The Nashville Predators acquired defenseman Nicolas Hague in a three-player trade that sent center Colton Sissons and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to the Vegas Golden Knights, both teams announced Monday.
In completing the trade, the Predators signed Hague — a pending restricted free agent — to a four-year $22 million contract. Nashville also acquired a third-round pick in the 2027 draft, which would turn into a second-round pick should Vegas advance to the Western Conference finals in the 2026 playoffs.
Also part of the trade has the Predators retaining half of Sissons' salary. He is due to make $2.86 million in the final year of his seven-year contract.
The retooling Predators benefit by adding a hard-hitting, 6-foot-6 player to their blue line on a team that's missed the playoffs for the second time in two years.
The Golden Knights, essentially freed up salary cap space by removing the uncertainty of what they stood in having to pay Hague, while adding two established players at a low rate and entering the final years of their respective contracts. The trade improves the team's salary-cap position to add high-priced talent as the NHL's free agency period opening on Tuesday.
Vegas has been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who is regarded as the top free agent set to enter the market.
The 26-year-old Hague is a defensive-minded player who had five goals and 12 points in 68 games last season. Overall, he has 20 goals and 83 points in 364 career games over six NHL seasons in Vegas.
“Nicolas’ profile as a defenseman is one that teams around the NHL covet – big and physical with strong skating ability,” Predators general manager Barry Trotz said. “By signing him for four years, he will play an integral role in shaping our blueline not only now, but in the future.”
Another objective for Trotz was a focus on getting younger following a draft in which the Predators had three first-round selections and five of their seven overall picks in the first two rounds. Nashville opened the draft by selecting OHL center Brady Martin at No. 5.
The 31-year-old Sissons leaves Nashville after spending his entire 11-season career with the Predators. He had seven goals and 21 points in 72 games last year, and has 95 goals and 221 points in 691 career outings.
Lauzon, 28, represents a $2 million cap hit. He has seven seasons of NHL experience and was limited to an assist in 28 games last year before sustaining a season-ending lower body injury.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
John Wawrow, The Associated Press
