The Nashville Predators inked star defenseman Roman Josi to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of just over $9 million, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Josi will become the third-highest-paid blue-liner in the NHL behind Erik Karlsson ($11.5 million AAV) and Drew Doughty ($11 million AAV) when his new pact takes effect in 2020-21.

The 29-year-old captain is in the final campaign of a seven-year, $28-million deal he signed with the Predators in June 2013.

Josi is coming off a 56-point season and has already racked up 13 points in the first 11 games of 2019-20 while leading Nashville in ice time.

He averaged 52 points over the previous six campaigns.

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