Dec 23: The Predators have officially announced the one-year contract, confirming the $3.75MM salary.
Dec 22: It turns out that Mikael Granlund’s time with Nashville may not be coming to an end after all. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that the forward will return to the Predators on a one-year contract worth around $3.75MM. He was rated ninth on our Top 50 UFA list back in October.
Last season was a tale of two campaigns for the 28-year-old. After tallying just six goals in 36 games under former head coach Peter Laviolette, he performed much better under new bench boss John Hynes, picking up 11 tallies in 27 games to lead the team in that span while seeing his ice time jump to over 19 minutes per night. Nevertheless, putting up just 30 points in 63 games last season didn’t send him into free agency on a high note considering his point per game average was the lowest of any of his seven full NHL campaigns.
While he’s certainly coming off of a down season, Granlund is only two years removed from back-to-back 20-plus goal/65-plus point seasons and at his age, it’s quite possible that he could get back to those numbers in the right environment. Given his success and role under Hynes, there’s some cause for optimism that his output should improve in 2021.
Even if it doesn’t, this is a low-risk proposition for the Preds. They’ll get another opportunity with a player they paid a fairly high price for (Kevin Fiala) and will do so at a considerably cheaper rate than his previous deal which carried a $5.75MM AAV. While Nashville’s depth players have changed considerably, the core of the team remains intact from last season so Granlund should have an opportunity to reprise his top-six role and will hope for a better year that will bolster his opportunities on the open market next summer.
GM David Poile still has some work to do this offseason with RFA Luke Kunin (who was acquired back at the draft) still in need of a new deal. Even if Granlund signs at this price tag, they’ll have a little more than $9MM in cap room at their disposal so there is still a chance that Nashville adds to their roster in the days leading up to the start of training camp next month.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Not bad and doesn’t compromise cap space. I know he’s been a disappointment at large given the Fiala trade, but he was a solid rotation piece the second half of last year.
Sign Hoffman
I’d take this over Hoffman just due to him knowing the system and at that lower price too… makes plenty of sense for both sides
Hoffman is the current answer nowhere.
A current answer nowhere.
A possible answer in many spots in the future.
Needs to break up with his chick first.