Fantasy Impact: The Predators have inked speedy winger Viktor Stalberg to a four-year contract worth $3 million per season. Veteran center Matt Cullen was also signed two a two-year deal worth $3.5 million per season.

Update: Matt Hendricks has signed a four-year deal worth $1.85 million per. Gritty guy who is dynamite in the shootout.

Nashville Gets:

A solid second/third line winger who can play top six minutes in a pinch (hey, sounds like every other Predators forward). Stalberg had a good regular season in Chicago but saw his role decreased during the postseason. He’s big and a great skater, and he can score goals, but this is a lot of term for him. The dollar amount isn’t so bad considering overpayment is the name of the game today.

Stalberg should get a chance to prove himself in a top-six role with the Predators this year. Chicago wouldn’t have been able to afford him at this price, and there is now a spot for Bryan Bickell and another young forward to move up. Bickell more than earned it with a stellar postseason (and a big contract soon after).

Cullen is a speedy two-way center who is best suited for third line duty at this stage of his career. He’s quite similar to David Legwand – a bit bigger, older, and maybe a bit less skilled. Very similar players though. Here’s more on Cullen.

Hendicks is a fourth line energy guy with a lot of talent in the shootout. He maybe good for an extra point or two next year for the Predators because of this. A lot of money and term, though. Nashville knows you don’t need to ice five forward lines, right?

Fantasy Players Impacted:

Stalberg won’t play with Toews/Kane in Nashville, but he will get more ice time and a bigger opportunity to prove himself. Cullen’s role in Nashville will be similar to his in Minnesota – third line minutes with the occasional stint in the top six depending on injuries and other factors.

Potential lines for the Predators:

Who freakin’ knows! So many similar forwards. A shot in the dark:

Stalberg-Fisher-Wilson

Forsberg-Legwand-Hornqvist

Beck-Cullen-Bourque

Spaling-Gaustad-Hendricks

Clune

Kostitsyn to KHL?

Potential lines for the Blackhawks:

Bickell-Toews-Kane

Sharp-Pirri-Hossa

Saad-Shaw-Bollig

Kruger-Handzus-Morin/Smith

Carcillo

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Stalberg

2. Jeremy Morin

3. Mikael Granlund

4. Mike Fisher

5. Ben Smith

6. David Legwand

7. Brandon Bollig

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

1. Taylor Beck

2. Craig Smith

3. Austin Watson

4. Gabriel Bourque

5. Rich Clune

6. Nick Spaling