Just before the start of the 2025-26 season, there have been plenty of pending free agents agreeing to terms to new contracts. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild, and Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils all agreed to terms on new contracts. The Nashville Predators dealt with uncertainty, as they reached a stalemate with restricted free agent Luke Evangelista.
The 23-year-old had been holding out for most of training camp as both sides tried to agree to terms on a new contract. Just when all hope seemed lost, Evangelista agreed to terms on a two-year, $6 million contract extension. It was a modest, short-term deal, as Evangelista will become a restricted free agent again in 2027.
Luke Evangelista betting on himself to end holdout
This was a bit of a shock considering just how poorly negotiations were going. The Athletic's Chris Johnston had reported that the Predators and Evangelista were about $1.25 million apart annually in negotiations. But, the two sides decided to end the stalemate, and are now on the books for the next two seasons.
The two-year contract will be interesting for fans, considering McDavid agreed to a two-year, team-friendly deal with the Oilers. At just $12.5 million per year, McDavid said he accepted these terms because he wanted to help the Oilers win a Stanley Cup. So, that gave the organization more flexibility to build a championship-caliber roster.
Evangelista's two-year contract had nothing to do with helping the team out on paper. Rather, he was seeking a three-year contract before settling for two. Plus, the short-term deal will allow Evangelista to earn more money, as the NHL salary cap is increasing by the year.
As for this season, Evangelista is projected as a top six forward for the Predators, according to Daily Faceoff. Evangelista shined during the start of his career in Nashville. In the 2023-24 season, Evangelista recorded 16 goals and 23 assists for a total of 39 points in 80 games. Last season, in 12 less games played, Evangelista recorded 10 goals and 22 assists.
The Predators aren't exactly expected to contend for the Stanley Cup this year, but they could potentially shock the world. Anything can happen in a hockey season. There is star power on the team, but they just have to bring it all together. Evangelista isn't expected to carry the team, but if he has a big year, it could help the Predators secure more wins than they were expected to.