Nashville’s Luke Evangelista faces a contract tug-of-war: the Predators want long-term security, leveraging eight-year-cap flexibility in the last window to sign eight-year deals; Evangelista and agent Judd Moldaver push for a bridge to maximize security as the cap keeps rising. In Anaheim, Pat Verbeek’s stance on term could push Mason McTavish toward a shorter deal, reshaping his early fantasy upside. The contract tension sets up a dual-track fantasy arc for both players as negotiations heat up.

The dynamic affects roles, minutes, and power-play exposure, with Evangelista potentially stepping into top-line duty on a longer leash if a long-term deal lands, while a bridge could keep his yearly price down but delay ceiling acceleration. For McTavish, a shorter-term path might turbocharge leverage for more minutes and PP time if he proves himself, even as the Ducks balance risk and reward in a growing core.