Jack Drury and Andrew Brunette are now tied together in Nashville after the Predators made a quick call on a new center piece.
The number is the story. Drury is staying with the Predators on a 5-year deal carrying a 4.5 million AAV, which gives Nashville cost certainty on a player it just targeted aggressively.
That matters because Drury only arrived on June 24. Nashville acquired him from Colorado with Chase Bradley and a 2029 third-round pick in exchange for Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux.
So this is not a wait-and-see move. Chris MacFarland brought Drury in and moved fast to make clear he is more than a short stop in the middle of the lineup.
The fit is easy to understand. When Nashville announced the trade, MacFarland called Drury a hard-working, reliable center who can handle tough assignments and is elite in the faceoff circle.
That tells you exactly what this contract is about. The Predators are not paying for flash here. They are paying for role definition, detail, and a center they believe can be trusted in harder minutes.
-
Massive five-year extension confirmed out of Nashville
Drury's latest NHL line helps explain the bet. He finished 2025-26 with 29 points in 82 games, which is not top-line production but does fit the profile of a dependable middle-six center.
And that profile matters on this roster. Ryan O'Reilly has 1 year left on his current deal at the same 4.5 million cap hit, so Nashville now has another center locked in beyond that window.
-
The timing also says something about MacFarland's summer. He took over as president of hockey operations and general manager on June 2, then started reshaping the roster fast.
Brunette benefits from that. A coach coming off a rough season does not need more uncertainty down the middle, and this move cuts off one of those files before camp even gets close.
There is still risk in any 5-year commitment to a player without big scoring totals. But 4.5 million is a manageable number if Drury stays what Nashville thinks he is.
That is why this deal makes sense. Jack Drury was not brought in as a maybe, and the Predators just backed that up with a contract that says they already know where he fits.
Did the Predators make the right call by giving Jack Drury 5 years?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Confirmation involving an Elias Pettersson trade: Canucks fans won't be happy
