Predators sign Filip Forsberg to an 8-year contract worth US$68 million

The Nashville Predators have re-signed Filip Forsberg to an eight-year, US$68 million contract with an annual salary cap of $8.5 million.

The team announced the deal Saturday, locking Forsberg up before he can enter the open market when the NHL’s free agency opens next week. He is now under contract until 2030.

Forsberg, who turns 28 in August, is coming off the best season of his career. The native of Ostervala, Sweden set career highs with 42 goals, 42 assists and 84 points in just 69 games. Forsberg scored eight game-winning goals, one shy of nine in the 2016-17 season.

The Predators felt close enough to an extension with Forsberg that general manager David Poile opted to keep him rather than look to trade him.

Poile in June said he and the Forsberg camp have continued negotiations, although the general manager also has several backup plans. That included Forsberg possibly testing free agency, knowing that Nashville could offer him an eighth year versus seven by other teams if a contract is reached by July 13.

The 10-year veteran played 566 games with Nashville after being acquired on April 3, 2013, in a trade that sent Martin Erat and Michael Latta to the Washington Capitals for the 11th overall pick in the 2012 draft.

He finished fourth in voting for the Calder Trophy in 2014-15 and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team after leading Nashville with 26 goals and 63 points. He became the first Nashville player to score in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game and scored the franchise’s first playoff hat-trick this season in Game 5 against Chicago in the first round.

Forsberg had two natural hat tricks in the space of three games between February 23 and 27, 2016 against Toronto and St. Louis. He was the first to do so in three games or less since Petri Skriko in back-to-back games in 1986 with Vancouver.