Spencer Stastney solidifies formidable defensive front for Nashville Predators

Although the Nashville Predators would've preferred to not have to go to salary arbitration for a young player with only 28 games of NHL experience, the agreement is finally inked with Spencer Stastney.

After both sides submitting their proposals for a new deal, it took a salary arbitration ruling for the Predators and Stastney to reach an agreement of two years total, but a two-way deal this upcoming season. This was needed for Nashville thanks to having basically no money left after their free agency blowout bash on July 1.

Stastney did get some commitment from the Predators front office, as he should, by getting a one-way deal for 2025-26 at $825,000 per PuckPedia.

With Stastney signed, Preds have themselves a solid defensive corps for 2024-25

So now with that settled, it's time to look back forward to what Stastney brings to the table for the Predators on the ice for the upcoming season. He solidifies what is a balanced and unique combination of skill sets for the Predators defensive corps.

With the free agency addition of Brady Skjei, a skilled two-way defenseman with an excellent shot but also with high marks in the defensive zone, the Predators look locked in with what their defense will be for opening night of 2024-25. There's very little controversy with that.

With the expectations of Roman Josi being joined by Skjei on the top pairing, and the assumption that Alexandre Carrier and Jeremey Lauzon are kept together, that leaves Stastney back on the bottom pairing with Luke Schenn.

I have to say on paper, that is a defensive corps you can trust to be consistent and bring you a little bit of everything. You have offensive skills on the top pairing with Josi and Skjei, and also a little offensive pop from Carrier and Lauzon as well.

Now we know Schenn is out there as the protector and veteran brusier to protect the back end, that leaves Stastney in a strong position to continue to grow his game on the NHL level without much pressure.

Schenn and Stastney played 126 minutes together on the same line last season. They allowed just 2.09 Expected Goals Against Per 60 as a pairing. Among pairings for the Predators with at least 100 minutes together, Schenn and Stastney were 2nd-best on the team in this category, only behind Ryan McDonagh and Alexandre Carrier (232 minutes together, 2.04 Expected Goals Against Per 60, Per MoneyPuck).

Stastney made his season debut pretty early in 2023-24 and stayed in the starting lineup for a few weeks before missing a couple month in the NHL and then returning in March.

This upcoming season there's a good chance Stastney will have to bounce between the NHL and AHL again, more for salary cap reasons, but eventually the goal is that Stastney is an everyday NHL starter. It might take a trade to free up cap space to make that happen, which is why the two-way aspect in the first year of this deal was so important.

If Stastney had signed to a one-way deal like his camp originally brought to the table, then the Nashville front office would've been committed to keeping Stastney up for the duration of the season and had no flexibility up against the salary cap.

Preds have options with Stastney, should still look to trade Fabbro

The deal they have reached allows a little bit for both sides to be happy about. Stastney has that commitment from the organization for 2025-26, and Nashville has that freedom to move Stastney to the Milwaukee Admirals when need be. He remains waivers protected.

Stastney is a puck mover. He has offensive talent, and anytime you can get bonus offense from a bottom pairing defenseman, you're feeling pretty fortunate about where your defense is at.

The Predators still have the question looming on Dante Fabbro. Although he is much better than a seventh defenseman on a roster, it's clear that his future looks grim with the Predators. He'll be a UFA next offseason and carrier a $2.5 million cap hit. He's also a right side defenseman, and the Predators don't have a major need for a right side defenseman right now.

It is likely that Fabbro will be shifted into the starting lineup from time to time, especially if a time comes when Stastney is sent back down to the minors. It's not a bad problem to have if you're the Predators, because Fabbro should be a starter somewhere.

Looking at the overall picture, you have to be very happy with where the Predators are with their defensive front. I don't see any glaring weakness, but instead I see a lot of offensive talent and some returning chemistry with the exception of Skjei.

Let's remember that Stastney is in the infancy of his NHL career. Just 28 games under his belt. It's totally fine for him to get more time in the AHL if need to be this upcoming year. This is the best outcome you can ask for for the Predators to get him on a two-way deal for this upcoming year, watch how he develops his game, and see him preferably make the full-time jump to the NHL in 2025-26.