Andrew O’Brien will be back in the Nashville Predators’ system next season, after signing a one-year two-way deal for 2017-18. The contract will pay him $650K at the NHL level. O’Brien was set to become a restricted free agent this summer.
Acquired from the Anaheim Ducks earlier this season in exchange for Max Gortz, O’Brien played 32 games down the stretch for the Milwaukee Admirals scoring 10 points. The 6’4″ defender was originally drafted in the fourth round, but has still yet to make his NHL debut. At the time of the deal, the Predators were without Roman Josi, P.K. Subban and Petter Granberg due to injury, making their depth chart on defense look quite a bit thinner.
With the two-way deal—and given Nashville’s incredible skill at the NHL level—the 24-year old O’Brien is likely headed for the AHL again next year. The Predators will likely come to several deals of this nature in the coming weeks, as they have several minor-league RFAs that will need new contracts for next season.