The Nashville Predators returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs following a one-year hiatus and they would lose in the first round to the Vancouver Canucks in six games. They decided to enter free agency and add offense as they added forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, as well as defenseman Brady Skjei. Stamkos signs a four-year deal with a $8M AAV, Marchessault signs for five years and a $5.5M AAV, and Skjei is seven year and a $7M AAV. Barry Trotz makes a bold statement to kick off free agency grabbing three of the top free agents available.
Predators Free Agent Additions By The Numbers
F – Steven Stamkos
Stamkos was drafted first overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Stamkos played in 1,082 games since he made his debut in 2008-09, he has recorded 1,137 points on 555 goals and 582 assists; he is a career plus 46 with 422 power play points coming on 214 goals and 208 assists. Last season for the Lightning, he played in 79 games recording 81 points coming on 40 goals and 41 assists, he was -21 and had 39 power play points on 19 goals and 20 assists. Stamkos is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion. He ranks 30th all-time in goals, 110th all-time in assists, 60th in points, and 14th all-time in power-play goals.
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F – Jonathan Marchessault
Marchessault started his career with the Columbus Blue Jackets playing in just two games, he failed to register a point and was a minus one. He would be traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Matt Taormina and Dana Tyrell, he would go on to play in 47 games with the Lightning recording 19 points on eight goals and 11 assists, he finished as a minus nine and had seven power-play points on four goals and three assists over two seasons. He would then sign with the Florida Panthers where he spent the 2016-17 season playing in 75 games recording 51 points on 30 goals and 21 assists, he was a minus 21 and had 18 power play points on eight goals and ten assists. He would then be drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft where he broke out playing in 514 games recording 417 points on 192 goals and 225 assists, he was a plus 66 and recorded 103 power-play points on 42 goals and 61 assists. Last season he played in all 82 games recording 69 points on 42 goals and 27 assists; he was a minus-two and had 17 power play points on eight goals and nine assists. Marchessault took home the Conn Smyth trophy for MVP in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 2022-23 Cup runs by the Golden Knights as he put up 25 points on 13 goals and 12 assists, he was a plus 17 and had three power-play goals.
D – Brady Skjei
Skjei started his career with the New York Rangers playing in 307 games recording 112 points on 25 goals and 87 assists, he was a minus 25, recorded 170 penalty minutes, and had 13 power play points all on assists. He was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2020 and would play in 302 games recording 135 points on 43 goals, 92 assists, and was a plus 46; he had 162 penalty minutes and had 19 power play points on five goals and 14 assists. Last season, he played in 80 games recording 47 points on 13 goals and 34 assists, he was a plus 15 and had 40 penalty minutes; he had 12 power play points on a goal and 11 assists.
