The Nashville Predators have been the biggest spenders for the 2024 NHL Free Agent frenzy, and the hits keep coming.
Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli reported that the team has signed defenseman Brady Skjei to a seven-year, $49 million deal.
Sources say #preds have agreed to terms with D Brady Skjei: 7 years x $7 million.@DailyFaceoff
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2024
Seravalli ranked Skjei No. 4 in his Top 75 Pending Free Agent list. He scored 13 goals and 34 assists for 47 points, averaging 21:17 of ice time in 80 games for the Hurricanes. Those were career highs in both assists and points.
In nine NHL seasons, Skjei has 68 goals and 179 assists for 247 points, averaging 20:38 in ice time in 609 career regular-season games with the Hurricanes and New York Rangers.
Drafted No. 28 overall by the Rangers in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Skjei had an incredible rookie season, scoring five goals and 34 assists for 39 points in 80 games. During the 2019-20 season, Skjei was traded to the Hurricanes for a first-round pick.
As mentioned, the Predators also signed another big name, adding two-time Stanley Cup champion Steven Stamkos on a four-year, $32 million deal.
Sources say #preds have agreed to terms with Steven Stamkos: 4 years x $8 million.@DailyFaceoff
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2024
In 79 games during the 2023-24 season, Stamkos scored 40 goals and 44 assists for 84 points, marking the sixth time in his career he has hit the 40-goal mark. He won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy twice in his career (2009-10 and 2011-12).
The signing marks the end of Stamkos’ 16-year career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he scored 555 goals and 582 assists for 1,137 points in 1,082 career regular-season games.