Predators lock in center Jack Drury with reported five-year, $22.5 million deal

The Nashville Predators have reportedly added Jack Drury to their forward group, agreeing to a five-year contract worth $22.5 million with an annual cap hit of $4.5 million. The deal, first reported by Yahoo Sports, completes a key piece of roster-building for a Predators team looking to stabilize its middle-of-the-ice matchups.

In the report, Drury is framed as a former Colorado Avalanche center whose value comes from his ability to suppress opponents, a “shutdown” style often used to describe players trusted in tougher game situations. Nashville general manager Chris MacFarland is cited as viewing Drury as both a defensive anchor and a veteran locker-room presence, which indicates that the Predators are prioritizing more than just points production as they shape their upcoming roster.

Contract structure matters in the NHL, and the reported cap hit suggests Nashville expects Drury to remain a long-term piece rather than a short-term bridge. A $4.5 million annual number also indicates the Predators are comfortable allocating meaningful payroll to the center position, where faceoffs, matchups, and two-way responsibilities can influence the game beyond the stat sheet.

Drury’s move also carries team-to-team context. The report ties him directly to his previous work with the Avalanche, positioning this as a transfer of playing style and habits developed in Colorado’s environment into a new system in Nashville. For the Predators, adding a center with a defensive reputation can affect how the coaching staff deploys lines, particularly in late-game situations or against opposition top units.

As with any reported contract term, verification is important. At this stage, the publicly available details in the Yahoo Sports report provide the core facts on length, total value, and annual cap hit, but the story may still be subject to standard league processing and final documentation. Fans should expect additional confirmation through official team channels once transaction paperwork is completed.

The immediate impact to watch is how Nashville incorporates Drury into its center depth and whether his presence changes the team’s overall defensive identity. Over the summer and into training camp, the Predators’ lineup decisions around line matching and responsibility will likely be where Drury’s “shutdown” label becomes measurable in practice, even before regular-season production arrives.