Which Nashville Predators on Expiring Contracts Raised Their Value in Playoffs
The Nashville Predators had a hard-fought first round series with the Vancouver Canucks, but fell in six games. Some players impressed and others didn't, but the focus here is on which upcoming free agents raised their values in the playoffs.
There are three that stand out through the six games that may or may not be back, but will earn a bit more on their deals this summer because of their play.
Jason Zucker
Signing with the Arizona Coyotes after playing in the Pittsburgh Penguins' top-6 the season prior, Jason Zucker had a tough season for the most part. Once acquired by the Predators at the trade deadline, brighter times came for him.
He signed a one-year, $5.3 million AAV deal with the Coyotes and was hoping to get a longer term deal next season with his play. While Zucker scored 14 goals and 32 points in 69 regular season games, he made an impact in the playoffs.
He wasn't going to get that much on his next deal and it might have been tough to get a multi-year contract from his play all season. When it mattered, the Predators had themselves a top-6 winger who did everything right for them and provided only positives.
Zucker finished the six-game series against the Canucks with one goal, two assists, a +4, 15 hits, and 17 shots. He was always involved on the right side of the puck, and at 5-on-5, he finished with 57.89 shots for % (SF%), 54.2 expected goals for % (xGF%), and 60 high danger chances for % (HDCF%).
Zucker was on the ice for three goals for and none against, one of only three players on the Predators to not be on the ice for a goal against at 5-on-5. The others were Spencer Stastney and Juuso Parssinen who played far less than Zucker (73 minutes). I don't expect him to get as much as he did on his contract this season, but he might have earned himself $500,000 more AAV than he was going to before playoffs.
Alexandre Carrier
There were rumors that Alexandre Carrier might be traded or signed at the trade deadline this season. Neither happened, but he was a bright spot in the lineup for Nashville in the six playoff games.
Though the defense wasn't that productive in providing offense, Carrier was one of the exceptions, scoring a goal and recording three points. He was counted on to start draws in his own end (55.6% defensive zone starts), but this made it so he was out there for more possession by the Canucks, hurting his underlying numbers.
Carrier played 21:07 per game, had 19 blocked shots, and a 52.11 SF%. All of his points came at 5-on-5 and he scored the game-winning goal in Game 5 to extend the series. Carrier is still on the younger side and can be a top-four defenseman on a number of teams. Also shooting right, his playoff performance might've added term and/or money to his next deal.
Tyson Barrie
Barrie only played in one game for the Predators, but he made an impression. He is a power-play specialist and was utilized that way in his postseason appearance. He was put on the top power play and recorded an assist in Game 5 on the game-tying goal.
His value was very low after this season and Barrie hadn't gotten in a game since March 28. He didn't get any shots, hits, or blocks, but did have strong CF% (56.52), FF% (53.85), SF% (62.5), and xGF% (50.79). He took advantage of proper usage and it might have earned him a better deal this offseason.
I want to make note of Kiefer Sherwood this season. I believe he raised his value during the regular season more so than the playoffs, but did play his role in the postseason. He is an energy player who hits and gets under players' skins, but he didn't necessarily have great underlying numbers and scored one goal (empty net) and no assists in six games.
I don't think that all these players will be back next season, but they definitely helped their cases in stepping up when they were needed in the playoffs this season.
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