NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Nashville Predators have signed defenceman Jeremy Lauzon to a four-year contract worth $8 million. 

The Predators announced the move Monday, keeping the defenceman they got in March at the trade deadline from Seattle. General manager David Poile said they're excited to keep Lauzon. 

“Jeremy jumped right into our lineup with his physical style of play and fits the identity that we like to bring each night," Poile said. "At just 25 years old, he’s helped us further reach our goal of getting younger, and he is thrilled about the opportunity to continue to improve and develop with our organization and in the city of Nashville.”

Lauzon played 13 games with Nashville with a goal and a plus-3 rating, averaging 17 minutes, 6 seconds of ice time. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound defencseman had a career-high 224 hits this past season, seventh most among NHL defencemen, and blocked a career-high 63 shots. 

The native of Val'd'Or, Quebec, in Canada wanted to stay in Nashville after starting his career with Boston as the 52nd overall pick in the 2015 draft. 

“My teammates and the entire organization made me feel welcome from the day I arrived, and I’m looking forward to some stability and a chance to help our team that’s on the rise and is heading in the right direction," Lauzon said. 

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The Associated Press