The Predators made their first free-agent addition of the offseason Tuesday, adding right-handed defenseman Nick Perbix.
Nashville signed Perbix to a two-year, $5.5 million deal, meaning he will count $2.75 million against the cap in each of the next two seasons.
The Predators were in dire need of right-handed blueliners, as there were only two on the roster — Justin Barron and Nick Blankenburg — after a season that saw Nashville part ways with Dante Fabbro (waived) and Alexandre Carrier (traded as part of the deal for Barron).
The 6-4, 205-pound Perbix brings more size to the Predators’ defensive corps, days after Nashville acquired 6-6, 245-pound blueliner Nicolas Hague in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights.
It’s certainly possible that Perbix and Hague will be the Preds’ third defensive pairing in 2025-26.
Perbix, 27, played a steady role last season for Tampa Bay, averaging 14:41 ice time in 74 contests for the Lightning. He totaled 19 points (six goals, 13 assists), adding 67 blocked shots and 50 hits for a team that totaled 102 points, third best in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.
In Tampa’s five-game loss to Florida in the playoffs, Perbix produced one assist, averaging 12:57 per contest.
A Minneapolis native, Perbix has played at least 69 games in each of his three NHL seasons, all with the Lightning. His most productive season was 2023-24, when Perbix averaged 17:05 ice time, totaling 24 points (two goals, 22 assists) while contributing 114 blocked shots and 80 hits.
The pickings were pretty thin for the Predators as they searched for a right-handed blueliner in free agency.
Other possibilities included 31-year-old Cody Ceci, who signed a four-year, $18 million deal with Los Angeles, as well as San Jose’s Jan Rutta and Edmonton’s John Klingberg.
The Predators have more roster options on the left side, as that group of defensemen includes Hague, Roman Josi, Brady Skjei, Adam Wilsby, Tanner Molendyk, Andreas Englund and Jordan Oesterle.