Predators GM wants to sign Forsberg long-term: report

Nashville Predators general manager David Poile would like to sign forward Filip Forsberg to a long-term contract, he said on ESPN 102.5 in Nashville on Tuesday.
Forsberg can be a restricted free agent July 1.
"The good news is he'd like to stay here," Poile said. "Hopefully we can work out a contract for a few years rather than a shorter-term one."

Forsberg, 21, led the Predators in points each of the past two seasons. He had an NHL career-high 33 goals and 64 points this season, the final season of his entry-level contract.
"It's not easy because we all have comparables that go by points and age and games played," Poile said, "and [Forsberg's management team] are always going to gravitate towards who has the highest salary."
Poile also said he would like to re-sign backup goalie Carter Hutton, who can be an unrestricted free agent July 1. Hutton, 30, has spent the past three seasons in Nashville. He had a .918 save percentage and 2.33 goals-against average in 17 games this season.
"Carter was good on the ice, gets along well with [goalie] Pekka [Rinne] and is a good teammate," Poile said. "We would like to bring him back. We're working on it. It just hasn't happened yet."