22: The Nashville Predators celebrate with the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl after defeating the Anaheim Ducks 6 to 3 in Game Six of the Western Conference Final during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 22, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Talk about slow news day. There as been no news, not even real Twitter updates from the Nashville Predators. Nothing has occurred over the last two days, and my guess is little will on July 4. After all the work on July 1, it seems the entire staff is on vacation.

No one can really blame them. It was a longer-than-normal season, and a busier than normal offseason to this point. But, if you watch fans on social media, there is a desire to see the next more. Whether it is excitement for the next season to start, or just playing the “general manager” game at home, fans anxiously await the next move.

More from Predators News

It is unlikely that it will be a trade of Matt Duchene. Talks occurred. Progress was made. Yet, it appears that Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic is asking for a king’s ransom for Duchene. Our Treigh Patterson dove into reasons why Duchene is not a great fit for the Predators.

Focus now RFA’s

One thing we know about David Poile is that he is a magician in getting team-friendly deals. Look no further than the signing of Nick Bonino and the trade of Colin Wilson. It left the team with the exact amount of cap space it started the day with. Not a bad way to start.

As it stands now, the Predators have $16.9 million in cap room to make the next round of signings. That will likely be dispersed among the Restricted Free Agents: Pontus Aberg, Viktor Arvidsson, and Ryan Johansen. While Aberg may not require a massive contract, the other two will make things difficult.

Johansen is the team’s top center, and left the team in assists and points. Already on a $6 million per yer contract, the Nashville Predators are hard press to move that closer to $8 million. That appears to be the standard set in 2017. For example, Evgeny Kuznetsov, whose scoring stats are similar to Johansen’s, received an 8-year, $62.4 million extension from the Washington Capitals. The argument for Johansen is there for a big payout.

And so it is for Arvidsson, who lead the team in goals and scoring (tied with Johansen at 61 points). The 23-year old winger played 2016-17 under his entry contract, with a salary of $525,000. That number will change dramatically. How much is to be determined, but it is not out of the question to see a contract of $4 million over the next 5 years.

Between Johansen and Arvidsson, the Predators will use 75-percent of their remaining cap space. What they do with the rest will be important.

News Headlines

Here are stories from around the internet you may be interested in reading.

Nashville Predators homepage: Poile pleased to bring Bonino, Hartnell to Nashville

ESPN: New York Rangers, Nashville Predators among free agency winners

On the Forecheck: Center Depth, Moves to come, and shifts in the Central Division

Next: Ryan Johansen Deserves Big Payday

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