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Nashville Predators give Calle Jarnkrok six-year contract extension

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 9: Calle Jarnkrok #19 of the Nashville Predators checks his blade prior to Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 9, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Nashville Predators have signed versatile young forward Calle Jarnkrok to a six-year, $12 million contract extension.

Last season the 24-year-old Jarnkrok set career highs with 16 goals and 30 points in 81 games played. He spent the latter part of the season playing wing on the team’s first-line with James Neal and Ryan Johansen. He can also play center.

Jarnkrok held a plus-51.83 score and venue adjusted 5-on-5 CF% and had a minus-1.04 5-on-5 score and venue adjusted CF% Rel.

Nashville acquired Jarnkrok from the Detroit Red Wings for David Legwand at the trade deadline of the 2013-14 season.

The Tennessean’s Adam Vingan pointed out that Jarnkrok’s $2 million per-year salary cap hit is the lowest amongst players who have at least six year contracts. The next lowest is Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Trevor Daley at $3.3 million.

Last season, Jarnkrok made $735,000 on a one-year contract.

With Jarnkrok signed, the Predators have locked up all of their NHL restricted free agents this offseason and have $5,501,669 of salary cap space heading into the upcoming year according to General Fanager.

The deal helps set up Nashville’s salary structure for next summer when the team needs to re-sign Johansen who will presumably receive a big long-term contract.

It could also add some intrigue to how the Las Vegas team approaches Nashville’s expansion roster next season since the Predators now have a bevy of younger assets locked up to long-term contracts and need to figure out which ones to protect.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!