While not mathematically eliminated, the Predators were a team that wasn’t going to the playoffs when center Matt Duchene was placed on injured reserve on March 6. However, without Duchene, Nashville went on an impressive run and currently sits fourth in the Central Division. While the Predators didn’t get better without Duchene in the lineup, the 30-year-old center now returns to the team (after missing almost six weeks due to a lower-body injury), and many eyes will be on him.
The Athletic’s Adam Vingan (subscription required) writes that Duchene needs to prove his value to the Predators. Duchene, who signed a seven-year, $56 million contract in July of 2019, hasn’t lived up to his end of the contract so far after two years. He was expected to step in and solve the Predators' second-line center issues, but instead he has struggled. He scored an underwhelming 13 goals and 42 points last season in 66 games and has struggled even more with just three goals and eight points in 24 games this season. With five more years of Duchene at $8 million per season, the Predators have to hope they can get him going in hopes of potentially convincing a team, such as the Seattle Kraken to take him.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!