Predators' Reported Contract Talks With Beauvillier Must Not Go Anywhere

The Nashville Predators have a lot of cap space to use this offseason and there are some very good options available to them in free agency and through trades. This is why the team must be careful with who they bring back from their group of UFAs.

Anthony Beauvillier is a great example of this. He's not a bad player but has had a tough last couple of seasons jumping between four teams. At the trade deadline he landed in Nashville and according to The Fourth Period , he enjoyed his stint with the Predators.

Nashville and Beauvillier's agent have spoken about a potential extension already. In my opinion, with all of the potential players to fill the roster next season, that's not a great idea to extend him.

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It was also reported that it sounds like the initial talks between the two sides went well, but both are keeping options open. This is the right move for the Predators as there is a chance Barry Trotz and company are just seeing what Beauvillier is asking for and for how many years. He can probably get a better contract someplace else as his ice time would be very limited if he is even extended in Nashville.

Beauvillier is coming off of a three-year, $4.15 million AAV deal and he only produced five goals and 17 points in 60 games this season. While he was once a top-6 winger, that's not the case anymore. Predators players like Juuso Parssinen, Philip Tomasino, Cody Glass, and Mark Jankowski were all more productive while playing fewer games.

There is already going to be a big logjam with the expectation that the Predators are going to bring in a couple of big names for the top-6 and with all of the depth/prospects the organization has. I see Nashville talking as a courtesy to Beauvillier, but I can't see him signing with the Predators.

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