Predators trying to lock-up RFAs

Nashville Predators GM David Poile tells John Glennon of The Tennessean that he intends to sign the club’s top restricted free agents before they hit the open market.

The Predators have four key RFAs, namely forwards Martin Erat and Jordin Tootoo and defensemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber.

“We’re going to sign all our restricted free agents,” he said. “In all likelihood, it will be during the off-season. In terms of putting together our (franchise) game plan, I think it’s very important we re-sign our young players. … Any plan that I have, our restricted free agents are all included in that.”

However, Poile says that there are no priorities or timetables.

“We’re just going to go case by case or player by player,” Poile said. “There’s no timetable for anybody.”

With the aforementioned four players re-signed and forwards Jason Arnott and David Legwand, defenseman Dan Hamhuis and goalie Chris Mason already under contract, the Predators would have a great core of players locked-up for the next few years.

“It gives us a core of about eight guys, which would be a pretty good foundation to build on,” Poile said.

But should any of Erat, Tootoo, Suter, and Weber going into July 1st unsigned, they could all become targets of offer sheets. Teams looking to improve their rosters with these players could offer them large contracts to pry them away from Nashville.