Nashville Predators' Spencer Stastney Receives Arbitration Award

The Nashville Predators and top defensive prospect Spencer Stastney couldn't settle on a new contract for the player, so the two sides took things to arbitration.

Stastney received a qualifying offer from the Predators before July 1. Instead, Stastney and the Predators brought fairly different contract wants to the table. The d-man wanted a one-year, $950,000 deal while Nashville hoped to sign Stastney to a two-year, two-way deal where the pay is $775,000 at the NHL level both years, but $125,000 in 2024-25 and $175,000 in 2025-26 if he plays in the AHL.

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The contract was settled pretty fairly and really helps Nashville next season in which they are very tight for cap space and may need to send Stastney down to the AHL at times.

The arbitration award was a two-way deal the first year with a $825,000 NHL salary and $400,000 AHL salary, but a one-way, $850,000 salary in the second year. By the second year, the Predators will have figured out what they are going to do with Dante Fabbro and Luke Schenn.

The 24-year-old spent the majority of 2023-24 in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals, recording five goals and 20 points in 44 games while being the top defenseman, but also scored two goals and four points in 20 games for the Predators. He got into three playoff games for Nashville and 10 playoff games for Milwaukee.

Stastney is a talented young defenseman and a piece that should fit in nicely in the NHL sooner rather than later. This contract gives the Predators options, but they will likely see Stastney take a spot in the top six for the majority of this season as he forced his way into the NHL last season with such strong play.