Predators, Alexandre Carrier agree to terms on three-year contract

The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Alexandre Carrier to a three-year contract extension with an AAV of $3.75 million.

Carrier was set to become an unrestricted free agent on Monday. Carrier is coming off his fourth full season with the Predators, registering four goals and 20 points in 73 games. Once viewed as trade bait earlier in the season, the Quebec City native is now part of Nashville’s future as the team hopes to make some noise in the playoffs next year.

The 27-year-old has spent his entire NHL career with the Preds since getting selected 115th overall. He debuted with the Predators in 2016-17 but wouldn’t become an everyday NHLer until the 2021-22 campaign. He had a career-best 30 points that season while establishing himself as a feisty player at just 5-foot-11.

The right-shot defender has 10 goals and 62 points in 217 career games. He represented Canada twice during the 2013-14 season, winning gold at the Hlinka Gretzky and bronze at the U-18 World Championship. Carrier is a two-time AHL all-star game participant and was named to the NHL’s all-rookie team in 2022.

Carrier was one of the Predators’ primary UFA targets this summer, with Anthony Beauvillier, Kiefer Sherwood, Jason Zucker and Tyson Barrie all requiring new deals. The team also needs to figure out its backup situation, with 29-year-old Kevin Lankinen set to hit the market.

The Predators are entering July 1 with just over $26 million in projected cap space, with 15 NHLers signed to deals. GM Barry Trotz is expected to get busy in his second year as Nashville’s GM in hopes of getting the team out of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.