One of the most intriguing pieces to the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline is officially off the board. Nashville Predators forward Tommy Novak has agreed to a 3 year, $10.5M contract extension ($3.5M average annual value) per a report from Elliotte Friedman later confirmed by the Predators social media. Novak had been on an expiring contract with a salary of $800K where he would have been an unrestricted free agent and over the past couple weeks he had become the subject of many trade rumors. Instead, this extension will keep Novak in Nashville through the 2026-2027 season.
Novak is a real player development success story for the Predators. He was originally drafted by Nashville in the 3rd round of the 2015 entry draft. After multiple seasons with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals, Novak received his first call-up to the NHL in the 2021-22 season where he netted 7 points across 27 games. Since becoming a full-time NHL player towards the end of the 2022-23 season, Novak has been a key contributor for the Predators offensively with 30 goals and 77 points in 102 games. He is also a significant part of the power play where 22 of his points have come with the man advantage. Novak’s ability to control the puck in tight spaces to make creative plays make him unique among Predators forwards and capable of playing with any line.
Looking forward, Tommy Novak stays with a forward group that will introduce a number of highly talented players over the next couple seasons. Prospects like Joakim Kemell and Matthew Wood will need a capable playmaker who can get them the puck in spaces to use their shooting skills. Novak fits that bill perfectly and will continue to be a significant contributor in the Predators lineup.
Statistics courtesy of Hockey Reference
