Nashville Predators Lock Up Star Forward Forsberg For Six Years, $36 Million

Everyone's favorite trade acquisition has just gotten paid. This is a fantastic deal, it's as simple as that.

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have locked up forward Filip Forsberg to a six-year, $36 million deal ($6 million AAV). Forsberg, acquired from the Capitals in exchange for Martin Erat, will remain a Predator until 2022.

From the Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (June 27, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that the club has signed forward Filip Forsberg to a six-year, $36 million contract. Forsberg will make $6 million each season from 2016-17 to 2021-22.

"Filip is among the most skilled, dynamic talents we've ever had in the organization and is an integral part of our success for the next six years and beyond," Poile said. "While we have already seen his creativity, hockey sense and puck skills, he has yet to reach the peak of his abilities. We have full confidence that he will continue to blossom into one of the top players in the world.

This is just another example of our ownership group’s commitment to the franchise, our fans and the entire community to build a team that can reach our ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup."

Forsberg, 21 (8/13/94), led the Predators in goals (33) and points (64) for the second consecutive season during his sophomore campaign in 2015-16. His goal total tied the single-season franchise record and for 10th in the NHL, while his point total put him among the League’s Top 25. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound winger recently received two first-place nods and finished 10th in voting for the 2016 Selke Trophy – given to the NHL’s top defensive forward – while playing all 82 of Nashville’s contests for the second season in a row.

After some careful grooming in the AHL, Forsberg developed into a crucial component of the Predators' two playoff runs in the last two years. The 21 year-old Swede's career exploded in 2014-15 with a 60 point season that not a lot of people saw coming. Inexplicably, he was not a Calder Trophy finalist that year, despite finishing with more points than '13-'14 Calder winner Nathan MacKinnon. He responded to the snub with another 60 point season this past year, while also tying the franchise record for goals in a season with 33.

Forsberg has proven to be an All-Star caliber player in his few short years in the league. He is an above-average goal scorer with a great wrist shot. He's a play-maker that can turn puck possession into scoring chances. His skills make him a dangerous power play forward, but also a formidable penalty-killer. He has improved his physical game, even utilizing the "butt-check" with some regularity this past season. In truth, there is no one on the Predators quite like Filip Forsberg.

Scoresberg. Fil The Thrill. #PrinceFilip. Whatever you call him, get used to seeing him in Nashville for a long, long time.