Free agency is just over a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. Even with the UFA crop being thinned out in recent months, there will be some quality veterans set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Predators.
Key Restricted Free Agents
D Justin Barron – Brought in from Montreal, the former Colorado first-rounder was one of former general manager Barry Trotz’s attempts to shake up the defense core and add youth. Sometimes caught in bad pinches from head coach Andrew Brunette’s aggressive system, Barron had lapses in his 59 games but still came away with a respectable 51.3% corsi for at five-on-five. With the young smooth skater Ryan Ufko emerging, there’s competition. Barron also overlaps with fellow righty Nicklaus Perbix, three years his senior, whose first season on his new team was a regression from Tampa. Nashville could make moves to allow Barron a shot at a bigger role, but doing so would signify a willingness to embrace growing pains. Either way, he’s due for a raise from $1.15MM, which would likely land in the $1.75MM range with two years of term. It’s worth mentioning that new GM Chris MacFarland was an assistant with the Avalanche when they selected Barron, as well as when they dealt him to Montreal for Artturi Lehkonen.
Other RFAs: F Ryder Rolston, F Massimo Rizzo, F Dalton Bancroft, D Christoffer Sedoff, D Jack Matier
Key Unrestricted Free Agents
F Erik Haula – Acquired last summer for spare parts as a cap casualty, the journeyman put together another solid season with 38 points in 81 games. Rather than cashing in at the deadline, the Preds kept Haula down the stretch to benefit their young wingers. Dumped by New Jersey for his supposedly over-valued $3.15MM cap hit, the center should have no problem obtaining the same salary on the open market as one of the very few middlemen capable of offering much offensive ability. Nashville could easily make that happen, but at age 35, it makes a lot of sense for Haula to sign with a contender while the Preds open the door for KHL free agent signing Vitali Pinchuk, if not a younger center they could trade for. If that’s the case, it’s the second time the Finn came and went in Nashville for one year.
F Tyson Jost – Picked up off waivers from Carolina in the fall, the former high draft pick is past the point of reaching his former potential, but is still solid depth in his own right. Capable of playing center, Jost mostly stuck on the wing this year. The 28-year-old did exactly what the Predators took him on for, skating in 69 games and coming away with 16 points. Playing in the most games in a campaign since 2018-19 as a youngster in Colorado, Jost didn’t do much to move the needle on his stock. A team could come calling with another offering around the league minimum, but playing in over 60 NHL games again would be a surprise. The Predators would be best suited to turn over Jost’s role to 23-year-old Zachary L’Heureaux, although there are ties with MacFarland from their time in Denver, for what it is worth.
D Jordan Oesterle – The soon-to-be 34-year-old’s status as a “key” UFA is indicative of Nashville’s relatively barren free agent class, although Oesterle respectably has over 400 NHL games of experience. Claimed off waivers from Boston in March 2025, the lefty only got into one game with the Predators this year, otherwise playing in the AHL. Never known as much of a play-driver, Oesterle was tremendous for the Milwaukee Admirals, recording 46 points as their top defenseman, ranking second in team scoring. He’d be a great addition to any AHL club with the ability to be called up in a pinch as depth, or the Michigan native could follow the international route for the first time.
Other UFAs: D Andreas Englund, D Kevin Gravel
Projected Cap Space
The Predators enter this offseason with over $28MM in cap space, which puts them among the 10 franchises with the most breathing room. Having weathered the worst of Matt Duchene’s buyout, they’ll net another $5MM to work with as his total will drop. Duchene and Kyle Turris’ charges total just $3.55MM against the cap next season. By no means looking to spend big again, Nashville would be wise to weaponize their cap space with buy-low players that can support their young cast, or trades, like they did with Haula. Even if the Predators maximize opportunities for their youth, there’s still a huge need down the middle, along with rounding out their forward depth. There’s more than enough cap space to do so, however, MacFarland and Rob Blake deem fit.
Photos courtesy Eakin Howard-Imagn Images (Barron) and Jeff Curry-Imagn Images (Jost). Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.
MacFarland is taking over at a good time. Some good young talent coming up and lots of cap room to work with.