No Nashville Predators rookie performed quite as well as forward Matthew Wood did last season.
He joined the team in their final six games of the 2024-25 season, where we would see him tally his first NHL point which came off a primary assist on Michael Bunting's goal against the then Utah Hockey Club.
With some NHL games under his belt, Wood entered the 2025-26 season with more confidence; and it didn't take long for him to reappear on the scoresheet. After breaking free of the Los Angeles Kings defense, Wood found himself a prime opportunity to give the Predators the go-ahead goal in the second period, passing the puck to a wide-open Filip Forsberg to make it 2-1 Nashville.
Wood scored his first career NHL goal three games later against the Philadelphia Flyers in October, and following it up with another goal the next game against the Calgary Flames, where he'd also post his first multi-point night with two. Over the course of the next month, he'd score five goals and tally two assists, including a hat-trick against the New York Rangers in November.
The 21-year-old finished the season with 17 goals and 13 assists for 30 points in 71 games played. He led all Nashville rookies in points and was at one point one of the leading names in the Calder Trophy Race, the award given to the league's top rookie.
Now in his second full season with the Predators, he'll not only look to improve his numbers on the stat sheet but also in his wallet. Wood is the final year of his three-year entry-level contract with Nashville, meaning management will need to put some money aside to bring back one of their top wingers.
Wood's next contract should prioritize growth, not term
If there is one thing general manager Chris MacFarland needs to get right, it's to not immediately start handing out term to young players young in need of a new contract. Signing a player like that can have some serious consequences.
The Predators decided to not re-sign forward Tanner Jeannot following an impressive 41-point campaign his rookie year, and that paid off. He struggled to maintain similar numbers the season after and was later traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. While it isn't exactly relative situation to Wood's, it can be comparable in the sense that one's point production can drop drastically in just a season's notice. That is why taking a risk on a long-term deal isn't viable for Nashville.
A bridge deal would be more than ideal for Wood. Rather than risking a drop in point production and being locked in a contract with him, MacFarland can instead hand him a bridge deal, which means he'd have a couple years to prove himself, show similar or better point production and improvement on the ice.
Using Luke Evangelista as an example, it is better to give him a couple years to develop under more ice time, rather than taking that gamble that he'll find a way to perform when given minimal opportunity. It'll be best for the Predators to give Wood more chances rather than more term. Whether or not he performs under the bright lights will dictate how much he'll eventually gets paid in his first big contract.
With many popular hockey news outlets projecting Wood will play aside offseason addition Mavrik Bourque to start the season, he'll have a reliable linemate that mirrors his style of hockey and could help both himself and the Predators see a boost in scoring.
Money won't be an issue with his contract. If it's anything like Evangelista's bridge deal, the Predators could look to spend anywhere between $3-5 million on Wood per season. Considering the inflation we are seeing in contracts across the league, an AAV like that would be a steal.
In the end, it is all about how Wood follows up his strong rookie season this year. He has the opportunity to become a core piece in this next chapter of Smashville hockey.
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