The Nashville Predators shocked many people in the offseason by going in a new direction and not only trading Ryan Johansen to the Colorado Avalanche, but buying out the contract of Matt Duchene with three years remaining on the deal.
We are now close to the end of the season, so it is a good time to evaluate how each party has fared since the buyout and if the move has truly helped the Predators and Duchene.
Two seasons ago Duchene smashed his career highs in goals (43) and points (86) in a season and set the Predators' single-season goals record to go along with the second-highest points mark in franchise history as well. Things were looking great for the Predators, then last season was a tough go for a number of veterans. This saw a shift and gave Barry Trotz, who was coming in, a great idea that the young players can help lead this team into the future, leading to the buyout of the veteran.
The Predators are weak down the middle this season and could have definitely used an experienced and productive player like Duchene. The money wouldn't have been a problem for the team since they still have so much cap space, even after adding at the trade deadline this season.
The buyout definitely lit a fire under Duchene to bounce back in a big way this season. I'm not sure that would have happened on the Predators if he had still been around, even if he was playing with Filip Forsberg and Gustav Nyquist on the top line. Despite his $75 million career earnings to this point, he had something to prove after being bought out and is having a great season.
Duchene is definitely better off on the Dallas Stars this season and his cap hit provided the extra space the team needed to add and form a great group. The Predators on the other hand are in a playoff spot, currently riding a 12-game point streak, have lots of young talent that is on the way, and more that have already arrived. The Predators aren't necessarily built to win right now, but are looking that way in the very near future. Duchene, especially the way he's playing as a second line center, is a piece that a team that is competing for the Stanley Cup should have.
I think that the buyout has truly helped both sides as Duchene is having a great season and so are the Predators. It doesn't always work out for players with one team, but they can find their game elsewhere. The Predators moved on sooner rather than later and didn't drag out the inevitable either. I hope the Predators and Stars meet in the first round of the 2024 playoffs because there will be exciting storylines to follow.
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