Predators Aquire Defensemen Jeremy Lauzon, Poile Comments On Forsberg Contract Talks

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Jeremy Lauzon. Photo: Courtesy of the Seattle Kraken

The Predators made a few moves prior to the 2022 NHL trade deadline, including acquiring defenseman Jeremy Lauzon from the Seattle Kraken for a second-round pick in the 2022 draft.

The 24-year-old was selected by the Kraken from Boston in last year’s expansion draft. Lauzon has appeared in 129 games with Boston and Seattle since making his League debut during the 2018-19 season.

So far, he is fifth among NHL defensemen in hits with 176 and has 49 blocked shots, five shy of a career high. He averages the second-most shorthanded ice time among Kraken blueliners at 1:54, has started a career-high 65.4% of his shifts in the defensive zone, and is logging 17:49 of TOI per game, the second-best mark of his NHL tenure.

Lauzon brings youth and muscle, and will be a much needed addition to give the Predators fresh legs when games begin to get tighter as the season winds down.

Along with Lauzon, Nashville traded for veteran defenseman Alex Biega from the Toronto Maple Leafs for future considerations. Biega is in his 12th professional season this year, the majority of which has been spent with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. He eclipsed the 100-hit mark four times at the NHL level, dishing out a career-high 126 with Vancouver in 2017-18.

Both of these moves show the emphasis on bulking up the Pred defense prior to the upcoming NHL Playoffs.

Filip Forsberg. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

After much speculation, the Preds decided not to trade star forward Filip Forsberg prior to the deadline.

Predators General Manager David Poile addressed the decision after Monday’s deadline and spoke about the situation regarding a new contract for Forsberg.

“I wouldn’t want anybody to think any less of our desire to retain him as a member of the Nashville Predators for the next several season because we haven’t announced a new contract for him today,” Poile explained in the press conference. “We’re gong to continue to work quietly with Filip and his representative towards the contract that pays him equitably while giving the organization the flexibility to build and maintain a roster to compete for the Stanley Cup.”

The indication is that the team plans to sign him to a long-term contract and be competitive for years to come. Poile made it clear that the interest in bring Forsberg back and for the long-term is mutual, but he also said that the current focus is getting this year’s team back in the playoffs to compete for the Cup.

“In the short term, we’ve all agreed to place our focus on the task at hand, and that’s solidifying a spot in the 2022 playoffs and competing for the Stanley Cup,” Poile added. “I continue to believe that Filip feels the same way, that he will be a part of the Predators for a long time.”

Steven Boero
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