Predators, Forward Erat Agree On 7-Year Deal Extension

Nashville, TN (AHN) - Martin Erat and the Nashville Predators on Monday agreed to a contract extension that would lock in the forward until the 2015-16 season.

The new deal would give the 26-year-old right wing $31.5 million over the next seven years, keeping him with the hockey club that drafted him in the seventh round in 1999.

"Martin Erat is a perfect example of this organization's philosophy," Predators general manager David Poile told The Sports Network. "He came to us as a seventh-round draft pick, and grew steadily into an elite player when given an opportunity to succeed."

"He has continued to take on more responsibility and is an integral part of our team moving forward," Poile added. "We look forward to his leadership and production for the next seven years."

Erat has played all his six NHL seasons with the Predators and this season helped them notch the no. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Erat scored 23 goals and assisted on 34 shots in 76 games this year as Nashville got eliminated by Detroit in the first round.

Erat first saw action in the 2001-02 season and has since made strides in the Nashville offense. He has turned in back-to-back 57-point outputs the last two seasons and had 98 points in the two years before that.