Predators lock in forward Mavrik Bourque with a six-year, $33 million deal

The Nashville Predators signed forward Mavrik Bourque to a six-year contract worth $33 million, a move that formalizes a midweek trade and gives the Predators a long runway with a productive young attacker. The deal, announced Saturday, reflects Nashville’s decision to keep Bourque as part of its core build rather than treating the newcomer as a short-term fit.

Bourque, 24, arrives in Nashville after being acquired from the Dallas Stars on Wednesday in a trade that also sent defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to the Predators, according to reporting linked to the Associated Press. The contract length suggests Nashville is betting that Bourque’s offensive output can remain consistent as he transitions into a new system and team identity.

Last season with Dallas, Bourque posted career highs of 20 goals and 21 assists in 82 games, a scoring line that helped position him as more than a supplementary option. The Stars have used a mix of established contributors and developing forwards over recent years, and Bourque’s spike in production made him one of the more reliable elements in their offense during the regular season.

Nashville’s cap-and-roster planning will now center more directly on what Bourque can do over multiple seasons. A contract of this size typically comes with expectations to contribute at even-strength and provide secondary-to-primary scoring depending on who else is in the forward group and where coaches deploy him game to game. The Predators will also have to integrate him alongside their existing core while maintaining balance across lines.

From a team-building standpoint, the Predators’ move also clarifies what kind of forward profile they want to surround their depth with: a player who can contribute goals and play in enough situations to accumulate points over a full season. Bourque’s track record of playing a full slate of games matters because it gives the organization flexibility to build around him during both long stretches of regular-season play and the heavier matchup demands that arrive in the later months.

The Stars, for their part, will have to replace Bourque’s combination of scoring and workload. Trading away a player tied to career-best numbers is rarely simple, and Dallas’ response will likely involve other internal options and offseason additions to restore scoring depth.

Going forward, the key question for Nashville is how quickly Bourque settles into new teammates, new special teams roles, and the Predators’ long-term structure. Watching his early usage, line-mates, and power-play involvement will provide the clearest indicator of whether the six-year commitment translates into an offensive centerpiece or a high-level supporting forward.