Predators sign Justin Barron to one-year contract

A young rearguard is staying in the Music City for at least one more year.

On Monday, Nashville Predators general manager Chris MacFarland announced that the team has signed defenseman Justin Barron to a one-year contract. The deal has a cap hit of $1.575 million for the 2026-27 season.

In a release, MacFarland highlighted Barron’s youth and ability to continue to develop with the team in Smashville.

“Justin Barron is a 24-year-old, right-handed defenseman who we feel still has growth in his game,” said MacFarland. “He can skate and has a lot of physical tools. We’re looking forward to seeing him at our training camp in September.”

It’s a little bit of a pay bump for Barron, who was a restricted free agent heading into the summer. He came to the end of his two-year contract, which he signed with the Montreal Canadiens in July 2024. That deal had an AAV of $1.15 million. He was traded to the Predators in December 2024, as part of the deal that saw Alexandre Carrier go to the Canadiens.

In his first full season with the Preds, Barron battled injury and inconsistency, spending some nights in the press box as the team on the ice fought to stay in the Wild Card race in the Western Conference. He ended up appearing in 52 games, the most of his young NHL career, registering nine assists. He posted a plus/minus of -1 while averaging 14:15 of ice time per game. His offensive production was down from the year before, when he notched six goals and 13 points in his split campaign with the Habs and Preds.

In 208 regular-season games in the NHL, the former Colorado Avalanche blueliner has scored 18 goals and 34 assists for 52 points.