With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now just a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Nashville Predators.
Transitioning out of the David Poile era at last year’s trade deadline, the Predators stole plenty of headlines, shipping out the likes of Mattias Ekholm, Tanner Jeannot, and Nino Niederreiter for a plethora of draft picks. Sporting an expectedly middle-of-the-pack roster, Nashville still holds some assets that could net some solid returns at this year’s deadline as well.
Record
28-25-2, 5th in the Central Division
Deadline Status
Conservative Sellers
Deadline Cap Space
$37.287 MM on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2024: NSH 1st, NSH 2nd, TB 2nd, WPG 2nd, NSH 3rd, DAL 3rd, NSH 4th, CHI 4th, EDM 4th, NSH 5th, DAL 6th
2025: NSH 1st, TB 1st*, NSH 2nd, NSH 3rd, NSH 4th, NSH 5th, NSH 6th
* A part of the trade that sent Jeannot to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay sent a conditional 2025 first-round selection to Nashville. If the pick falls within the top 10 of that NHL Draft, the Lightning will retain the draft selection.
Trade Chips
For this year’s playoff run, it is going to be incredibly challenging for the Predators to make any headway into the top three of the Central Division, but remain only two points back of the last wild-card spot in the Western Conference. With nine games to go until the trade deadline, the head coach turned General Manager Barry Trotz may still be indecisive when it comes to the organization’s deadline plans. 
If the team ultimately ends up in a playoff position by March 8th, it is unlikely Trotz will deal from the cupboard, as the team has placed a high priority on prospects and draft selections over the last calendar year. More than likely, even if they are competing for a playoff spot, Trotz will choose to sell on the team’s upcoming unrestricted free agents in the hopes of recouping some assets.
In an evergrowing market for goaltenders, Juuse Saros could become the prize of the deadline, but the Predators have been adamant on not only keeping their goaltender but are much more interested in discussing a contract extension. As far as rental pieces that Nashville could dangle, Thomas Novak and Alexandre Carrier have both received interest from contending teams, while defenseman Tyson Barrie was permitted to seek a trade back in early December.
Team Needs
1) Continue To Pile Up Draft Picks – At the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville, the Predators were able to make 11 draft selections, with six of those coming in the first three rounds. Once again, the team is poised to select six more players in the first three rounds of the 2024 NHL Draft which should certainly help them build up substantial prospect depth through the system. With adequate depth at all three positions at the AHL level, Nashville is once again in a position to deal out expiring contracts without having to take on a player in return.
2) Beef Up Special Teams – If the Predators are convinced they can make some noise in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, their main priority should be to make additions to both sides of the special team units. Currently, the team holds a 19.37% powerplay rate (21st in the NHL) and a 75.43% penalty-kill rate (27th in the NHL). Likely nibbling around the edges of the market if they do choose to buy, the team could look to poach Victor Olofsson from the Buffalo Sabres for powerplay help and Kevin Rooney from the Calgary Flames for a boost to the penalty kill.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.