Four players set to leave Nashville in free agency next week

Today, Nashville Predators general manager David Poile announced that forwards Craig Smith and Mikael Granlund will not return to the team next season, and will become unrestricted free agents on October 9th at 12 pm ET. Smith was in his final year of a five-year contract and made $4,250,000 during the 2019-20 season. Granlund was in the final year of his three-year contract and made $5,750,000 during the 2019-20 season.

#Preds GM David Poile says forwards Craig Smith and Mikael Granlund will go to free agency.— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) September 29, 2020

Smith, 31, was drafted in the fourth round, 98th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2009 NHL entry draft. In 661 regular season games, he has 330 points (162 G, 168 A), 264 penalty minutes, and is a +67. In 52 playoff games, Smith has put up 16 points (7 G, 9 A), 12 penalty minutes, and is a -3.

Granlund, 28, was drafted in the first round, 9th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2010 NHL entry draft. In 540 regular season games, Granlund has 352 points (11 G, 241 A), 150 penalty minutes, and is a +22. In 49 playoff games, he's recorded 24 points (9 G, 15 A), 8 penalty minutes, and is a +/-0. On February 25th, 2019, Granlund was traded to Nashville in exchange for Kevin Fiala.

David Poile also announced two defenceman will not be returning for next season. Yannick Weber and Korbinian Holzer will also become unrestricted free agents on October 9th.

#Preds GM David Poile says defenseman Korbinian Holzer will not return to the team. Parting ways with Yannick Weber is also likely.— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) September 29, 2020

Weber, 32, was drafted in the third round, 73rd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2007 NHL entry draft. In 497 regular season games, he has put up 94 points (28 G, 66 A), 195 penalty minutes, and is a -25. In 42 playoff games, Weber has 6 points (4 G, 2 A), 19 penalty minutes, and is a -4.

Holzer, 32, was drafted in the fourth round, 111th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2006 NHL entry draft. In 206 regular season games, he's recorded 27 points (6 G, 21 A), 139 penalty minutes, and is a -13. In 5 playoff games, Holzer has 0 points, 18 penalty minutes, and is a +/-0.

Nashville has eight pending unrestricted free agents. Colin Blackwell, Craig Smith, Mikael Granlund, Yannick Weber, Korbinian Holzer, Frederick Gaudreau, Matt Donavan and Troy Grosenick. They also have one pending restricted free agent, Rem Pitlick.

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