Will Predators' past experiences shape Ryan Ellis contract negotiations?

Ryan Ellis said all the right things when asked about a possible contract extension.

It doesn't get more direct than the Predators defenseman saying that "if it was my wish, I’d finish my career here."

"We have a fairly large window for us to compete," said Ellis, who has played 396 games across seven seasons with the team. "Not only compete, but to be at the top and have a chance to win each and every year."

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That seems to bode well for the Predators as the two sides discuss an extension, which Ellis is eligible to receive July 1.

"There’s no reason for me to believe that Ryan Ellis doesn’t want to be here,” Predators general manager David Poile told 102.5-FM last week. “He said it. ... There’s no reason for him to believe that we don’t want him here. Economics usually decide these situations."

Ellis’ current contract, signed in October 2014, is one of the best bargains in the NHL at $2.5 million per year.

Limited to 44 games during the regular season because of knee surgery, the 27-year-old performed at roughly a 60-point pace over a full season. His average of 0.73 points per game led Predators defensemen and tied for ninth-most among NHL defensemen who played at least 40 games.

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Ellis, who was the runner-up to Roman Josi for the Predators’ captaincy last year, realistically could command upwards of $6 million per year on his next contract, which wouldn't affect the Predators' salary cap until the 2019-20 season.

New contracts this summer for pending restricted free agents Juuse Saros, Ryan Hartman and Miikka Salomaki shouldn't cost much, so the Predators can devote their attention to negotiating an extension with Ellis.

Ideally, the Predators will have a contract in place this offseason. If not, then Ellis' situation may elicit comparisons to defenseman Ryan Suter from six years ago.

Hopeful that Suter would sign with them long-term, the Predators held onto him in the final year of his contract, then watched as he spurned them for a 13-year, $98 million deal with the Minnesota Wild in July 2012.

"I don't think Ryan Suter at the end of the day, and this is my responsibility, was ever going to re-sign here," Poile said.

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The major difference is the Predators are now a far more competitive and desirable team. Ellis shares the Predators’ vision for the future, and they have tremendous respect for him.

But above all else, this is business.

“With (Ellis), I guess at the end of the day, it’s the same situation (as Suter)," Poile said. "You will reach a point that if he’s not signed that we have to sit down with (him) and discuss the dynamics of what should happen going forward."

"Right now, I think we’re in a good place. We do have all summer long. We do have the year. I’m hoping it’ll have a favorable outcome. … I always have a few balls up in the air, but to me, arguably this is the most important one right now because it’s involving the most dollars. It doesn’t allow you to have the flexibility to get into other things until you get this situation straightened away.”

Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.