Converts to 1.3 million USD.
Bearing in mind it’s the total for 3 years…. I think it’s comparable to what he might have gotten in his first 3 yrs in NA, grand total.
He also might have struggled to clear $200,000 in those 3yrs in NA, after taxes, *if* he simply couldn’t crack the NHL at all and was just making $70-80k per year in the AHL (plus one signing bonus).
So the gamble is mostly on the years that come afterwards on his part.
I guess it's not impossible the Preds will keep tabs on him meanwhile, but by the time he's turning 25 and that contract is over, I would like to think the Preds would have found other ways to build up their defense corps. What we don't have is prospects who are ready NOW/next season. But we do have quite a few guys who should be coming on the radar in the next 2-4yrs, and a ton of draft picks. So if he had a chance of making an impression here, it was probably going to be more in the short/immediate term, whereas by waiting until 2026 the ship will probably have sailed.
Of course, I don't watch him play, so maybe both sides just think he's not really that good and truly wouldn't have had a chance here for a few years either. From a stats-watching perspective his season in the KHL seemed impressive, but maybe there are other issues in his game that would have precluded him having any chance to play here in the shorter term also.