Nashville Predators to buy out Matt Duchene
Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz has made his mark on the club early, buying out 32-year-old Matt Duchene. Duchene had three years remaining on his contract; according to CapFriendly, he was carrying an $8 million AAV.
For two of those seasons, there is a $5.5 and $6.5 million cap charge for the Preds.
Duchene signed a seven-year, $56 million contract with the Preds in 2019.
Barry Trotz has clearly placed an emphasis on one thing as #preds GM: Culture.
Matt Duchene had 3 years remaining at $8 million AAV.
His buyout calculation, per @CapFriendly, is not pretty. For two of those seasons, there is a $5.5 and $6.5 million cap charge.
Duchene registered 22 goals and 34 assists for 56 points in 71 games during the 2022-23 regular season. The year prior, Duchene notched a career-high 43 goals and 86 points.
The Haliburton, Ontario product was initially drafted third overall in the 2009 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche after scoring 31 goals and 79 points in 57 games with the Brampton Batallion of the Ontario Hockey League. Duchene made his NHL debut during the 2009-10 season, recording 24 goals and 55 points in 81 games; where he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team after leading all rookies in goals and points, Duchene was a finalist for the Calder Trophy.
Duchene was with the Avs until his departure during the 2017-18 season, when he was dealt in a three-team deal that saw him land in the nation’s capital, Ottawa. Following a season and a half in Ottawa, the Senators moved him to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he appeared in 23 games, recording 12 points. He added 10 points in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The two-time NHL All-Star and Olympic gold medalist has appeared in 976 games over the span of a 15-year career, collecting 316 goals and 428 assists for 744 points in that frame with the Avalanche, Senators, Blue Jackets and Predators.