Stamkos signs 4-year deal with Predators after leaving Lightning

Marchessault signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Predators ($5.5 million AAV) after he and the Vegas Golden Knights were unable to reach an agreement on a contract. The 33-year-old, an original member of the Golden Knights, said he was disappointed he couldn’t re-sign with Vegas, but told TSN, “I turned the page an hour ago. We’re moving on. A new chapter, a new challenge for me and my family.”

Marchessault, the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP when he helped the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup, had 69 points (42 goals, 27 assists) in 82 games last season and four points (two goals, two assists) in seven playoff games. He has 487 points (230 goals, 257 assists) in 638 regular-season games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Lightning, Florida Panthers and Golden Knights, and 76 points (36 goals, 40 assists) in 102 playoff games.

“For me, it’s an organizational win today,” Trotz said. “But we’re not playing the game on paper. Our lineup looks better, but we’ve got to be a better team. It’s just that. Last year, it took a little bit of time. This year, it’s going to take a little bit of time for some guys. We have players from different organizations that don’t play exactly the same way, but I think their DNA allows them to play the way we want them to play. We’ve got to give them some time and then hopefully we can get our feet off the ground and go into training camp. I’m really excited about that.”

Trotz said his biggest priority heading into the free agency market was to fill the void in the lineup left after Nashville traded defenseman Ryan McDonagh to Tampa Bay on May 21.

“A, he’s a good defender, and B, he’s a leader,” Trotz said of McDonagh. “If I had to prioritize, I said I had to fix the back end, because I told our players that’s what I was going to do.”

The Predators believe they did just that with Skjei, who they gave to a seven-year, $49 million contract ($7 million AAV). The 30-year-old had an NHL career high of 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 80 games for the Carolina Hurricanes last season and nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 11 playoff games.

Skjei was selected in the first round (No. 28) of the 2012 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers and recorded 247 points (68 goals, 179 assists) in 609 regular season games for the Hurricanes and Rangers, and 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) in 76 playoff games.

The Predators also signed defenseman Alexandre Carrier to a new three-year, $11.25 million contract (average annual value $3.75 million) and goaltender Juuse Saros to an eight-year, $61.92 million contract (average annual value $7.74 million), effective through the 2025-26 season.

Saros, 29, has one season remaining on a four-year, $20 million ($5 million AAV) contract he signed with Nashville on Aug. 16, 2021. He was 35-24-5 with a 2.86 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 64 games last season and 2-4 with a 2.02 GAA and .900 save percentage in six playoff games.

Carrier, 27, had 20 points (four goals, 16 assists) in 73 games last season and three points (one goal, two assists) in three playoff games.

Wedgewood signed a two-year, $3 million contract ($1.5 million AAV) to compete as Saros’ backup. He was 16-7-5 with a 2.85 GAA and .899 save percentage in 32 regular-season games (28 starts) for the Dallas Stars last season and had a 2.28 GAA and .862 save percentage in three games off the bench in the playoffs (no decisions) — his only NHL postseason experience.

The 31-year-old was selected in the third round (No. 84) by the New Jersey Devils in the 2010 NHL Draft. He has a record of 48-48-22 with a 2.98 GAA and .899 save percentage in 130 NHL regular season games (114 as a starter) for the Devils, Arizona Coyotes and Stars.

Goalie Yaroslav Askarov, selected by Nashville with the 11th pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, will also compete for a reserve role in training camp. He has played three NHL games.

The Predators are confident their free agency acquisitions have given them the necessary skills to compete in the playoffs.

“I’ve been on championship teams in Tampa in the past,” Stamkos said. “You see teams that have won recently, there’s always a mix of a really good goalie, an elite defenseman and some elite forwards. Even before today with the signings, Nashville fit that bill. Obviously a great goalie. (Defenseman) Roman Josi, he speaks for himself. You have (forwards Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist), that line was dynamic last year. And they have a great mix of younger players as well.”

The Predators haven’t determined where Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei will fit into the lineup, but Stamkos and Marchessault are likely to be top-six forwards. Skjei could play with Josi on Nashville’s top pair.

“We’re so excited to be a part of this great franchise,” Stamkos said. “We’ve seen what happened today with some of the other signings. A great day to be a Nashville Predators fan. Very, very excited to be a part of that.”