Predators, Forsberg agree to 8-year deal with reported $8.5M AAV

Filip Forsberg is staying in Nashville, as the Predators agreed to terms with the star winger on an eight-year contract.

The pact carries an average annual value of $8.5 million, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.

Forsberg was a pending unrestricted free agent who would've been one of the best players available had he tested the market.

The Swede established career highs with 42 goals and the same number of assists over 69 games this past season. Forsberg did produce an inflated shooting percentage of 18.6, nearly 6% higher than his career average (12.9). But only Matt Duchene scored more goals among Predators skaters in 2021-22, and he needed nine more contests to tally one more goal and one more assist.

Forsberg, who'll turn 28 on Aug. 13, has spent his entire 10-year career in Nashville. The Washington Capitals drafted him 11th overall in 2012 before infamously trading him to the Predators for Martin Erat and Michael Latta in April 2013.