sports
Nashville Predators sign Mavrik Bourque to six-year, $33 million contract after acquiring him from Dallas
The Nashville Predators signed center Mavrik Bourque to a six-year contract worth $33 million on July 4. The deal followed the team's acquisition of Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Dallas Stars three days earlier.
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The Nashville Predators signed center Mavrik Bourque to a six-year contract worth $33 million on July 4. The agreement carries a $5.5 million salary cap hit through the 2031-32 season, after which Bourque becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Predators acquired Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Dallas Stars on July 1 in exchange for Nashville's 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick originally obtained from the Vegas Golden Knights for forward Cole Smith.
Lyubushkin carries a $3.25 million cap hit. Bourque, 24, recorded 20 goals and 21 assists in 82 games for Dallas during the 2025-26 season while averaging 15:29 of ice time per game. He played that season on a one-year contract worth $950,000 after the Stars drafted him 30th overall in 2020.
Dallas general manager Jim Nill said the team could not retain Bourque under the salary cap. "You have to be cap compliant, and those decisions have to be made. He bet on himself last year," Nill said.
Bourque is tied with Jonathan Marchessault for the third-highest cap hit among Nashville forwards. The signing marks the largest move to date by new Predators general manager Chris MacFarland, who replaced Barry Trotz after arriving from the Colorado Avalanche.
