Spencer Stastney, Nashville Predators Receive Arbitration Ruling

After an arbitration hearing on Monday, the third-party arbitrator released a decision on Wednesday, July 24, awarding defenseman Spencer Stastney a two-year contract. The first year is a two-way deal with a salary of $825,000 at the NHL level and $400,000 at the AHL level with the second year being a one-way contract at $850,000.

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Predators requested a two-way, two-year deal with an NHL salary of $775,000 for both seasons and a $125,000 AHL salary for the 2024-25 season and a $175,000 AHL salary for the 2025-26 season. Stastney entered arbitration with the desired result of a one-way, one-year deal at $950,000. Earlier I predicted a two-way, one year deal at $850,000. This is splitting the difference for both parties. Not a bad deal all around.

While I have discussed the Predators’ salary cap situation previously, it’s important to note that the distinction between one-way and two-way deals has zero impact on a player’s waiver status or the in-season salary cap hit.

For waivers status, the determination is based on when the player signed their entry-level contract and how many seasons and/or games that player has accumulated in the NHL. Stastney remains waiver exempt until he plays 42 more NHL games or after the completion of the 2024-25 regular season, whichever comes first. Whether he signs a one-way or two-way deal is irrelevant.

In the offseason, two-way deals impact the offseason salary cap on a pro-rated basis based on the number of games the player played in the NHL the previous season, while a one-way salary is fully applied to the offseason salary cap hit. However, when it comes to in-season salary cap, all that matters is how many days that player is on the NHL roster. If a player is sent to the AHL, the salary cap is not counted unless that player’s salary is higher than the NHL’s burying threshold ($1.15M for 2024-25).

In short, I would expect a lot of paper transactions on off days this season for Stastney to activate that AHL salary.