Predators sign Novak to 3-year extension

The Nashville Predators inked forward Tommy Novak to a three-year contract extension at an average annual value of $3.5 million, the club announced Monday.

Novak was a pending unrestricted free agent whose current cap hit is $800,000, according to CapFriendly.

The center, who'll turn 27 on April 28, has notched 13 goals and 21 assists in 51 games this season. He posted 17 and 26, respectively, over 51 contests in 2022-23.

Novak has carved out a role as Nashville's third-line pivot in his third NHL campaign. He played 27 games with the Preds as a rookie in 2021-22, collecting a goal and six assists.

Despite averaging only 14:22 of ice time in his current role, Novak has been one of the NHL's top point producers at five-on-five since Jan. 1, 2023. He has 45 points in those situations over the 96 games he's played in that span. That total is better than that of Brad Marchand, Mika Zibanejad, Nick Suzuki, Bo Horvat, and others.

The Predators drafted Novak 85th overall in 2015.