Matt Duchene was bought out on the last possible day before free agency. The longtime “white whale” for David Poile, Duchene was signed in free agency in 2019 and immediately felt at home in Nashville. The country music-loving forward hit his stride in gold in 2021-22, posting record-breaking numbers to propel Nashville into the first round of the playoffs.
In Bryan’s breakdown of Duchene’s buyout, he noted that Nashville is paying Duchene a large amount of money to not play for the Predators.
“Matt Duchene had three years remaining on his contract. According to CapFriendly, Duchene had $14 million in base salary and $6 million in bonuses in his three years left. Going forward, Duchene’s buyout will last 6 years – and since he is a veteran player, he will be paid at 2/3 his rate over that duration. The cap hit for the Predators varies over that time, ranging from $1.55 million in 2026 through 2029, but the first three years carry hits of $2.55 million, $5.55 million and $6.55 million.”
Dallas locked up Duchene on a very nice deal as soon as free agency opened up, so Nashville will see a lot of “Dutchy” wearing green and white. Duchene adds a lot to an already-stablished Dallas squad, and while he doesn’t put the Stars over the top, he makes them a little more powerful. He will join former Predator Craig Smith in Texas.
Duchene led the Predators in goals last season, even though he only played in 71 games. Although his ability as a goalscorer was proven, it’s clear that Barry Trotz was seeking a clean break with #95. I do not, however, believe that this buyout was because of Duchene’s character. Trotz can do whatever he wishes with his team, and his trades and signings are a clear indication of the direction he’s trying to go.
Duchene was impactful off the ice for the Predators. Duchene’s Honky Tonk, a special suite inside Bridgestone Arena, was designed for families who have a child fighting congenital heart disease. He was always visible within the arena, too, providing leadership and goals for a constantly changing Predators squad.
In years past, it was hard to lure free agents to Nashville…Duchene was an obvious exception. Since the 2016 All-Star Game, Duchene to Nashville seemed inevitable. The forward is a massive country music star and calls many musicians friends. Duchene signing a big dollar contract in Nashville meant that Nashville was suddenly transformed into a big-name destination for players looking for their next deal. Many folks thought he was a player who would be in Nashville for the duration of his career, similar to Ryan Johansen.
Duchene said this after signing a deal with Dallas: “It was heartbreaking, I found out very late in the process and obviously, I’ve been beyond grateful to have been a Nashville Predator. Nashville will be home for us forever. That’s where we love and that doesn’t change with this. I understand obviously what’s going on there. New things happen and directions get changed. I can’t say enough about my time there and how much I love the fans, the city, everything.”
This goal will be one of my favorites by Duchene:
Thanks, #95. I wish you the best of luck in Dallas.