Marchessault signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Predators ($5.5 million AAV) after he and the Vegas Golden Knights failed to reach an agreement. An original member of the Golden Knights, the 33-year-old 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 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the 2023 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 had 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.
“To me, it’s an organizational win today,” Trotz said. “But we’re not playing the game on paper. Our roster looks better, but we have to be a better team. It’s that simple. You saw last year it took time. This year, it’s going to take time for some guys. We have guys from different organizations that don’t quite play the same way, but I think their DNA allows them to play the way we want them to play. We have to give them some time and then, hopefully, we can take off and get into training camp. I’m really excited about that.”
Trotz said his biggest priority heading into free agency is filling the roster void left by Nashville after the May 21 trade of defenseman Ryan McDonagh to Tampa Bay.
“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 I was going to do it.”
The Predators believe they’ve accomplished that feat with Skjei, who they signed to a seven-year, $49 million ($7 million per year) contract. The 30-year-old set an NHL career high with 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 80 games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season and nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 11 playoff games.
Selected by the New York Rangers in the first round (28th) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Skjei has 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 re-signed defenseman Alexandre Carrier to a three-year, $11.25 million contract ($3.75 million AAV) and signed goaltender Juuse Saros to an eight-year, $61.92 million contract ($7.74 million AAV) that begins with the 2025-26 season.
Saros, 29, has one season remaining on a four-year, $20 million contract ($5 million AAV) 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 goals-against average 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 per season) to be Saros’ backup. He went 16-7-5 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in 32 regular-season games (28 starts) for the Dallas Stars last season and posted a 2.28 goals-against average and .862 save percentage in three playoff games (no decisions) — his only NHL playoff experience.
A third-round pick (84th overall) of the New Jersey Devils in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the 31-year-old is 48-48-22 with a 2.98 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in 130 regular-season NHL games (114 starts) for the Devils, Arizona Coyotes and Stars.
Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, selected by Nashville with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, will also be in contention for the backup goaltender role at training camp. He has played three NHL games.
The Predators believe their free agency additions have given them the pieces they need to compete in the playoffs.
“I’ve been on championship teams in Tampa before,” Stamkos said. “You look at these teams that have won recently, there’s always a mix of a really good goalie, an elite defenseman and a couple of elite forwards. Even before today with the signings, Nashville fit that bill. Obviously, they had 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 young players as well.”
The Predators have yet to determine where Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei will fit into the lineup, but Stamkos and Marchessault will likely be among the top six forwards. Skjei could play with Josi on Nashville’s top pair.
“We’re very excited to be a part of this incredible franchise,” Stamkos said. “We saw what happened today with some of the other rookies. It’s a great day to be a Nashville Predators fan. I’m very, very excited to be a part of it.”
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