Nashville's Martin Erat, right, shown celebrating a goal in a game last November, has played his entire NHL career with the Predators. Nashville's Martin Erat, right, shown celebrating a goal in a game last November, has played his entire NHL career with the Predators. (Paul Vernon/Associated Press)

The Nashville Predators have locked up one of their pending restricted free agents, signing forward Martin Erat to a seven-year deal.

The deal for the 26-year-old Czech Republic native is for $31.5 million US.

Erat finished with 57 points for the second consecutive season. He also scored 23 goals, a career high, and was second on the team with six game-winning goals.

"Martin Erat is a perfect example of this organization’s philosophy,” Nashville general manager David Poile said. “He came to us as a seventh-round draft pick, and grew steadily into an elite player when given an opportunity to succeed.

"He has continued to take on more responsibility and is an integral part of our team moving forward. We look forward to his leadership and production for the next seven years.”

Erat was drafted by the Predators in the 2001 NHL entry draft. For his career, Erat has 85 goals and 168 assists for 253 points in 407 regular- season games.

Erat has two goals and four assists in six games while playing for the Czech Republic at the world hockey championships in Quebec City.

Promising young defencemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are now Nashville's primary restricted free agents.