Stamkos agree to a four-year agreement with Predators after he left Lightning

“Unique personal experience” after 16 seasons with Tampa Bay; Nashville also includes Marchessault and Skjei and Skjei in Cup push

By Robby Stanley

Aug 02 2024 03:01 am

Marchessault signed the five-year $27.5 million deal together with the Predators ($5.5 million AAV) after both he and his team, the Vegas Golden Knights were unable to agree on a deal. As a former player of the Golden Knights, the 33-year-old admitted he was disappointed that the team could not renew his contract with Vegas however, he stated to TSN, “I turned the page about an hour before. We’re moving ahead. New chapter. and a new adventure for me and my family.”

Marchessault which was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the MVP of the playoffs of 2023 in which he played a key role in helping players of the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup and scored 70 scores (42 goal and 27 assist) in the final game of the season. He also scored four points (two goals and two assists) in seven of the games of the postseason. He recorded 487 points (230 goals and 257 aids) over 638 contests throughout in the season’s regular seasons for clubs such as those of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Lightning, Florida Panthers and Golden Knights with 76 points (36 goals, 40 assists) during the playoffs in 102 games.

“To me this is an opportunity for the organization to winning the moment,” Trotz said. “But we’re not playing the game with paper. Our lineup is more effective but we have to be a better unit. Simple and easy. Like the previous year, this took quite a amount longer. This year, it’s likely take a bit longer for certain players. There are players from different groups who do not exactly play exactly the same way however, I believe their genetic makeup allows players to play in the manner we want to see them play. It’s going to take them a bit of time before we leave the field and move on the road to camp. I’m very happy about this. “

Trotz declared that his primary goal on the market was filling the gap in the lineup, which was made by the time Nashville traded the defensive player Ryan McDonagh to Tampa Bay on May 21.

“A McDonagh is a great defensive player. And B, McDonagh is a leader,” Trotz said of McDonagh. “If you were forced to decide regarding which position to focus my attention, I told him that I wanted to have the back side repaired because I told all the team members that I would solve this. “

The Predators believe that they were able to achieve this with Skjei who signed a seven-year contract valued at $49.9 millions ($7 millions in the AAV). The 30-year-old scored an NHL record-breaking 47 total scores (13 scores and 34 assists) during all 80 matches played for the Carolina Hurricanes last season and nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 11 games of the playoffs.

This team was chosen by the New York Rangers in the first round (No. 28,) from the 2012 NHL Draft, Skjei has 247 points (68 goals, 171 assists) in 609 games during the regular season for as well teams, the Hurricanes as well as the Rangers with 25 (seven goals, 18 assists) in the 76 playoff games.

Predators also signed defenseman Alexandre Carrier to three-year $11.25 million contract ($3.75 million in average annual value) and also signed goalie Juuse Saros to an eight-year $61.92 million contract ($7.74 millions in annual average value) which will begin in 2025-26.

Saros 29 is still under an eight-year, 20 million-dollar deal ($5 millions in annual average) that has signed with Nashville at the end of August. 16 2021. He had a 35-24-5 record with a 2.86 goals-against-average and .906 save percentage in 64 games during last season. He was also 2-4, in averaging 2.02 GAA as well as a .900 save percentage in six games in the postseason.

Carrier 27 27, who scored twenty scores (four goal and sixteen assists) in the last 73 games. He also scored three point (one goal and two assists) in three games during the postseason.

Wedgewood was signed to a two-year, three-million dollar contract that was worth 3 million ($1.5 million AAV) to make him Saros as the team’s backup. He played 16-7-5 and recorded a 2.85 GAA, and .899 save percentage over 32 games in the year (28 matches played) with the Dallas Stars last season and had a 2.28 GAA, and .862 saving percentage over three matches off the bench during playoffs (no decision) that was his only NHL playoff game experience.

A third-round pick (No. 85) of the New Jersey Devils in the 2010 NHL Draft, the 31-year-old is 48-48-22with a 2.98 GAA as well as an .899 save percentage in 130 NHL regular-season games (114 starts) for the Devils, Arizona Coyotes and Stars.

Goalie Yaroslav Askarov selected in Nashville for the no. 11 selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, will also play for a backup spot during training camps. He has been at least the past three NHL matches.

The Predators believe that their shift into the market for free agents has given them the tools to be competitive in the postseason.

“I’ve been on championship teams prior to Tampa,” Stamkos said. “You can see that the teams which have been winning lately include an extremely good goalie, as well as an elite defenseman and some of the best forwards. Even before the new signings, Nashville had ticked every box. Of course, they have a top goalkeeper. (Defenseman) Roman Josi is an excellent and a great speaker. There’s forwards Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav NyquistThe line was fantastic this season. They’re a great mix of youngsters as well. “

The Predators haven’t decided yet on what position Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei will be playing in the lineup. However, Stamkos along with Marchessault will likely be among the top the six players. Skjei might be paired with Josi in Nashville’s second and third row.

“We’re very excited to be a part of this fantastic company,” Stamkos said. “We were there today to witness what happened as well as others signings. It’s an exciting day to be a Nashville Predators fan. I am extremely, extremely happy to be part of it. “