Predators lock in Jack Drury with five-year contract after Avalanche trade

The Nashville Predators signed forward Jack Drury to a five-year contract worth $22.5 million, an agreement announced Sunday night. The deal came just four days after Nashville acquired Drury from the Colorado Avalanche, a quick pivot that suggests the Predators wanted to remove uncertainty from their plan at center while the summer market was still moving.

Drury, 26, arrives in Nashville as a player the Avalanche used as a regular in all situations, backed by a recent workload that stood out in a full 82-game regular season. According to the report, Drury played every game for Colorado last season, finishing with a personal high of 10 goals and 27 points, numbers that gave him a clearer offensive profile without sacrificing availability.

The contract also reflects how NHL teams evaluate roles that combine results and reliability. In Nashville’s case, Drury’s “faceoff ace” label in the announcement aligns with the broader demand for centers who can win the draw and control zone starts. Faceoffs may not show up on scoring summaries, but they can shape possession, especially in tight games where special teams and last-line matchups become decisive.

Financially, $22.5 million over five years averages $4.5 million per season, a middle-tier commitment relative to the range of current NHL contracts. For the Predators, that term length matters as much as the average value, because it gives management a longer runway to build around a defined skill set at a premium position. It also offers roster stability as other offseason questions get answered in Nashville.

From Colorado’s perspective, the timing matters. Nashville moved quickly to sign Drury only days after the acquisition, implying the Predators viewed their new center as more than a short-term fit. The Avalanche, meanwhile, were comfortable trading a player who contributed offense and durability, a combination that tends to be valuable even before the contract sheet gets involved.

There is still a practical question that will shape how the agreement ages: how Drury fits into Nashville’s day-to-day usage and depth chart. The report establishes his recent production, but it does not outline line combinations, power-play responsibilities, or faceoff deployment in Nashville. Those tactical details are usually where long-term signings either translate into sustained value or fall short of expectations.

As the Predators finalize the rest of their offseason roster picture, Drury’s agreement becomes a key marker for their center group. Fans should watch how the team positions him in critical moments, whether his faceoff role becomes a consistent feature of game planning, and how his offensive numbers evolve in a new system. If Nashville can preserve the stability he showed by playing all 82 games, the signing gives them both a short-term floor and a longer-term bet on continued development.