NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Nashville Predators don’t appear likely to be sellers at the NHL trade deadline, and they took an important step toward at least standing pat in their playoff pursuit by extending pending free agent forward Tommy Novak.

The team on Monday re-signed Novak to a three-year contract worth $10.5 million. He’ll count $3.5 million against the salary cap through 2027.

Novak, 26, was a late bloomer after being a third-round pick of the Predators nearly a decade ago. He has established himself as a full-time NHL player over the past two seasons.

This season, Novak has 34 points through 51 games and has contributed to Nashville being on track to return to the playoffs. He set a career high in points last season with 43 on 17 goals and 26 assists.

Even last season, Novak was on a two-way contract that would have paid him $80,000 in the minors. But now he has shown general manager Barry Trotz he belongs with the big club, and the multiyear contract provides Novak with long-term security in the NHL.

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The Associated Press