The Nashville Predators kicked off Monday with a trade instead of waiting for the bell. Hours before NHL free agency officially opened at noon ET, they pulled the trigger on a deal with the Dallas Stars that adds a young forward with offensive upside and a veteran defenseman.
Mavrik Bourque, the Stars’ 2020 first-round pick, is headed to Nashville along with blueliner Ilya Lyubushkin. The return going back to Dallas is Nashville’s own second-round pick in 2027 and Vegas’ third-round pick in 2028, per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.
Bourque took a while to crack the NHL lineup full-time, but he made it count last season. After playing just one regular-season game and one playoff game in 2023-24, he became a regular for Dallas in 2024-25. Over 156 career games with the Stars, he put up 31 goals and 35 assists. He’s still a restricted free agent, and reports suggest his next contract will land around a $3 million average annual value.
The Predators have plenty of cap room to make that happen. They’re sitting on more than $20 million in space, so signing Bourque won’t be an issue. The bigger question is where he fits into a lineup that’s been retooling all offseason.
Lyubushkin is more of a known quantity. He’s a stay-at-home defenseman who grinds out minutes and kills penalties. He went undrafted, came over from the KHL, and has bounced around the league — Arizona, Toronto, Buffalo, Anaheim, and then Dallas for the last two seasons. He’s entering the final year of a contract that carries a $3.25 million cap hit.
This is just Nashville’s latest move in a busy summer. They’ve been aggressive in free agency and the trade market, trying to reshape a roster that missed the playoffs last year. Adding Bourque gives them a young, cost-controlled forward with some scoring pop. Lyubushkin adds depth on the back end, even if he’s not flashy.
Free agency opens at noon ET Monday, and the Predators are far from done. They’ve got cap space, a clear need for more skill up front, and a front office that isn’t afraid to swing.
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