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Nashville Predators Sign Mavrik Bourque to Six-Year Deal
The Nashville Predators signed center Mavrik Bourque to a six-year, $33 million contract. The signing followed a trade that brought Bourque's negotiating rights from the Dallas Stars along with defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin.
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The Nashville Predators signed center Mavrik Bourque to a six-year, $33 million contract on Saturday. The deal carries a $5.5 million salary cap hit through the 2031-32 season, after which Bourque becomes an unrestricted free agent. Nashville acquired Bourque's negotiating rights from the Dallas Stars three days earlier.
In the trade, the Predators sent their own 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick originally obtained from the Vegas Golden Knights. Dallas also included veteran defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, who carries a $3.25 million cap hit. Bourque recorded 20 goals and 21 assists in 82 games during his second full NHL season with Dallas while averaging 15:29 of ice time per game.
The Stars drafted him 30th overall in 2020. He earned $950,000 on a one-year contract last season. Dallas general manager Jim Nill said the team could not retain Bourque as a restricted free agent due to salary cap constraints.
"You have to be cap compliant, and those decisions have to be made," Nill said. Bourque's new cap hit ties him with Jonathan Marchessault for the third-highest among Nashville forwards. Acquiring Bourque marked the first major transaction for new Predators general manager Chris MacFarland, who replaced Barry Trotz.
