Juuse Saros had a maintenance day, resulting in Murray being recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL). Murray's call-up was most likely precautionary as Saros isn't expected to miss any time. The 26-year-old Murray spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, posting a 3.02 GAA and .896 SV% in 31 games (14-15-2) with the Texas Stars.
Stastney was absent from Nashville's training camp due to personal reasons and will begin the season on the Injured/Non-Roster list. The 24-year-old signed a two-year, $3.3 million contract extension ($1,650,000 AAV) in the offseason after putting up two goals, four points and a +9 plus/minus in 20 games played in 2023-24.
L’Heureux made a strong push to make the Predators roster out of training camp but their depth pushed him back to the AHL to start the season. The 21-year-old winger had 48 points (19G / 29A) and 197 PIMS in 66 AHL games a season ago.
Gojsic was Nashville's 2024 3rd-round pick (94th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 18-year-old right-winger is expected to return to Kelowna (WHL) for a sophomore campaign after putting up 21 goals and 50 points in 68 games in 2023-24.
Chrona was acquired by the Predators alongside David Edstrom and a 2025 1st-round pick (VGK - Top 10 protected) from San Jose for Yaroslav Askarov, Nolan Burke and a 2025 3rd-round pick on Friday. The 23-year-old goaltender made his NHL debut in 2023-24 but struggled behind a weak San Jose team with a 1-6-1 record, 4.71 GAA and .859 SV%. He is expected to be the Predators' third goaltender behind Juuse Saros and Scott Wedgewood.
Edstrom was acquired by Nashville alongside Magnus Chrona, and a 2025 1st-round pick (Top 10 protected) from San Jose for Yaroslav Askarov, Nolan Burke and a 2025 3rd-round pick on Friday. The 19-year-old Swedish center was drafted in the 1st round of the 2023 NHL Draft (32nd overall) and has spent his last two seasons in the SHL with Frolunda HC. In 2023-24, he had seven goals and 19 points in 44 games with the Swedish club.
Nashville was able to shed some much-needed salary on Tuesday and get below the cap ceiling as they acquired Jordan Frasca from Pittsburgh for Cody Glass ($2.5 million contract), a 2025 3rd-round pick (MIN), and a 2026 6th-round pick. The Predators bring in the 23-year-old Frasca, who is an undrafted center who has spent his last two seasons with Wheeling of the ECHL. In 40 games played in 2023-24 with Wheeling, he had 11 goals and 33 points.
Montreal made its secodn defensive signing of the afternoon on Tuesday as they gave Justin Barron a two-year, $2.3 million contract ($1,150,000 AAV). The 22-year-old was acquired from Colorado in a trade which sent Artturi Lehkonen the other way two seasons ago. Barron appeared in 48 games in 2023-24 and had a career high seven goals, 13 points and 16 PIMs.
Stastney and Nashville had gone to arbitration over his contract and settled on an approximate two-year, $1.65 million contract ($825,000 AAV). The 24-year-old former fith-round pick has appeared in 28 NHL games for Nashville over the last two seasons and has two goals, six points, six PIMs and a +14 plus/minus.
Wilsby was selected in the fourth-round of the 2020 NHL Draft and has spent the first two years of his career in North America with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL). Most recently, Wilsby had eight goals and 13 assists (21 points) in 61 AHL games. Expect him to remain with Milwaukee to start the 2024-25 season.
After three seasons in Texas (AHL) and Dallas, Matthew Murray has signed a one-year, two-way contract to provide Nashville with some goaltending depth. The 26-year-old has four NHL appearances to his name but spent the majority of 2023-24 with Texas, posting a 3.02 GAA and .896 SV%.
Nashville continued its signing frenzy on Tuesday by bringing in Nick Blankenburg on a two-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old undrafted free agent appeared in 12 games with Columbus in 2023-24, picking up one assist, four PIMs and a +1 plus/minus.
Lucchini made his NHL debut in 2022-23 and has since played in 51 games between Minnesota and Ottawa and has earned himself a new two-year, two-way contract with Nashville. The 29-year-old undrafted left-winger occupied Minnesota's bottom six for 40 games in 2023-24, picking up two goals and five points.
Nashville added to its offensive depth on Tuesday by adding nine-year veteran Vinnie Hinostroza to the Predators on a two-year, two-way contract. The 30-year-old appeared in 14 games with Pittsburgh in 2023-24 and had a goal and three points. Nashville will be his sixth NHL team as he looks to add to his 54 goals and 151 points in 374 career NHL games played.
Another team legend is heading to Nashville as Jonathan Marchessault signed a five-year deal worth $27.5 million ($5.5M AAV) to join the Predators. The 33-year-old will join Steven Stamkos as one of two massive offseason acquisitions for the Predators. The centre completed his seventh season in Vegas in 2023-24 and had 42 goals and 69 points in 82 games played.
Arguably the biggest fish of the free agent market is off the board early on Monday as Steven Stamkos has signed a four-year deal worth $32.0 million ($8.0M AAV) with Nashville after 16 successful seasons in Tampa Bay. The 34-year-old brings a full trophy collection to the Predators as he's a two-time Cup winner, two-time Rocket Richard Winner and a two-time all-star. In 79 games played in 2023-24, he had 40 goals and 81 points alongside 262 SOG.
Nashville's massive first day of Free Agency continued Monday as Brady Skjei joined Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in joining the Predators after he signed a seven-year deal worth $49.0 million ($7.0M AAV). The 30-year-old spent his first nine NHL seasons between New York and Carolina and had a career year in 2023-24 with 13 goals, 47 points, 40 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus in 80 games played.
Saros is entering the final year of a four-year deal that carries a $5.0M AAV cap-hit. When he can officially sign this contract extension on Monday, he'll have the sixth-highest AAV among goalies for the 2025-26 season, but likely the seventh or eighth after Igor Shesterkin and Jeremy Swayman get their new deals. The 28-year-old is coming off one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, going 35-24-5 with a 2.86 GAA and .906 SV%. While it was the third-straight season he's won 30-plus games, Saros was 36th out of 54 qualified goalies in GSAx/60 (-0.050). With the massive new deal, the Predators are obviously banking that 2024 was just a one-off.
Gibson was the Red Wings' 2023 2nd-round pick (42nd overall) but has been traded to Nashville for Jesse Kiiskinen and a 2024 2nd-round pick. The 19-year-old defenseman has spent the last three seasons with the Soo Greyhounds (OHL) and had 12 goals and 44 points in 68 games in 2023-24.
