Predators Sign Mavrik Bourque to 6-Year, $33 Million Deal After Trading 2 Picks for His Rights

Q: Is Mavrik Bourque's six-year contract the single biggest bargain of this NHL offseason?

Probably not the single biggest bargain, but it is one of the better value bets of the offseason. At $5.5 million annually for six years, Nashville is paying for Bourque’s present as a solid middle-six, two-way forward while betting on more growth. He is 24, coming off a 20-goal, 41-point season in 82 games, and he still has room to climb if his role expands. In a weak free-agent market where teams have been paying premiums for younger NHL-ready talent, locking in that age profile and upside at this cap hit looks team-friendly. The case for calling it a bargain is strong because the deal buys prime years without top-line money. Bourque was also viewed as a player who could have drawn offer-sheet interest, which suggests broader league belief in his value. Nashville acquired him for draft picks and immediately signed him at a number some around the league viewed as “pennies on the dollar.” Still, “single biggest bargain” is too definitive based on the available evidence. The broader offseason has included other value plays, including veterans on below-market cap hits and creative trades with retained salary. Without seeing how Bourque performs in a larger role, it is hard to rank this above every other deal. The fairest assessment is that Bourque’s contract has a real chance to become one of the offseason’s best values, especially if he develops into a 50- to 60-point center. Right now, it looks more like an excellent upside contract than an undisputed No. 1 bargain.

Q: Did Dallas sacrifice a future star in Mavrik Bourque just to re-sign Jason Robertson?

Yes — the evidence strongly suggests Dallas moved Mavrik Bourque largely because of its salary-cap squeeze around Jason Robertson, though not because Bourque lacked value. Bourque, 24, had just produced a 20-goal, 41-point season and was still a restricted free agent. Nashville immediately signed him for six years at $5.5 million annually, a deal many around the league viewed as strong value for a young two-way center with upside. That supports the idea that Dallas gave up a player who could still become a core piece. The timing and structure of the trade point to cap management. Dallas also sent Ilya Lyubushkin to Nashville, clearing additional money, while receiving only future draft picks. Reporting around the move consistently tied Bourque’s availability to the Stars’ need to create room for Robertson, whose next contract is expected to command roughly $12 million or more per season. Dallas had limited cap space, and Bourque was also seen as an offer-sheet risk. That said, calling it purely a one-for-one sacrifice for Robertson oversimplifies it. Dallas is also trying to preserve a contender’s roster, replenish a thin prospect pipeline, and avoid losing Bourque for inadequate compensation. So this was broader cap triage, not just a Robertson-only decision. Still, in practical terms, Dallas did give up a promising young player because its cap situation — driven heavily by Robertson’s pending deal — left little room to keep everyone.

3 articles · Updated · prohockeyrumors.com · Jul 5

$33 million over six years gives Nashville restricted free agent Mavrik Bourque a $5.5 million annual cap hit, trimming the Predators' cap space to $8.25 million once finalized.
The deal comes three days after Nashville acquired Bourque's signing rights from Dallas with Ilya Lyubushkin for second- and third-round picks, a cheaper route than an offer sheet that would have cost a first and third.
Bourque, 24, broke out with 20 goals and 41 points in 82 games last season, after leading the AHL with 77 points in 71 games in 2023-24.
The contract carries no signing bonuses or trade protection and runs through 2031-32, buying out three of Bourque's unrestricted free-agent years as Nashville bets on a top-six role and further offensive growth.