The Nashville Predators have reached a contract extension with 23-year-old forward Luke Evangelista. The deal is for two years at $3 million per season, according to insider Frank Seravalli.
Evangelista was the top remaining unsigned restricted free agent after Mason McTavish and Luke Hughes signed their deals last week. This contract gives him a chance to prove himself over the next two seasons before his next deal.
Last season, Evangelista scored 10 goals and had 22 assists for 32 points in 68 games. Over his three-year NHL career, he has totaled 33 goals and 53 assists in 172 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he has one goal in six games.
For Nashville, this is a big win. Getting the deal done before the regular season prevents negotiations from dragging on. Evangelista missed training camp and most of the preseason, but the team now has him locked in.
The Predators see him as a key part of their young, emerging offense. He’s expected to grow into a top-six role and help the team bounce back after a tough 2024–25 season. This short-term deal gives both Evangelista and Nashville time to see his next step as a key player for the team.