NASHVILLE - The Nashville Predators are keeping Mikael Granlund around with a much longer contract than the one he signed last year.
Granlund has signed a four-year, $20 million contract, and general manager David Poile said keeping the 29-year-old forward in Nashville was a priority during the NHL free agency period, noting that Granlund has been one of the Predators' most consistent players and fits what they want to build.
"We're excited to see his continued impact in all three zones of the ice for the next several years and know he and his leadership will be instrumental in helping with the growth of the young group of forwards we've assembled," Poile said in a release announcing the move late Wednesday night.
Granlund, who signed a one-year contract last December, has led Nashville with 24 goals and in average ice time since John Hynes was hired as head coach on Jan. 7, 2020, and only Filip Forsberg has more points for Nashville in that span. Granlund tied for the team lead with 13 goals and was fourth with 27 points this past season, when Nashville's late surge extended its streak of postseason appearance to seven years.
The Predators also signed 28-year-old goaltender David Rittich to a one-year, $1.25 million deal. A starter for the Calgary Flames from 2018 to 2020, he split last season between the Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs as a backup with 19 appearances.