The offseason has arrived for half of the league’s teams that aren’t taking part in the playoffs plus those who have already been eliminated. Accordingly, it’s now time to examine what they will need to accomplish over the coming months. Next up is a look at Nashville.
A season which had no real expectations, the Predators improved from a brutal 2024-25 campaign, at times looking like they could sneak back into the playoffs. Coming up short where they’ll be rewarded with drafting 10th overall, even if they had made it, there was little optimism on their chances to get past a Western Conference powerhouse. Nashville has been at a crossroads for some time, but now with a new general manager set to come in, it could finally be time to embrace the dreaded tear down, a question which is already burning hot.
Hire A General Manager
It hardly requires analysis to determine the first order of business for the Predators as the clock ticks on their general manager search. The longer it drags on, the more speculation rises that they’re waiting on a candidate whose season has not yet ended. After David Poile’s 25 years with the organization, quickly followed by Barry Trotz whose tenure ended sooner than expected, it’s a feeling unfamiliar to the Predators to be in this position. Although uneasy, it presents a breath of fresh air.
A stable franchise which has rounded the corner from their fragile standing in the 2000s, the tough truth is that Nashville has just one true playoff run in their history. They’ve kicked the can down the road avoiding a tear down for practically half a decade now. Giving up on 40-goal-scorers Filip Forsberg and Steven Stamkos, along with franchise legend Roman Josi is easier said than done, but if anybody is willing to make the tough choices to benefit the future, it would be a new outside voice.
Former Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is a natural candidate, given his ties to the organization as their inaugural captain who has ample front office experience. Yet it’s curious as to why the role remains open. Perhaps Carolina’s Darren Yorke has their interest? Colorado’s Kevin McDonald? Maybe after evaluating every option they’ll opt to go internal, promoting Jeff Kealty, who has worked his way up the organizational ladder since 2001.
Whoever they choose, the lucky hire will be at a crossroads on day one; either a tear down, or continuing to take on the uphill battle of supplementing an aging core without premium draft selections.
Attempt To Move Jonathan Marchessault
Even if the 35-year-old was still producing in the Music City, it’s time for the franchise to turn over a new leaf under new management. However, the key word here is “attempt”, as Jonathan Marchessault’s production has fallen off a cliff, and he’s signed 2028-29 at $5.5MM.
Holding a 15-team no-trade list, it’s widely thought that the veteran is ready to move on. He won’t just do it anywhere though, seeking a favorable situation for both his family and career. With just 31 points in 62 games last year, and his worst possession metrics since being a fringe depth piece on Tampa Bay a decade ago, Nashville will have to retain salary. It’s no longer a matter of what they can fetch in return, as opposed to how much weight they can shed.
Loosely linked to the Canadiens as a team he’d like to go to, but otherwise not known to have reached any real talks, there’s no telling what comes next. To Montreal’s credit, they lack anchors to offer up. To do their respected veteran right and get him to his home province, Nashville would have to not only retain, but add sweeteners. It’s anybody’s guess as to other hypothetical teams, but they’d have to greatly value the undrafted Conn Smythe winner’s intangibles to bring him aboard.
Shop For “Change of Scenery” Center
The Predators are dangerously thin down the middle, an issue which will probably remain in October. Ryan O’Reilly has been tremendous, finishing one point behind Forsberg for team lead this season (74). Still, at age 35, there’s no telling how long he can keep it up before aging gracefully into a strong 3C.
Neither Fedor Svechkov or Brady Martin should be counted on for any meaningful time at 2C next season. Vitali Pinchuk’s signing as a KHL free agent was a big win, leaving fans optimistic he can fulfill an Erik Haula type role, but it’s no guarantee he will even make the roster out of camp. Finally, retaining Haula remains a possibility, but the 35-year-old has the chance to jump to a contender as one of few middlemen up for grabs with any real offensive ability.
After a short Trotz era mostly brought lateral trades, not making them much younger, the Preds would be wise to check in on Seattle’s Shane Wright or Anaheim’s Mason McTavish.
The challenge Nashville would face in discussion for Wright is Seattle’s shopping list. Having no interest in getting older, it would require pieces from the Predators’ several recent first round selections going out to the Kraken, at that point solving one problem only to create another.
That’s why McTavish stands out; his $7MM cap hit through 2030-31 is a stumbling block for most trade partners. Anaheim has shown willingness to bring in overpaid veterans in the past, and if Nashville could sell Marchessault on becoming the next, suddenly there’s a foundation. Salary retention aside, Frank Vatrano’s $4.57MM could come into play, and righty Nicklaus Perbix may be attractive to the Ducks. It’s a complicated deal to imagine, yet McTavish is the one diamond in the rough center the Preds could obtain without wrecking their prospect pool. It could also present an opportunity to shed Marchessault at the same time, sending the respected veteran to a favorable situation.
Consider Making A Blockbuster Trade
No stranger to making the headlines with bold trades toward the end of Poile’s tenure, Trotz was less aggressive in that area. Now with a barren free agent market, it’s the perfect time for the Predators to cash in on at least one of their veterans, even if avoiding a full scale raze of the roster.
Especially if able to land a young center meeting the criteria above, and committing to an aggressive shake up, it would be a perfect time to find O’Reilly’s new home. Coming off his highest scoring campaign since his All Star days as a Blue, the center makes just $4.5MM for the next two seasons. Even assuming Nashville holds off on shipping O’Reilly to a divisional rival in Minnesota, it figures that Detroit, Carolina, or New Jersey would be aggressive in pursuit, and there’s no telling who else could make a call. The only road block; the Predators are treating the Stanley Cup Champion as if he has full trade protection, so it would have to be a destination favorable to the Ontario native.
The options don’t end there for the Predators, either. Stamkos’ 42 goals were a highlight of a relatively dull season in Nashville, showcasing what they are paying him $8MM until 2028 for. Now midway through the contract, he flipped the script from a brutal situation to one which the Preds could feasibly get out of. Even if the 36-year-old would play out the contract gold, it’s most likely that 2025-26 was his best season. Assuming it’s downhill from here, now’s the time to weigh options, although much like O’Reilly, Stamkos holds the cards in his future.
Even outside of O’Reilly and Stamkos, who most likely will make another stop before the end of their remarkable careers, there are more bold options. Forsberg, Josi, and Juuse Saros, pillars of the franchise, are serious long shots, holding control as well. Yet with aggressive teams turning to the trade market this summer, and a new general manager at the helm, it’s time to give it thought.
Sign a Bottom Six Center
Even with the playoffs in reach, the Predators opted to cash in on upcoming free agents Michael McCarron and Cole Smith at the trade deadline, bringing in a second and a third round pick. Depleting their fourth line, from there they came away with an 11-8-2 record, left watching the beloved teammates move on to the playoffs without them.
Needing another penalty killing faceoff specialist, enter Utah’s Kevin Stenlund, 29-years-old, projected to fetch just $1.45MM according to AFP Analytics. The 6’3” righty won 54% of his draws this year, and could easily get back to double digit tallies as a Predator. Another option, Vancouver’s Teddy Blueger is slightly less dependable on the dot but makes up for it with his transition abilities, enough to offer third line contribution, and would come in under $3MM.
With their issues revolving around the center ice position, the Predators should have no issue forking over the going rate to replace McCarron. Even if the team goes nowhere in the next few years, they’re vital pieces of the penalty kill who can be flipped for assets later on. Absolutely looking to avoid another July 1 of big spending, if there’s one hole to fill on that day, it’s a fourth line center.
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