Erik Haula appears to be interested in re-signing with Predators, should it happen?

The Nashville Predators could opt to maintain its center core and re-sign Erik Haula, but does it really make sense?

NHL insider Kevin Weekes reported on X the 35-year-old is interested in staying with the Predators and is looking for a deal in the $3.5 million AAV range.

Haula played 81 games with the team last season, scoring 14 goals and 38 points. He served as a reliable middle-six centerman who could play special teams minutes when required. His presence in the lineup helped spark offensive contributions from Michael Bunting, Luke Evangelista, and Steven Stamkos.

His three-year, $9.45 million contract expires this summer and is set to enter free agency as a UFA if the Preds don't re-sign him. The recent circumstances of the club make a contract agreement extremely uncertain, as President of Hockey Operations/General Manager Chris MacFarland acquired center Ross Colton last week.

With limited space left to give, Haula could be forced out despite his interest. Is it the right move, or should the Predators bring him back for one last dance?

Retaining Haula was a high risk/high reward for Predators, and it worked, kind of...

Prior to last season, Haula already had a year of Smashville hockey under his belt. He played 51 games with the organization in the 2020-21 season, where he would record 21 points (9g, 12a), his lowest total since his sophomore season back in 2014-15. Despite the low production, Haula failied to disappoint at center, maintaining a solid 55.1%-win rate at the faceoff dot.

He spent the next four seasons with the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils, putting up some of his best seasons on record. Following an urgent need for salary cap space, the Devils dealt him to the Preds in June 2025 for defensive prospect Jeremy Hanzel and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

When he joined the Predators the second time around, his point production improved with an 11% shooting accuracy, but his faceoff numbers decreased to 49.2%, his lowest since 2015. In all, he remained a reliable center for them, and a big part of their near-return to the playoffs.

Many believed the team would eventually trade him at the trade deadline, but that proved to not be the case. Haula was shrouded with trade rumors, and the Predators could've easily gotten a valuable haul in return. An impressive Olympics outing proved to the league how valuable he could be, but the Predators decided to keep him around in hopes of making the playoffs.

Clearly, that wasn't what happened, and now they can't get much, if any for him. Even with the failed attempt to retain assets in return, Haula's presence paid off for the Predators. It isn't too crazy to say that his appearance in the lineup led to revival of players like Stamkos. Without him, who knows what numbers Stamkos and others would've recorded this season.

Unfortunately for Haula, his prime-time day in Nashville may be over, even if he re-signs. With the addition of Colton, Vitali Pinchuk and Brady Martin, his role will only shrink. MacFarland made it clear that his main goal will be prospect development, and given that Haula is 35, it's obvious that his path isn't as set in stone as it was last season.

If the Predators and Haula agree to deal, it'll likely be only for one year, and will certainly be an asset-focused one at that. Colton's arrival on the Predators likely hints the Haula is in fact not staying with the team, even if he'd like to. It's not the end of the road for him, however. Weekes hinted that there would be a considerable interest in him if he tested free agency: "If he makes it to UFA, there's scarcity in the market for centers, and he can play LW as well."

If money is what Haula is looking for, it may be in his best interest to test the market, as a larger demand would increase his price tag more than what he may be asking for.

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