Nashville Predators Sign Jack Drury to Five-Year, $22.5 Million Deal

The Nashville Predators have made a significant move by signing center Jack Drury to a five-year contract worth $22.5 million, which translates to an annual cap hit of $4.5 million, according to Puckpedia. This marks the first signing under the leadership of general manager Chris MacFarland, who is looking to reshape the team.

Drury’s acquisition comes after Nashville traded forwards Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L’Heureux to the Colorado Avalanche. In return, the Predators not only secured Drury but also forward Chase Bradley and a third-round draft pick for 2029. This trade represents MacFarland’s second transaction as general manager, and notably, it was executed with his former team.

Last season, Drury showcased his durability by playing all 82 games with the Avalanche, where he registered 10 goals and 17 assists for a total of 27 points, along with 31 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, he continued to contribute, scoring three goals and adding two assists during the team’s 13-game run.

MacFarland praised Drury’s defensive skills, stating, “Jack is a guy that is not a 25-goal, 60-point guy, but he is elite defensively. That ability for a coach to throw out a center against the other teams’ top players and feel comfortable doing so on the road is massive. Then what Jack does off the ice and what he’ll do for the young players. I believe it is really, really important long term.” His impact is expected to extend beyond the ice, helping to mentor younger players as well.

With Drury now signed, the Predators find themselves with approximately $19.87 million in cap space as they head into the free agency period starting July 1. The team will also be assessing three unrestricted free agents—Erik Haula, Tyson Jost, and Kevin Gravel—alongside one restricted free agent, Justin Barron, as they look to finalize their roster.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.