Predators sign Duchene to 7-year, $56M contract

The Nashville Predators landed a key piece in free agency, signing star forward Matt Duchene to a seven-year, $56 million contract, the team announced Monday.

Duchene joins the Preds after a brief stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was acquired from the Ottawa Senators just prior to the trade deadline in exchange for a pair of conditional first-round picks and a couple of prospects.

The 28-year-old failed to live up to lofty expectations in 23 regular-season games with Columbus, notching just four goals and eight assists. He did fair better in the playoffs, registering five goals and 10 points during the Jackets' 10-game postseason run.

Nashville will be Duchene's fourth team in four seasons following the Avalanche, Senators, and Blue Jackets. He was originally the third overall selection in the 2009 NHL Draft by Colorado and spent his first nine seasons with the Avs before being dealt to Ottawa during the 2017-18 season.

Duchene, a two-time All-Star, had his best season in 2013-14 when he recorded a career-high 70 points in 71 games. His best scoring season came two years later when he hit the 30-goal mark for the only time in his career. Overall, Duchene has piled up 547 points across 727 career games.