The Predators bought out Duchene's contract when Barry Trotz was hired in 2023. That deal has paid him significantly over the last two years and will continue through 2026. Duchene is due $6.55 million in 2025-26, which downgrades to $1.55 million for the final three years of the buyout.

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill didn’t have any cap space, but he had everything else that Matt Duchene wanted. In the end, that was enough to keep his leading scorer in Dallas for four more seasons.