“Regardless of how the season went you want to end the regular season on a good note,” Steven Stamkos said.

“We weren’t able to do that.”

The team put together a solid performance for the fans at Bridgestone despite missing veterans Roman Josi, Jonathan Marchessault, and Erik Haula, but it wasn’t enough to get the win.

The game was tied 2-2 after the first period, and the Predators had a 4-3 lead and a bit of power play time to start the third period. Instead it was the Ducks who scored two goals in the final twenty minutes to earn the last available two points from the regulation season.

“I think it was a fun hockey game. I think entertaining to get some goals, showed some of our youth that organizationally is on its way,” head coach Andrew Brunette said postgame.

“Too bad with the ending, unfortunately, because I thought it was a game you’d like to see keep going, the way it was played.”

Three Takeaways from the season finale

Filip Forsberg reaches forty goals

Forsberg entered game 82 second on the team in goals this season behind Steven Stamkos. Stamkos reached the forty goal mark in Saturday afternoon’s game and added two more against Anaheim. With his second goal of the game at 14:37 in the second period, Forsberg also reached that scoring milestone.

“They really wanted to get Fil to forty,” Brunette said. “That was definitely - they wanted to find some joy in tonight, play for something.”

Forsberg scored a power play goal in the first period and an even strength goal in the second.

This is Forsberg’s third career forty goal season. He reached the forty goal mark for the first time in the 2021-22 season (42 g, 84 pts) and again in 2023-24 (48 g, 94 pts). Forsberg finishes this season with 40 goals and 75 points.

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Cole O’Hara’s NHL debut

Forward Cole O’Hara made his NHL debut in game 82 after being recalled earlier on Thursday. The 23-year-old Ontario native has 19 goals and 25 assists in his 65 AHL games this season with the Milwaukee Admirals. He played three seasons of NCAA hockey at UMass from 2022 through the end of his 2025 collegiate season.

O’Hara shared ice time Thursday with two veterans, Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly. The rookie called playing with the vets a “surreal moment”.

“Playing with Factor and Stamkos there was a really cool experience, something I’ll remember for a long time,” O’Hara said after the game.

O’Hara earned his first NHL point with a primary assist on Steven Stamkos’s first goal of the game.

“Factor did a good job hounding. I just tried to get on the D man there on the other side of the net and just found Stamkos in the slot,” O’Hara explained.

“It was nice to see him put it in.”

O’Hara called his NHL debut a learning experience. He was encouraged by Stamkos and O’Reilly to enjoy the game, have fun, and make plays.

Aiden Fink was potentially going to play in game 82 as well, but an issue with immigration postponed his NHL debut.

Special teams

Special teams ultimately decided the outcome of Thursday night’s season finale. Nashville took too many unnecessary penalties, but a strong penalty kill kept Anaheim from scoring on the power play until late in the game. An unfortunate double minor high stick call on Tyson Jost with 3:57 left to play in the third period allowed the Ducks to finally cash in on the man advantage. Troy Terry cleaned up a loose rebound to score the game winner on the ensuing power play.

Nashville’s penalty kill went 5/6 while the Predators’ power play accounted for half the goals of the evening. The Predators were 2/3 on the power play with Stamkos and Forsberg each scoring on the man advantage.

Nashville finished the regular season ranked eleventh on the power play and fifth on the penalty kill across the league.

The players and Andrew Brunette will address the media one final time next week. Fans will have to wait to see which players from game 82 will be back in gold jerseys for game 1 of the 2026-2027 season as the Predators continue their search for the franchise’s next General Manager and learn more about what direction the new GM will take the organization.

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“It’s kind of a funny term. I kind of like ‘middle child’,” Andrew Brunette said.

Evangelista has played 241 career NHL games. After Barry Trotz traded Michael McCarron (370 career games) and Cole Smith (281 career games), Evangelista stands alone as the forward bookended between veterans with 550 plus games and young players with 110 games or fewer.

While the joke about middle children is that they are often overlooked or neglected, that’s not been the case this season. Evangelista appreciates the upside of where he falls on this forward roster.

“I’m kind of in that sweet spot where I still feel like I’m learning every day from the older guys…and then also transitioning to that role with some of these younger guys where I can kind of keep a look out for them,” Evangelista said.

Much of Evangelista’s ice time this season has been with the “older brothers” of the team. Accordng to Natural Stat Trick, Evangelista has spent the majority of his minutes playing with veterans Steven Stamkos, Ryan O’Reilly, and Filip Forsberg. The line of Forsberg, O’Reilly, and Evangelista has been one of Nashville’s most dangerous, leading the team in both expected goals for and high danger chances. Evangelista, O’Reilly, and Stamkos have been together through Nashville’s recent four game win streak.

The opportunity for consistent minutes with the vets isn’t lost on Evangelista.

“You play top line minutes with Factor for example. You kind of got a responsibility to contribute offensively.”

Evangelista is contributing. Currently he has 39 assists, just one behind O’Reilly for the team high. Twenty-three of Evangelista’s assists are primary.

Ryan O’Reilly has been a big influence. Evangelista played just 24 NHL games before O’Reilly joined the Predators in 2023, so he has grown up in the NHL next to the Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, Selke, and Lady Byng winner.

When asked what the most important thing he’s learned from a player like O’Reilly, Evangelista was hard pressed to find a succinct answer.

“It’s tough to say just one,” Evangelista said.

“I think one of the first things I noticed about him was, in terms of his game, his compete level and his puck battles. I think he’s probably the best I’ve ever seen in terms of that.”

“I think also just having him around in practices. He’s running drills before practice for us. He’s running drills after practice for us.”

If media members want to talk to O’Reilly or Evangelista after practice, they know to be patient. Those two are usually last off the ice.

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Brunette believes the veterans surrounding Evangelista can help him take yet another step in his development.

“He can learn from our veterans just the moment, these big moments and big games and to see it and live it,” Brunette said. “There’s some that he grabbed and some that he let go, and how do you wake up the next morning and grab it back?”

This next stretch of hockey will be a testing ground for Evangelista’s growth. The Predators currently hold the second wildcard spot. The final twelve games of the regular season are critical if Nashville wants to play bonus hockey.

This wouldn’t be Evangelista’s first crack at the postseason. He played six games in the 2023-24 playoffs against the Vancouver Canucks.

“I’m so glad I got that experience,” Evangelista said of that playoff series.

“It’s a different game, it’s a different atmosphere, different energy. It was such a valuable experience for me. It’s such tight hockey. The margin of error - any error - can come back and bite you. It was a huge experience, and I’m glad I got that under my belt.”

Even with almost 250 NHL games to his name and plenty of ice time with the older veterans, Evangelista doesn’t feel that far removed from the younger players on the team. He was in a similar position just three seasons ago.

“I’ve been in their shoes,” Evangelista said of the younger players on the roster now.

“My first call up, I came right up after the deadline. We were making a playoff push. It was a very similar situation.”

“[I’m] kind of transitioning to that role with some of these younger guys where I can keep a look out for them and offer them some advice or kind of help them,” Evangelista said.

Nashville’s “middle child” is positioned well to learn from the veterans around him and provide support for the newer faces in the room.

For Andrew Brunette, there is another responsibility that Evangelista must focus on in this final stretch of hockey.

“He’s had a great year. Now he’s got to finish his great year.”

Tonight Evangelista and the Predators will work towards a strong finish as they host the San Jose Sharks, a Pacific team desperate to challenge Nashville for a wildcard spot.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm CT at Bridgestone Arena. The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network, and 102.5 The Game Nashville will have the radio call.

Tonight’s game won’t win the Predators anything, but it is the first in a string of games this week that could potentially end Nashville’s hopes for a playoff appearance.

Andrew Brunette and the team know how important tonight’s two points could be.

“We should have some excitement,” Brunette said after morning skate.

“This is what we worked hard all year to get into a game that’s meaningful, that we control our own destiny.”

Four Keys to the Game

1. The first ten minutes

The Predators only regulation win on their recent five game road trip came against the Kraken on March 10. Nashville had an abysmal first period in that game, allowing Seattle 19 shots on goal in the first twenty minutes. The Predators found themselves down 2-0 halfway through the first period.

Nashville had a much better start in Winnipeg against the Jets on Tuesday. Brunette wants to see the Predators kick tonight’s game off like that.

“We barely allowed a shot the first ten minutes. Got a little bit into our game,” Brunette said of Tuesday’s win over the Jets.

“So can we build on that?”

It won’t be easy. Seattle also knows the value of tonight’s two points, and they are coming off of a frustrating 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier in the week. They’ll be looking to get high volume of shots on goal and pressure the Predators early.

2. Everyone must contribute

Tonight Nashville will need their best players to be their best players. Andrew Brunette said there would be some game time line up decisions, but there’s little doubt Steven Stamkos, Roman Josi, Ryan O’Reilly, and Filip Forsberg will be on the ice. Those are the players who will need to lead the way offensively. Stamkos scored against the Kraken on March 1, but hasn’t had a point in the three games since. Forsberg snapped a four game dry spell with a goal and assist against the Jets on Tuesday. The veterans will need to produce tonight if Nashville wants to get the win.

That isn’t to say there isn’t an important role for the young players. The youth have been contributing on offense, but tonight they also need to bring the vibes.

“I think all these young guys coming in, myself included, we just want to bring that energy, bring that compete level and help us win games,” Zachary L’Heureux said after morning skate.

“It starts tonight.”

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3. Special teams

The Predators have the statistical special teams advantage against the Kraken, but they need to convert those statistics into scoring. Seattle ranks 31st on the penalty kill while the Predators are 11th in the league on the power play. If Seattle finds themselves in the penalty box and Nashville can convert, special teams could be the deciding factor in this game.

Conversely, the Predators need to stay out of the box. They have given up two goals on nine kills in their three games since facing the Kraken on March 10. Seattle currently ranks 15th on the power play and their second unit has found success in recent games. If Nashville commits any infraction, they’ll need their best from the penalty killers for the full two minutes.

4. Goaltending showdown

Seattle’s goaltending duo of Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord has put together an impressive season in net. Grubauer and Daccord boast .909 and .902 save percentages respectively.

Saros’s season stats aren’t nearly as good, but since the Olympic break he has been a reliable .889. Saros stopped 43/45 in an onslaught from Seattle on March 10 and helped steal a win for the Predators against Winnipeg earlier this week.

The Kraken will be looking to repeat that high shot volume, so Saros will need to be at his best and get more reliable help from the defense in front of him.

While a win tonight won’t guarantee the Predators anything, a lost tonight and losses in their next games against Vegas, Chicago, and San Jose could be a nail in Nashville’s proverbial playoff coffin. Tonight’s game will feature two desperate teams who each need this win.

The Predators and Kraken drop the puck tonight at 7:00 pm CT. The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network and 102.5 The Game will have the radio call.

The 2026 NHL trade deadline has come and gone with the Nashville Predators making several moves among their impending unrestricted free agents. I wrote earlier this year that Barry Trotz, at minimum, had to make the obvious trades and for the most part he accomplished it. In doing so, Barry Trotz did not sacrifice the top of the Predators roster chasing a playoff spot. However, not finding an opportunity to move one of the bigger names represents a significant missed opportunity. Even without major names being involved, there is plenty to unpack from the trade deadline.

The Trades that Happened

• Michael McCarron to MIN for a 2028 2nd round draft pick

• Cole Smith to VGK for a 2028 3rd round draft pick

• Nick Blankenburg to COL for a 2027 5th round draft pick

• Michael Bunting to DAL for a 2026 3rd round draft pick

Overall the Predators got solid value in return for the trades they did make. Barry Trotz unloaded four players set to be unrestricted free agents and while they all bring value on the ice they were unlikely to be part of the next phase for Nashville. The four additional mid-round picks were added over the next three drafts which brings the total to 33 selections, per PuckPedia.

Having so many picks provides additional options to move up or bring in other players via trade. The more immediate benefit is that full-time roster spots have been opened up for younger players. Forwards Reid Schaefer, Joakim Kemell and Fedor Svechkov plus defenseman Ryan Ufko are all back with the big club and likely to remain in the lineup for the remainder of the season. With the Predators still in the midst of a playoff chase, there will be significant opportunities for these players to grow in meaningful games.

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The Trades that Didn’t Happen

And this is where the conversation gets difficult. While Barry Trotz has verbally stated his desire to get younger and set the team up for future success, his actions show that he is still struggling to let go of the present. I understand wanting to reward his top players who have pulled the Predators out of the basement and back within playoff range and to reward the fans who sat through last season’s disasters with meaningful games. And I understand wanting to have veterans around who can help the crop of youthful talent grow while not carrying the weight of the franchise on their shoulders. These are all real and relevant ideas.

But… the Nashville Predators are a team in transition that needs to embrace its future. Trading away all the veterans, especially those with trade protection, was always going to be a tall order. There are three names that come to mind that truly represent the missed opportunities of this trade deadline:

• Ryan O’Reilly - I have loved having him in Nashville and he has been tremendous in 2 of his 3 seasons. But by all accounts he was one of the top trade targets for contending teams and presumably would have fetched a greater return to Nazem Kadri and Brayden Schenn which was a 1st round pick, 2nd round, a roster player and a prospect. With O’Reilly’s production level and more favorable contract he could have attracted a second first round pick or top end prospect. I appreciate the respect Barry Trotz was trying to show O’Reilly by giving him a manner of say of whether he moved on or not, but the potential assets that could have been acquired were too much to pass up.

• Erik Haula - this one should have been easy. Of the pending UFA’s, Haula likely had the most value given his offensive production and special teams contributions. With Jason Dickinson and Nicolas Roy both garnering first round picks in return, that should have been an easy decision. I appreciate how thin this would have made the Predators at the center position and the leadership he provides, but again this was too much value to pass up.

• Jonathan Marchessault - this is certainly the most difficult of the three given his contract, trade protection and dip in overall production. But it is pretty clear that Marchessault has not been a great fit in Nashville and a parting of ways is probably best for all parties. In a year where so many teams are still in the mix and looking to make a splash there may not be a better opportunity to make the move.

What Happens Now?

While it is clear that Barry Trotz was unwilling to let go of the playoff chase, he was also saving some of the bigger roster decisions to whoever ends up as his replacement. There will still be suitors for players of Ryan O’Reilly’s and Steven Stamkos’ quality. The abundance of draft picks are available to be used to improve the roster now and in the future. Those decisions may end up being easier for a new general manager who likely won’t have the emotional/loyalty ties to the players. But it is also likely that value will have been left on the table. It may all work out in the end and the Predators may yet find their stars of the future, but the unwillingness to make the hard decisions now represents a missed opportunity.

The 2026 NHL trade deadline is just under a week away and while there will be plenty of rumblings, whispers and rumors about the Nashville Predators it is also the time to get a little creative with the fans. I put out the call on Twitter / X for some fun trade ideas and you all did not disappoint. Below are a few of my favorite submissions with my (somewhat) rational thoughts about them.

Idea #1 - Elias Pettersson’s Revival

@pat_inthyhat - This ain’t insane I am being serious the rare “your change of scenery guy for ours”:
Marchessault out @$5.5mil aav
EP40 IN @$11.40 mil aav
Preds have $25mil deadline space and $6.5 effective space.

I have been on the fit for Pettersson in Nashville going back to last June so I am entirely here for this. The change of scenery narrative with Pettersson getting to play alongside his countryman in Filip Forsberg is definitely a fun one. And if it works out you get to dunk on the Canucks which would be a lovely sweetener. However, Pettersson has played better this season so I’m not sure he’s as much of a “buy low” candidate as he was last offseason. As for the trade idea itself, with the Canucks rebuilding I’m not sure how much Marchessault moves the needle (or if he’d even waive to go there) but there’s enough ingredients to start cooking.

Idea 2 - Centers Prospects Galore

@spiderface01 - Kemell, Wilsby, & a 2nd for Shane Wright
March 50% kept, Blankenberg, and a 2nd to Montreal 4 Hage

Their are some great b level talent in the system. I'm doing whatever I can to get possible top 2 center prospects without giving up a first round pick. All expiring contracts gone.

Now Brad is cooking with gas on this one. The single biggest gap in the Predators pipeline is a high talent center and Brad went and got two of them. The Hage deal is probably pretty close (though that multi-year retention would hurt) but based on what we’ve heard Seattle is looking for I’m not sure how much Kemell moves the needle. Even still, I love the idea here and would be in full support of this type of bold move.

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Idea 3 - Major Shake-up

@echoed95 - 1. To NSH: Wright, SEA's 2026 1st, SEA's 2026 2nd; To SEA: Forsberg
2. To MTL: O'Reilly (50% retained); To NSH: Zharvosky, MTL 2026 1st, MTL 2026 3rd
3. To MTL: Forsberg; To NSH: 2026 MTL 1st, 2027 MTL 2nd, and Hage

In a world where the Predators move to fully reset their roster, Filip Forsberg would undoubtedly be the biggest piece with Ryan O’Reilly being a pretty close second. Any one of these deals would bring major pieces back to Nashville. Given Forsberg’s value to Nashville both in terms of production and legacy, these might actually be underpays though I would imagine Barry Trotz would trade just about anyone else before Forsberg.

Idea 4 - Its the MEDIA

@MrOcho - Mason for Gill

HA! Get ‘em.

Thanks everyone for the submissions! We’ll do this again as we get closer to the draft and free agency.

A Solid Start

The Predators can’t afford to ease back into the final stretch of the season if they want to compete for a playoff spot.

“This next week of hockey is really big,” Andrew Brunette said. “Some of these teams have a little bit of room to ease into these things. We don’t have that room. We don’t have that luxury.”

Starts have been a challenge for the Predators who have found themselves playing from behind in too many games already this season. The first ten minutes of tonight’s game will be crucial, and Brunette is looking for one thing from his team - urgency.

“I think [urgency] is the big thing for our group here right now, and in a controlled manner,” Brunette said this morning.

“Sometimes when you get back from a break, it’s hard to get both, so you’ll probably take the one.”

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The Olympians

Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg have gotten a few practices in with the team since returning from Italy, but the Bronze Medal match and travel hiccups kept Erik Haula and Juuse Saros from joining the team until this morning’s skate.

“I’ve been home for one day,” Haula said this morning. “We got sent to New York and there's a snowstorm there, and we got stuck there. That wasn’t ideal and took away from the recovery process a little bit.”

“It’s a quick turnaround, but it’s all worth it.”

It isn’t just about the physical toll of playing through the break but also the mental load the Olympians have carried that could impact their return to NHL play.

“I think they’ve been in two weeks of basically playoff hockey. Even more than that, game sevens every night,” Andrew Brunette said.

Juuse Saros knows there is a mental shift that has to happen now that he is back in Nashville.

“You have to set your mindset back here. Obviously we want to make a good push here and that tournament is now gone so all the focus is here now,” Saros said. “Just have to take the positive side of that and get ready for a good push.”

While fans should expect to see Roman Josi and Filip Forberg in the lineup tonight, Brunette said this morning that both Saros and Haula will be game time decisions.

The It Factor

Tonight Nashville will need a strong game from Ryan O’Reilly. In the ten games before the Olympic break, O’Reilly had four goals and 13 points and has been one of the driving forces keeping Nashville’s playoff dream alive. O’Reilly currently boasts the best shooting percentage of his career and is on track to surpass his 82 game average in goals and points. This week at practices he has yet again been one of the first players on the ice and one of the last off.

Where Ryan O’Reilly will be playing after the trade deadline may be a hot topic around the league, but right now his value is in leading this Predators team. Nashville’s success comes when their best players are playing their best, and tonight the team will need O’Reilly’s first rate game.

The Man Advantage

Nashville’s top power play unit was cooking heading into the break. In the last ten games, the man advantage has been a big advantage going 30% on their 30 opportunities through that stretch. It should be no surprise that Steven Stamkos has been leading the way on the power play. Stamkos scored four of those nine power play goals in the ten games before the break and leads the team in power play goals this season.

On Wednesday, the top unit of Stamkos, Josi, Marchessaut, O’Reilly, and Forsberg worked on a few power play adjustments with Andrew Brunette to start practice. Those adjustments could be critical as the Predators face Chicago’s number one ranked penalty kill tonight.

Don’t Overlook the Youth

Tonight will be Zachary L’Heureux’s first NHL game in the 2025-2026 season, and he is anxious to get going. After an injury sidelined him in the preseason and remained a nagging issue into the fall, the 22-year-old healed up and then tore it up in Milwaukee.

“It’s been a grind of a season a little bit, having to deal with some injuries. But it’s part of the process. It’s part of being resilient,” L’Heureux said.

The grind of his rookie season last year had plenty of ups and downs.

“I felt like I lost maybe a little bit of swagger, a little bit of confidence last year,” L’Heureux said this week.

“Going to Milwaukee was definitely helpful to find that back, getting some big goals, help the team win down there as much as I could.”

In his 28 AHL games this season, L’Heureux scored 14 goals and played at a point per game pace.

L’Heureux hasn’t had much of a break from hockey. He played back to back games in Milwaukee over the weekend before being called up to Nashville.

“I think coming right from Friday, Saturday, right into practice Sunday here, it’s definitely kept the legs fresh,” L’Heureux said.

“I’m just excited to get things going.”

The Predators will need the best from their entire lineup as they kick off the final stretch of the season tonight at 7:00 pm CT.

The NHL’s Olympic break has come and gone with Team USA taking home gold medal in both the men’s and women’s hockey tournaments. And now the hockey world’s collective attention turns to the week and a half speed run to the NHL trade deadline. Between the events of the past month and the expected activity ahead there is plenty to review, analyze and speculate upon. So here we are with a PBR Roundtable to break it all down.

What are your main takeaways from the Olympic hockey tournaments (men’s and/or women’s)?

Ann: If these Olympic hockey games haven’t made you fall in love with hockey all over again, you may be a little dead inside. You could not have scripted a better Olympics competition for the men’s and women’s tournaments. There is such parity in the talent pool, and these games will mark a very impactful uptick in youth hockey.

When it comes to a Predators perspective, even the loudest Saros haters have to admit he had one heck of a tournament after a shaky first game. Perhaps the bigger surprise is the role Erik Haula played for Team Finland. Being in Nashville on a one year deal and assumed to be a trade piece at the deadline has relegated Haula to the periphery for some Preds fans, but he had a great tournament. Forsberg being the 13th forward in Team Sweden’s first game remains mystifying, and there is nothing worse than seeing Roman Josi disappointed. Here’s hoping the players return energized and not exhausted. Let’s see how the entire Predators team plays after this break.

Boyd: Simply put, there really is no replacement for best on best hockey. Over two days in the medal rounds 4 of the 6 games across the women’s tournament went to overtime. Both gold medal games were decided in overtime. The inclusion of NHL players and the growth of the PWHL brings more talent to the global stage and raises the drama even higher. It was all so much fun and ensuring best on best going forward should be a constant priority.

Tim: NHL players are definitely here to stay. It’s hard to believe we missed out on two consecutive Winter Olympics without as the show they put on is the highlight of the event. Both the women’s and men’s tournaments showed the best of their leagues and ending each gold medal games with overtime capped off an incredible two weeks of hockey.

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How aggressive do you expect Barry Trotz to be at the Trade Deadline?

Ann: Barry Trotz knows how nice it is to come in to a neat GM office and a pocketful of draft picks, so I expect he will do what he can to leave his successor in the best spot possible. Trotz will obviously entertain every realistic offer that comes his way on players from Cole Smith to Ryan O’Reilly, but I don’t expect him to clean house on his way out. If fans are expecting to see every UFA traded, Marchessault and Skjei contracts moved, and a first round pick and top prospect welcomed in the fold for ROR, they’ll be disappointed. As nice as it may sound, I don’t see the kickoff of a “soft rebuild” materializing at this deadline.

Boyd: Barry Trotz’s legacy as Predators GM will be tied into what happens from this deadline leading up to the draft and free agency. As such, I think he will be quite aggressive in terms of talking to teams about what moves are available. The Predators are deep in “playoff types” that contending teams always covet ahead of a postseason run. While Trotz may not use all of them, he should have plenty of opportunities to maximize the returns that he is able to generate. The real question is how aggressive he will become with moving any veterans with trade protection (actual or narrative). More so than a trade with someone like Michael Bunting, trading a Ryan O’Reilly or Steven Stamkos has to come with a significant return that tangibly enhances the roster build.

Tim: While this will be Barry Trotz’s last trade deadline as Nashville’s GM, I don’t expect him to be overly aggressive. Trading one of the bigger contracts feels almost necessary, and moving a few expiring UFAs seems like the most realistic outcome for the Predators. I expect it to be more of a “take what you can get” type of deadline, rather than the start of a full roster sell-off or major retool.

What would constitute a successful Trade Deadline?

Ann: If Trotz can move one bigger contract - most likely it would be Marchessault’s - and get a mid round pick or an overlooked but intriguing prospect for a few UFAs, I’d call that a success. If Trotz moves a UFA for a fair return and then re-signs him in the offseason with a reasonable, short term contract to bridge a talent gap (looking at you, Bunting and/or McCarron), I would buy him a Bridgestone Arena grilled cheese and throw him a nice retirement party. To be honest, I’m not sure Trotz will - or should - lower his asking price on O’Reilly. I don’t know if teams in the mix would realistically be willing to pay that much to go all in for two more seasons on ROR’s contract. Sometimes a team’s most valuable trade piece is also their most valuable player on and off the ice.

Boyd: First and foremost, make the obvious moves. I don’t think that has to be a veritable clearing of the house but Michael Bunting and Erik Haula are having strong seasons and are built for playoff hockey. They should each garner mid to high round picks and/or plus-level prospects. If another GM makes a strong offer for any of the pending UFA’s in McCarron, Smith or Blankenburg then it should be entertained. Personally, since this group is unlikely to return first round picks then I would probably lean in on acquiring prospects who are change of scenery candidates over mid-round draft picks. Once the asset management work gets done if a trade becomes available involving one of the star players then Barry Trotz can pull the trigger to get the bigger return but those could just as easily be done in the offseason when big dollar trades are easier.

Tim: Anything where freeing up cap space and getting value, whether it being draft picks or young prospects would garner a success from me. He certainty needs to give whoever the next GM some room to work from day one and standing pat or one to two UFA trades aren’t going to do that. While Trotz’s current team does sit only four points out of a playoff spot, this year is still building for the future and I believe that, if that is not made clear at the deadline, it will not graded successfully.

What result from the general manager search would make you confident in the Predators’ future?

Ann: Confidence in the outcome will come from confidence in the process, and for me that means giving serious consideration to outside candidates. It’s tempting to say that the next GM must come from outside the organization, but the reality is that Nashville’s AGMs have resumes any other NHL teams would seriously consider. Culture is big at Bridgestone, but the next GM must be a jack of all front office trades and a master of basically all of them if this organization wants to host a parade down Broadway. (Ask all the hard questions in the interviews, Nick Saban!)

Boyd: For me, confidence in the future will result from a clear direction coming out of the GM search. The specific setup of the front office (president plus younger GM or more experienced single role) is less important than the plan to move the team forward. This starts with the search yielding a variety of candidates who bring a new perspective for how to build, develop and maximize the Predators roster. There is value to the culture the Predators have built over the years so having a front office who can take those values and evolve the team forward is paramount.

Tim: The next GM, for me, needs to come from outside the organization and have success in their background. They should come from a team that has made a deep postseason run and have been a significant part of why they got there. The next GM needs to show they understand where the state of play is heading and already is: young and fast. Trotz showed, more often than not, that he would bring in older veterans instead of opting for younger, faster players, which is something the next GM should be taking note of.

What player currently on the Predators roster or in the system has the most to prove over the rest of the season?

Ann: Fedor Svechkov. Svechkov has spent his Olympic break in Milwaukee getting plenty of ice time for the Admirals. In his six AHL games, he’s scored two goals and one assist and has looked good, but his place needs to be in Nashville for the rest of this season. Part of that is because Nashville lacks center depth and with McCarron and Haula on expiring contracts and teams sniffing around O’Reilly, that may only get worse after the deadline. Part of that is because if this team isn’t in “go for it” mode, Svechkov deserves a chance to play NHL minutes to finish out the season and find some consistency in his game.

Boyd: I wrote before the season that the most pressure was on Fedor Svechkov to show improvement and that hasn’t changed. But since Ann said him first I’ll go with Brady Martin. Martin had a bit of an up and down season following his short stint in Nashville leading up to the World Juniors where he was excellent before sustaining an injury. Now that he is back and healthy it will be important to remind everyone why he was the number 5 pick in the draft by dominating at the junior level. A strong close to the season and into the CHL playoffs will also a long way into setting the stage for a full-time NHL roster spot in 2026-27.

Tim: While I wrote about Reid Schaefer over a month ago, his production has slowed down, so I’ll be writing about him again. He’s bounced from Milwaukee back to Nashville multiple times over the last month but was not called back up after the Olympic roster freeze ended. Schaefer has evenly split his time this year, playing 27 games for each team. In the AHL, he has 22 points and has been a scoring machine there as of late, but in the big leagues, he has just six points and hasn’t scored a goal since December. If he keeps up his play with the Admirals, he should find himself back with the Predators and will have to show he belongs and can be part of the franchise’s future.

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The Predators have been quite the comeback team this season, coming from behind in sixteen of their twenty-six wins. After more than a few slow starts, their ability to pull victory from the jaws of defeat has been remarkable.

It is also a double edged sword.

Andrew Brunette has mixed feelings about what he is seeing from his group.

“It’s twofold. I think you love the grit and the resiliency of our group,” he said.

“We’ve had heartbreaks and slow starts and we’ve done different things, and we keep fighting back, so you love the resiliency. You love the belief that we have.”

While Brunette loves that character, he is also well aware of the flip side.

“As a coach, you know it’s not sustainable every night, and that’s the yin and the yang. Where is that game when the puck drops?”

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The Predators have sometimes needed a bit of runway to get to that game of grit. Nashville currently ranks first in the league in goals against in the first period and 26th in the league in goals for in the opening twenty minutes. Getting to the game that gives them the best chance of success isn’t happening early enough. The veterans know a good start is more important than an electric comeback in the big picture of a season.

“Getting off to a good start outweighs what we’ve been doing,” Steven Stamkos said. “At the end of the day, it’s just not sustainable, right? We’ve done it probably more times that the statistics allow you to do.”

How to improve Nashville starts is a regular topic of discussion in the room.

“That’s the million dollar questions right now,” defenseman Nick Blankenburg said. “We’re obviously aware of it. We’re talking about it - hey, we need to have a good start. We need to be ready to go, and then I don’t know what it is.”

The Predators know how to respond to adversity, but getting in the right mental space before adversity hits is the goal.

“When we have to claw our way back out of holes, we play some extremely good hockey,” Luke Evangelista said. “We’ve proven we’re capable, and when we do have that desperate mindset, we’re very hard to compete against. It’s finding a way to channel that energy in the first period.”

“I wish I had an answer as to why it’s been that way,” Stamkos said of the slow starts. “Clearly we’ve discussed it ad nauseam to try to figure out a way.”

The team has watched a lot of film and analyzed all the Xs and Os. Stamkos believes the responsibility for stronger starts ultimately rests on the players.

“It’s on us as players,” he said. “The coaches can tell you to do things or show you video as much as they want. It’s on us to go out and execute. For whatever reason it takes a negative spark for us to get going, and that can’t be the case.”

Finding that mental spark and executing cleanly from the opening puck drop with consistency will be key to the rest of their season.

“I’m not demanding perfection,” Brunette said. “It’s a grueling season right now, and it’s hard to be perfect every time. We just need a little bit more of that consistency. It’s what as a coach you’re asking for.”

“I think the leaders have done an unbelievable job of getting the collaboration of the whole group to believe in something,” Brunette said. “It’s nice. You love it. But you wake up in the morning and you start watching the video, and you’re like OK. We can’t be doing this all the time.”

“It’s execution for sure, and it’s just a mindset,” Stamkos said. “We haven’t figured that our quite yet, but its not to say we can’t.”

With 27 games remaining in the season and a very tight wildcard race, the change needs to happen sooner rather than later. Stamkos knows the clock is ticking.

“It needs to be figured out if we’re going to have a serious chance of the playoffs.”

On Monday morning NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz was stepping down.

At noon, Trotz was joined by Sean Henry, Predators CEO, and majority owner Bill Haslam to explain the move, address questions, and lay out the next steps for the organization’s front office.

“One thing that started to be clear to me is that I was going to retire after the 2026-27 season. I felt the responsibility to inform Bill Haslam in early December of my intention so management would have the adequate time for a replacement search,” Trotz said in his opening comments.

Trotz will continue to serve as General Manager through the upcoming trade deadline and throughout the hiring process. Trotz will also participate with Henry, Haslam, Nashville Predators President Michelle Kennedy, minority owner Nick Saban along with others to form the GM search committee.

Assistant General Managers Jeff Kealty, Scott Nichol, and Brian Poile were informed of the decision, and the organization hopes they will apply for the role. The search committee will look outside of the organization for candidates as well.

Haslam and Henry emphasized that this announcement is not a reflection of any internal disagreement or disappointment with Trotz’s performance as GM or where the team sits in the standings.

“This is about Barry making a life decision, and we’ve been talking about this for thirty days, talking about what’s the best way to do it so we get the best possible result,” said Haslam.

Trotz was visibly emotional when asked about stepping away from the sport he has devoted his life to.

“Sometimes you get defined by what you do, not who you are,” Trotz shared. “For me, I love the game. I also love my family.”

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Trotz addressed the team and spoke with head coach Andrew Brunette this morning before the press conference to share the news. The Predators have a game tonight against Central Division rival St Louis Blues and are currently four points out of a wildcard position in the West.

“These guys are pros and they realize at the end of the day, they’ve got a job to do out on the ice,” Bill Haslam said when asked about the effect the news could have on the team.

“The players are the pros, and they live in a world that they see people that are on our team one time and then they’re getting traded. They understand that world. They live it with uncertainty. I’m confident they can handle this.”

The goal is to have a new General Manager in place before draft day in June. There are challenges to bringing someone in during the season as some potential candidates could be under contract with other teams and cannot currently be interviewed.

“I can’t just go call whoever with another team and start talking to them. That’s tampering, and we’d get more than a hand slap for that,” Haslam said.

The leadership is clear that they have confidence in Trotz as he navigates this trade deadline and continues in his role as General Manager until his replacement is named. Practicality was the main factor in announcing the move at this point in the season.

“We want to have the pole in first, if we are fishing for someone,” Trotz said.

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“They’re crucial for us,” Brunette said of Nashville’s fourth line. “They set the tone for us a lot of nights for our group. They drag us into the fight.”

Michael McCarron and Cole Smith along with NHL rookies Reid Schaefer and Ozzy Wiesblatt have been an anchor for the Predators in a season of extreme ebbs and flows. A disappointing start to the season was buoyed by the constancy of Nashville’s often overlooked fourth line.

“We’re just predictable,” McCarron said.

Their roles aren’t glamourous, their style of play is physically demanding, and their assignments are never easy. They often get the hardest matchups on game days.

“We get some tough matchups,” McCarron said. “As a line, coach believes in us to shut down another team’s top line most nights. It’s not always easy. The way we play, it makes the other team’s best line have to go 200 feet.”

Part of what makes Nashville’s fourth line effective is chemistry. McCarron and Cole Smith have played together for several seasons.

“Me and Smitty have been together for three, four years now,” McCarron said.

McCarron, originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens 25th overall in the 2013 NHL draft, was traded to Nashville on January 7, 2020. He made his Preds debut on February 8, 2021 and become a fourth line fixture in November 2021. Cole Smith signed as a free agent with Nashville on March 19, 2020. He played nine games for the Predators before earning his regular roster spot out of camp in October 2022. The two have played together on a line for most of their time in gold.

That type of consistency on a fourth line isn’t always the case in the league.

“It’s nice to have that luxury,” McCarron said of his tenure with Smith.

“Not every night do you get that or not every team gets that. If you lose one or two, usually it’s a guy on the fourth that comes out. Not saying that doesn’t happen here, but we’ve been lucky to be together for close to twenty, thirty games now.”

Consistency plays a large part in Nashville’s fourth line success.

“It’s nice to have a familiar face next to you that knows where you’re going to go and how you’re going to play and what you’re going to do in every instance with the puck,” McCarron said.

The familiarity McCarron and Smith have works well on the ice and spills over into a tight friendship away from the rink.

That chemistry plays a big part in the line’s effectiveness. The pair have been helpful linemates for Wiesblatt and Schaefer who have shared significant ice time with the veterans in their rookie seasons.

“They let me play my game,” Schaefer said after Monday’s practice. “When they have things to tell me, they’ll let me know. For the most part those guys have taken me under their wing and helped me a lot with the transition here to the NHL.”

“They’re fun guys to play with. They’re physical. They bring energy. They’re guys I look up to.”

McCarron and Smith have been more than just good mentors. Nashville’s fourth line has the second most high danger chances of any line this season. They are tied for most rush chances generated, all while taking the second most defensive zone faceoffs.

McCarron knows his line is playing the right way, but he’s ready to see those offensive opportunities result in more scoring.

“We’ll start producing,” McCarron said. “It’s a matter of time. We’ve pitched in a little bit, but at the end of the day we are here to shut down other teams’ top lines and play a big role in the penalty kill. Eventually goals will start going in for us.”

All that being said, the luxury of Nashville’s fourth line could be in jeopardy. Both McCarron and Smith will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. Barry Trotz has been clear he wants to get young players experience at the NHL level, but with Nashville just three points out of a wildcard spot, Trotz may opt to let this roster stay together for a playoff push.

McCarron knows the team’s success could have a significant impact on his future. He admits to checking the standings every day now that Nashville is back in the mix.

He also is well aware that there’s a chance he and/or Smith could be moved at the deadline.

“I wouldn’t say I always think about it, but it creeps in every now and then. I’m human,” McCarron said.

“That just makes me want to play harder so we make the playoffs. If we were in the same position we were two months ago, I’m sure a lot of guys would already be gone by now. But guys bought in. They want to stay here and win together here.”

Nashville’s fourth line may be an overlooked part of the team’s recent success, but their value is not something Andrew Brunette takes for granted while he has it.

“It’s a really good luxury to have.”

While these remarkable NHL milestones are a celebration for both player and league, getting older in the NHL isn’t something that is usually talked about in the affirmative. A player loses a step. Declining statistics. Can’t keep up. Doesn’t evolve with the game. More injury prone. The cameras come out for the Silver Stick presentation, but the whispers of impending demise and taking a roster spot from a shiny new up and coming young prospect comprise a lot of the conversation around aging veterans.

While the years in this sport take a toll physically, Nashville’s veteran leaders believe some aspects of hockey get better with age.

O’Reilly, who will play his 1200th career NHL game on Saturday night in Las Vegas, embraces the efficiency he’s learned over his long career.

“With the age and experience we’re able to fine tune exactly what you need for when you need it,” said Ryan O’Reilly.

“Efficiency is something that I think naturally develops with age - seeing what you need, how you need to get going, or having a feel for the game,” O’Reilly said.

“When you’re young, you don’t really know. You’re kind of trying things, but I think it just constantly develops over time where you’re able to have a better plan for everything.”

Thirty-five year old Josi appreciates how much easier it is to recognize what his body needs to be at his best.

“As a young kid you just kind of play and you’re not aware of things as much,” Josi said.

“Now I know when to listen to my body and when to take a step back and get more rest.”

Andrew Brunette, who played 1100 NHL games himself, knows about the benefit of experience, but he acknowledges that aging affects every athlete.

“Father Time always win,” Brunette said.

But while veterans may lose a step as they age, Brunette pointed out that an experienced player like Roman Josi can still carry his team.

“As time goes on you can’t play at a certain level all the time, but [Josi’s] got a pretty good understanding of when his game needs to be risen, and that’s on both sides of the ice. He realizes what the team needs and he’ll find a way to make that happen.”

Keeping perspective also becomes easier with age and experience according to Josi.

“You look at hockey a little bit different than when you were 22. You’ve been through a lot in your hockey career, so mentally, you learn a lot. You go through those experiences and you can handle different situations a little bit better because you’ve been through it already.”

Adaptability on the ice is critical as the seasons pass according to Brunette. Steven Stamkos is a great example of that.

Stamkos, who has played 1210 games in his career, is finding new and different ways to contribute in his “hockey twilight” years.

“He’s changed a little bit of where he goes and where his shot selection is,” Brunette said of Stamkos.

While fans have gotten to see several of those legendary power play goals from his office, many of Stamkos’s goals have come from the greasy areas. He is playing a different style of hockey than in his early years and finding success.

“He’s driven, he loves the game, and he’s proud,” Brunette said.

“The guys that play that long usually have that in common.”

These three Predators veterans are proof that some things can get better with age.

After taking contact in the crease in the third period, Saros took exception to Islanders’ defenseman Adam Pelech tapping the puck into the net after the whistle.

Saros went after Pelech and gave him a few good pushes in front of the net.

A response like that is atypical for Saros. Nashville’s soft spoken netminder almost always lets his play speak for itself. You could count on one hand the number of times he’s shown a moment of outward emotion like that in games or practices. While media and fans may not see an outward manifestation of emotion, his teammates will tell you that behind that calm exterior is the heart of a fierce competitor.

“He’s fiery,” Cole Smith said of Saros.

“I mean, he’s a competitive son of a gun, and you know he wants to win.”

When asked about the little scrap after the game, Saros calmly and quietly explained what happened.

“I just wasn’t happy. He put the puck in the net, so I was just not happy about that.”

“Maybe best that he didn’t come after me because he was a bit bigger guy,” he added smiling.

Securing the shootout win last night was important for the Predators who haven’t lost back to back games since November 22nd & 24th. There was also a little extra motivation for Saros.

“Obviously Pekka was here tonight, so as always you want to show up for him too,” Saros said of his goaltending mentor and friend.

It hasn’t been an easy season for Saros whose .897 save percentage is below his career average .913. The Saros scrutiny has been heightened as he kicks off the first year of an eight year deal that raised eyebrows when it was signed on July 1, 2024. Still, Saros has been a key to Nashville’s recent success helping to steal wins in games against teams like Utah, Minnesota, and Colorado.

Saros is also money in a shootout. He’s secured wins in all three of Nashville’s shootouts this season.

Last night’s outcome was inevitable in Andrew Brunette’s mind.

“He’s very competitive,” Brunette said after the 2-1 win.

“You saw it a little bit tonight there in the third period. I thought in overtime, there’s no way they’re going to score on him and in the shootout.”

Despite a handful of tough games this season, Saros’s teammates know how valuable he is to the team’s success.

“He was a huge reason why we won that game tonight,” Ryan O’Reilly said.

“It’s full confidence,” Smith said. “He’s a stud back there, and he’s the guy that keeps everything together. When plays break down, we break down, we always got him back there.”

“We have full trust in him.”

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Ann looks at the Predators’ starts to games and giving up the first goal:

Boyd looks at the likely trade candidates approaching the Olympic freeze and trade deadline:

Tim looks at the impact of rookie forward Reid Schaefer:

While there might be another rookie with the last name Schaefer who may go on to win the Calder, Nashville has their own who’s been doing just fine.

Reid Schaefer joined the club and played his first career game on Nov. 28, and since then has potted four goals while showing the league what kind of player he can be.

He was the last pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, selected by his hometown team, the Edmonton Oilers, and did not even last a year in the organization before being traded to the Predators as part of the Mattias Ekholm deal.

Most of his time since then has been spent with the AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, where this season he put up near point-per-game numbers before being called up.

Schaefer stands at an impressive 6’5” and was scouted as a powerful forward with offensive upside, which has so far proven to be true. He has recorded multiple hits in 14 of his 19 career games and has shown strong finishing ability while handling the puck.

His first goal, which came in his third game, was a net-front tally where he stood his ground and found a way to get his shot around the goaltender. It was a special moment for him and somewhat overwhelmed him.

“It was a lot of fun… I kind of blacked out,” Schaefer said. “It went in the net and I was like, ‘Oh, what do I do here?’”

Schaefer’s second career goal showed more of his skill set, as against the Colorado Avalanche he used his strength and size to take the puck out of a scrum in the corner, drive to the net, and score.

He’s done all of this with limited minutes playing on the fourth line. Centered by Michael McCarron and with Cole Smith on the right wing, Schaefer has mostly seen only eight to twelve minutes per game, although he has seen an increase of a minute or two over the past three contests.

Since he arrived on the scene, Nashville has turned its season around. The team has gone 12-7, beating top teams like the Avalanche and Minnesota Wild while rallying to sit just three points out of a playoff spot.

Schaefer and the Predators will look to climb closer to the second wild card spot with a win against the other Schaefer and the New York Islanders later tonight.

-Image courtesy of Nashville Predators/John Russell

One of the interesting phenomenons of the first half of the 2025-26 season has been Nashville’s starts. In their first 41 games played, the Predators have given up the first goal of the game 28 times - the most of any team in the league. In those games, the Predators record is 10-16-2.

Let’s compare that to last season. At the 41 game mark, the Predators had given up the first goal 20 times. In total last season, Nashville gave up the first goal of the game in 46 of their 82 games (56%) and went 12-30-4 in those 46 games. The Predators had a record of 16-15-5 when they got on the board first last season.

Nashville has scored first just 13 times this season, but worth noting is how those games turned out. When the Predators score that first goal of the game, they are a very respectable 9-2-2.

Growth in this area has not been linear for the Preds. They are giving up more first goals this season, but the results are beginning to improve.

In their last six games, NSH has had to come from behind after giving up that important first goal. This matches a streak from November in which Nashville’s opponents scored first in six consecutive games. It’s not a streak you want as a team, but the Preds are showing improvement under those circumstances. In November Nashville went 1-5 in that six game stretch. Currently, the Predators are 4-2 after giving up the first goal of the game.

Another “first goals of the game” stat of note is how quickly the Predators have given up some of those first goals. In eleven of their 41 games played, the Predators gave up a goal in the first four minutes of the game. The average time of that goal in those eleven games was 2:04.

In contrast, only twice so far this season have the Preds scored a quick goal to start the game - once against the Flyers (at 1:44) in a loss in early November and again in mid Decemeber (at :27) against the St Louis Blues in a 5-2 win.

Giving up early first period goals doesn’t often bode well for the Predators. In the eleven games in which they’ve allowed a goal in the first four minutes, Nashville has a 3-8 record. They have been outscored 44-24 overall in those “opponent early goal” games.

Giving up early goals is not something Andrew Brunette is thrilled with. When asked about quick goals against, Nashville’s head coach took a very “Walt Disney Encanto” philosophy - Bruno doesn’t like to talk about it.

“Those are tough,” he said of early goals against. “I think maybe I should stop talking about them. Maybe it will stop happening. It seems like every time you bring it up, make sure we get off to a good start, that happens.”

“I should stop talking about it.”

While avoidance is one way to handle this particular hitch in the Predators giddy up, there are some positive signs midway through the season. Nashville is winning more games after giving up the first goal as compared to last season.

Giving up the first goal isn’t great, but the Predators are getting better at finding ways to dig out of a deficit and win games. Last season, the Predators won just 15% of the games in which they gave up the first goal. This season, they are winning 36% of the games in which they start out down one. They rank 13th in the league in win percentage when trailing first.

After the Dec 20 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs - a game in which the Preds gave up a quick goal just 1:32 in - Brunette talked about the team getting more comfortable being uncomfortable.

“I think our team’s grown. We’ve been uncomfortable a lot this year in a lot of different hockey games. We’ve been here a million times and we’re starting to understand that. We’re starting to stick with it. Now we’re getting the results,” Brunette said.

Familiarity with adversity may be making the team more resilient.

When the Predators found themselves down 2-0 midway through the first period on December 31 against the Vegas Golden Knights, there was no quit. The Preds rallied to a 4-2 win.

Brunette credits some of that improvement to team chemistry.

“I think we are an extremely close, tight group,” Brunette said after the win.

“We’re getting tighter every game. And you get wins like this, they’re just going to build that tightness.”

That’s not to say that the team is strictly relying on vibes to improve their starts.

“We’ve got to fix the starts,” Stamkos said frankly after the Vegas game. “That’s something that’s been a little concerning.”

Stamkos credited special teams and solid goaltending for helping the team dig out of that two goal deficit.

The starts are a legitimate concern for the Predators. The new calendar year will be a good opportunity for Nashville to clean up their game early and get on the board first more often. They’ll focus on doing that tomorrow night against the Edmonton Oilers in their final road game of this seven game road trip.

With the holiday roster freeze in the rearview and a few short weeks until the Olympic break, it is a very interesting time for the Nashville Predators. Since Thanksgiving they have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL, winning 11 of 16 games and climbing from the basement of the league to creeping up on the Wild Card like Jason Momoa on Henry Cavill at a red carpet event. That fact breeds either hope or terror depending on your personal opinion on what should come next in Nashville. Regardless of what happens in the standings, it is almost certain that more roster changes are coming, it is just the extent of those changes that is a complete unknown. So let’s take a look at the possibilities for who GM Barry Trotz could look to move and how likely they are to happen.

(Author’s note: percentages are purely my own speculation)

Tier 1 - It’s a Fact(or) of Life

The first tier is reserved for Ryan O’Reilly. He has been so good for the Predators and has turned up his game even more in this recent run of success. O’Reilly does everything. He centers the top line and top power play, kills penalties, wins crucial faceoffs and provides invaluable leadership. It should be no surprise that across the forward group everyone wants to be on his line.

But that also means O’Reilly has significant value across the league. What contending team doesn’t want a player like him for not one but two playoff runs? Through this first half of the season various NHL insiders have linked interest in O’Reilly to New Jersey, Montreal, Dallas and others. Not to mention O’Reilly’s contract is eminently affordable and does not carry any trade protection (outside of Trotz’s verbal agreements). It is a tempting prospect for Nashville as the acquisition cost would be very high and likely includes multiple premium assets. The other element is that O’Reilly has been vocal (publicly at least) about wanting to stay in Nashville and see it through. Barry Trotz will have to weigh this against all the positives I mentioned before and the continued impact Ryan O’Reilly could have on the prospect class.

Likelihood of Trade: 60%

Tier 2 - This was the plan all along

When Michael Bunting and Erik Haula were acquired via trade, we all knew this was the likely eventuality. They are both veteran players [now] on expiring contracts at reasonable salaries. So more than likely they would not be retained past this season as Barry Trotz continues to open NHL roster spots for the ascending prospects. They both utilize a “playoff ready” game in terms of effort, physicality and grit which are always in demand for playoff contenders. And even better, they are both producing at a 0.50 points per game pace. While the returns won’t match those of higher end players, they will both add more assets into the transitional cupboard.

Likelihood of Trade: 95%

Tier 3 - It’s just time to break up

Not every relationship works out. It doesn’t have to be anyone’s fault as long as the parties don’t try to drag it out and force something that isn’t there. This is the Predators and Jonathan Marchessault. We all thought the fit (a gritty and skilled forward in an organization renowned for its gritty forwards) was obvious but the stylistic blend just hasn’t worked. As a multiple time 30-goal and one time 40-goal scorer plus being a playoff MVP winner, Marchessault still carries plenty of value around the league. Rising playoff contenders like Montreal may place extra stock in the fact that Marchessault has 3 more years as opposed to a pure rental. The challenge, of course, is that Marchessault also carries a full no movement clause so he is in control of his own destiny and his salary $5.75M annually can be a tough pill for teams to swallow, even with a rising salary cap. However if the NHL insiders are correct then he may be open to the change of scenery if a deal can be made.

Likelihood of Trade: 45%

Tier 4 - It will hurt but the return might be too good to pass up

After Michael Bunting and Eric Haula there are a few other pending unrestricted free agents that will likely be attractive to contending teams. Each of Michael McCarron, Cole Smith and Nick Blankenburg fill important roles for the Predators, are favorites in the room and are all age 30 or younger. McCarron and Smith are two of Nashville’s most effective penalty killing forwards and help set the tone in terms of physicality and effort. Blankenburg continues to be a tremendous story of resilience as he has worked his way to a full-time role generating offense from Nashville’s 3rd defensive pair and 2nd power play unit. In a perfect world these are players you keep for a contending team however Nashville is not there yet. And by that same logic they will all have value to contending teams. While I am positive Barry Trotz would be happy to keep any of these players around longer, the offers from other teams may just be too good to ignore.

Likelihood of Trade: One player - 75%, More than one - 45%

Tier 5 - Part of the solution

And now we get to the Steven Stamkos portion of the program. His slow start seemed to ensure that Barry Trotz would find a way to get him out of Nashville, and maybe even at a discount given Stamkos’ $8M annual contract with two years left and full no movement clause. Through it all Stamkos remained steady that he wanted to be in Nashville and part of the solution regardless of the rumors, and there have been a lot.

Then the month of December hit and Stamkos went volcanic. Nineteen points in sixteen games later and similar to Ryan O’Reilly it has become a question if Stamkos brings too much to the table to be moved. Like O’Reilly he is a former captain, Stanley Cup winner, future hall of famer and locker room leader. So now the question becomes if a contending team can make an offer enticing enough to both convince Barry Trotz to approach Stamkos about waiving his movement clause and Stamkos to be willing to move. If Stamkos can keep up anything near this pace it is likely Trotz sees him as a mentor to the younger forwards, especially if he decides to make the easier trade with O’Reilly.

Likelihood of Trade: 25% - but the most subject to change of anyone

To say that Barry Trotz has a lot of decisions to make would be a massive understatement. There are a lot of options and possibilities to work through and keeping his plan moving forward has to be at the center of it. Even if the Predators continue winning and push into a playoff spot, it cannot replace the need to continue the build towards the future core. How Barry Trotz manages the next 2+ months may just define his tenure as Nashville Predators general manager.

Statistics and contract information courtesy of the NHL and PuckPedia

Improvements in several key areas have contributed to this recent success. First, Nashville’s big players are playing big. With his second period goal in Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Rangers, Filip Forsberg extended his consecutive point streak to eight games. Ryan O’Reilly continues to be one of the Predators’ most important playmakers with seven points in the last ten games. Steven Stamkos has eight goals and eleven points in that stretch as well.

It isn’t just the top players who are contributing. Andrew Brunette emphasized how important depth players have been. After the win over the Rangers, Andrew Brunette highlighted the Jost-Svechkov-Wood line.

“That line was humongous for us tonight. That was really important in a back to back game,” Brunette said.

“We needed [Svechkov’s] line, the youth, the energy, to bring it. We challenged them, and I thought they were a huge part of why we won this hockey game. I thought they grabbed momentum almost every time they were out there. They played fast. They played in your face.”

“They were big for us today and we needed them. Now we need them every night, and we’ll continue to build that group.”

Much improved goaltending has also helped the Predators secure wins. In this 7-3 stretch, the Predators goaltenders have earned a combined .926 save percentage. In the ten games prior in which the team went 3-7 that save percentage was just .851. Juuse Saros, and in his few appearances, Justus Annunen, have kept Nashville in tight games with timely saves.

The wins are reenergizing the locker room.

“It’s a lot more fun,” Ryan O’Reilly said after Sunday’s win.

“It’s exciting. It’s fun coming to the rink. It was pretty dark there for awhile. Wasn’t fun by any means. It was tough. But give credit, everyone’s been working hard.”

“Let’s get this next one before the break. It’s going to be a heck of a challenge,” O’Reilly said of the matchup in Minnesota.

The Wild game will help clarify if Nashville’s recent improvements mean they are ready to compete with the best in the league. Nashville’s three most recent losses were against two of the top teams (Colorado and Carolina twice). The Wild are - somewhat surprisingly - also one of the NHL’s best teams right now.

A seven game win streak that was just snapped Sunday evening along with the impressive deal that brought Quinn Hughes to Minnesota show the Wild are in “win now” mode.

Their loss Sunday’s loss to the Avalanche could make the Wild even more dangerous tonight.

“It was a 5-1 game by Colorado. I was hoping just to get some sleep before I worried about Minnesota here a little bit,” Brunette said after Sunday’s game.

“I played there. Been there long enough to know the response is going to be, I mean, they’re excited,” he continued.

“It’s the last game before Christmas. We’ve got to be ready to go.”

The players know the Wild will be a big test. They have liked their play of late but recognize the need for improvements to get a win tonight.

“I think we’ve got to keep building on what we’re doing,” Filip Forsberg said. “Keep finding momentum.”

“Special teams could be better. The penalty kill has been phenomenal, but the power play I think we can definitely improve on.”

“I think for us to just stick to the simple stuff we’re doing well and getting rewarded for right now,” Forsberg said.

A good start will help, too.

“To start each period, I think we’re giving up to much,” Ryan O’Reilly said. “We just have to be a little simpler off that. I know for myself sometimes you want to make the good play or get possession, where you can be just a little more simple to start. Just simplify our way into the game.”

“We can clean up the starts and get right to work.”

Special teams, cleaner starts, and simplifying the game will be critical if the Predators hope to enter the Christmas break with a win over the Wild.

Tonight’s game will be a good measuring stick for a Predators team wanting to get back in the playoff mix.

“It’s going to be a great challenge for us,” Brunette said. “It’s going to test a lot of parts of our game that I think we’re building, and we’ll find out where we’re at.”

The Predators and Wild face off tonight at 7:00 pm CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and Hulu and 102.5 The Game will have the radio call.

Quick Recap

Like the Ghost of Christmas Past, Nashville fell into a familiar trap giving up a goal less than two minutes into the game on a three on two chance. Another more positive Predators trend emerged as the first period progressed. Nashville started to get to their game and pressure Joseph Woll, but the Leafs took a 1-0 lead into the locker room after one period.

A Leafs tripping penalty in the second period gifted Nashville their first power play chance of the game. Erik Haula tipped in Roman Josi’s point shot to even the score at 4:56. A double skate deflection credited to John Tavaras made it a 2-1 game. The second period ended with four on four action as Nic Hague and Simon Benoit sat for matching unsportsmanlike penalties. As Hague and Benoit served their time, Ryan O’Reilly found a trailing Adam Wilsby who evened the game up once again with :34 seconds left in the middle frame.

The final period opened with plentiful scoring chances for Nashville, but they couldn’t convert early. Luke Evangelista finally got Nashville their first lead of the game at 9:18 with an insane backhand goal that fired up the team and the Nashville crowd. Toronto went empty net and added their extra attacker with two minutes remaining in regulation. Instead it was Steven Stamkos scoring a quick empty net goal that gave the Predators a two goal lead. Bobby McMann scored for the Leafs with less than a minute to play to bring the Leafs within one, but Cole Smith’s empty netter sealed the 5-3 Predators win.

Stats of the Game

Nashville outshot Toronto 34-22. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Predators got better at generating high danger chances as the game went on. (Two in the first period, four in the second period, and seven in the third.)

Brady Skjei recorded his first multipoint game of the season with the primary assists on Evangelista’s goal and Cole Smith’s empty net goal.

Erik Haula and Michael Bunting were buzzing. They took five and six shot in the game respectively, and their 5:22 seconds of five on five ice time with Luke Evangelista generated the highest expected goals for of any of Nashville’s lines in the game.

Adam Wilsby’s second period goal was his first goal of the season and first in over a year. His last goal was scored on December 17, 2024. Wilsby missed the final 30 games of last season with an upper body injury and missed ten games this season with injury as well.

Three Takeaways

1. Luke Evangelista’s go ahead goal was a thing of beauty. An absolute highlight reel goal by Evangelista not only gave the Predators the lead in the third period, but also resulted in one of the most exuberant cellys at Bridgestone Arena.

”It was a little much that celly, honestly. I just kind of blacked out. I should probably behave a little bit more,” Evangelista said after the game. “In a moment like that the adrenaline just gets the best of you.”

Michael Bunting said that was one of the nicer goals he’s ever seen.

“But don’t tell [Evangelista],” Bunting added.

Andrew Brunette wasn’t surprised with the display of skill from the winger.

“It’s kind of fun to watch a player grow before our eyes, and he’s getting more confident, feeling more comfortable every game. I’ve always known he’d make those plays. It was fun to see him do it in a big moment,” Brunette said in his postgame comments.

2. The Predators made some familiar mistakes, but didn’t get tripped up by them. The early part of this game was eerily similar to other starts for Nashville this season as the Predators gave up an early goal and took some time to get to their game.

“Obviously we’ve been through a lot of rough waters here, but we’re starting to find the trust in our team here,” Adam Wilsby said after the game.

“I think our team’s grown,” Brunette said. “We’ve been uncomfortable a lot this year in a lot of different hockey games. I even said it after the second period - hey, we’ve been here a million times.”

“We’re starting to stick with it,” Brunette said of the group.

3. The Predators need to carry this momentum over into Sunday’s game against the Rangers. Another desperate team was already dropping off their gear at Bridgestone as the Leafs game was wrapping up. The Rangers are in town and looking to get themselves back into the playoff conversation in the East.

“Obviously we have another desperate team coming in here with New York. They’re fighting to be in the playoffs as well, so we know it’s a big game tomorrow,” Michael Bunting said.

What’s Next

Nashville hosts the New York Rangers Sunday evening. Puck stop is schedule for 6:00 pm CT. Each team is on the second game of a back to back with the Rangers earning the shootout win Saturday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. Although they have struggled on home ice at Madison Square Garden, New York boasts an impressive road record of 14-5-1 this season.

Jonathan Marchessault missed Saturday night’s game with a lower body injury. He is listed as day-to-day.

The midseason break is nearly here, which means the 2026 World Junior Championship (WJC) and the Spengler Cup are upon us. Below is a look at the Preds prospects playing international hockey this winter and expectations for their performances.

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Daniel Nieminen | D | Pelicans (Liiga)

Drafted in the sixth round at the NHL Entry Draft this summer, Daniel Nieminen is playing in his second full season with the Finnish Liiga’s Pelicans. The blueliner has scored five points in 27 games this year and will return to the WJC for a second year. Last year, he notched two assists and finished fifth among Finland’s defenders in ice time.

Nieminen should log significantly more minutes this year, including time on Finland’s power play. I don’t expect the 19-year-old to take over any games for his home country, but he may chip in a goal or two and should provide ample set-up opportunities for his teammates.

The biggest question I have is how his one-on-one defense, bolstered by good skating, holds up against the world’s best prospects and how much Finland relies on him in crunch time.

Viggo Gustafsson | D | AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan)

Much like Nieminen, Viggo Gustafsson is returning to the WJC for Team Sweden after serving as a depth defender at the 2025 tournament (averaging just over ten minutes per game). There are four other NHL-drafted prospects on Sweden’s blue line, meaning Gustafsson will have to compete for top-four minutes.

He’s played 22 games in Sweden’s second-tier league this year, adding six assists but has struggled at times with his defense. He should fare better against players his age, but I don’t expect Gustafsson to be a major offensive contributor at this tournament.

I’ll be curious to see how much special teams ice time he gets, and if he shows more effective use of his frame when defending.

Teddy Stiga | F | Boston College (NCAA)

Team USA will have three roster cuts to make ahead of the tournament, but Teddy Stiga is a lock to play in Minnesota—especially after scoring the golden goal in 2025. The 2024 second-round pick will feature prominently on the United States’ offense after posting three goals and 11 points in 15 games with Boston College (BC) this season. I’d expect Stiga to skate alongside BC teammate James Hagens for much of the tournament and to ultimately be one of the team’s forward leaders in ice time.

Stiga will likely chip in more assists than goals, but it’s reasonable to expect he finishes as one of the United States’ top scorers as they chase a third-straight title.

I’ll be watching how Stiga gets used on Team USA’s power play and if he can be more of a dual-threat producer than just a playmaker.

Ryker Lee | F | Michigan State Univ. (NCAA)

Ryker Lee is the 2025 draft pick I’ve been most impressed with to date; he’s recorded a primary point on 60 percent of the even-strength goals he’s been on the ice for. The first-round pick faced significant questions about his skating heading into college but has adjusted better than expected and forced his way into more ice time and responsibility at one of the nation’s best programs.

Despite not being a roster lock, I’d be pretty shocked if Lee is cut from Team USA’s roster before the tournament later this month. He provides significant depth scoring and is a unique weapon on the power play.

I wonder how much the coaching staff’s trust in him grows over the course of the WJC and how lethal he can make the U.S. on the man advantage. If he proves he can stick with the big names, he may be deployed in critical situations in the medal rounds.

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Brady Martin | F | Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

After starting the year in the NHL, Nashville’s prized prospect from the 2025 NHL Entry Draft has returned to junior hockey and posted 16 points in 13 games for the Soo Greyhounds. Despite the point totals, I don’t feel as if Martin has been truly dominant since heading back to the OHL. However, I think the WJC is a good opportunity for him to capitalize on the second half of his season.

Team Canada’s practice lines have shifted each day, but Martin has been getting a long look in the top six alongside 2026 first-overall hopeful Gavin McKenna. This roster, like most years, is stacked, and it can be difficult for prospects to stand out. But Martin took over the U18 WJC last year, and he may be put in a position to do something similar this year.

I don’t know if we’ll see a ton of Brady Martin on the power play, but I wonder if he gets much penalty killing time. Additionally, should Canada face adversity, I’ll be watching to see how Martin factors in to any line juggling or shifting responsibilities.

Cameron Reid | D | Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

After a slow start to the year, Cameron Reid is up to nine goals and 29 points in 28 games with the Kitchener Rangers, including 12 points in his last 10 games. The blueliner is fifth in defender scoring in the OHL and joins a stacked Team Canada back end.

It’s hard to say where Reid will line up on Canada’s blue line, but I expect he’ll average top-four minutes. He may not quarterback either of their power play units, but the first-round pick is an excellent skater with valuable possession skills. So far in practice, he’s lined up alongside Zayne Parekh (Calgary) on pair number one and Jackson Smith (Columbus).

Reid should rack up a few assists as the tournament goes on, but I’m curious to see how much Canada uses him in a shutdown role and if he separates himself from the pack after the round robin portion.

Jack Ivankovic | G | Univ. of Michigan (NCAA)

Jack Ivankovic has been the best goalie in college hockey this year. He’s recorded a 0.927 save percentage in 20 games and stopped 9.229 goals above average as Michigan maintains the top spot in the nation’s rankings.

Despite all that, the competition for Canada’s starting goalie spot is fierce, featuring Carter George (Los Angeles) and Joshua Ravensbergen (San Jose). The only real question facing Ivankovic is: Can he win the starting job? I expect there to be some rotation in the round robin, but will he be Canada’s guy come the medal round?

Aiden Fink | F | Penn State Univ. (NCAA)

Aiden Fink won’t be joining Team Canada at the WJC, but he will be representing a different squad at the Spengler Cup. The Spengler Cup has been around since 1923 and is an annual invitational hosted by the Swiss club HC Davos. Over the years, the competition has featured international teams, European pro clubs, college teams, AHL teams, and more; this year’s tournament will be played between Davos, HC Sparta Praha (Czechia), IFK Helsinki (Finland), HC Fribourg-Gottéron (Switzerland), a Canadian national team, and, for the first time, an NCAA all-star team.

Fink, who’s in his third season with Penn State, will help lead that NCAA team. After breaking the 50-point threshold last year, Fink had a relatively slower start to his junior campaign with two goals and nine points in nine contests. The Nittany Lions have had some major losses despite their influx of talent like Gavin McKenna and Jackson Smith, and Fink’s line just hasn’t totally clicked. He’s been on the ice for just five even-strength goals but has a primary point on four of them.

Unfortunately, Fink has been out of the lineup since October with an upper-body injury. Nothing has indicated Fink won’t be ready for the tournament, but that’s to be determined.

If he suits up, this will be a decent test of how the undersized Fink lines up against pro players. It won’t tell us everything, but if his offense can break through, that could be telling as he eventually progresses to the AHL.

Jakub Milota | G | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

Jakub Milota has played just three games in the QMJHL this year due to multiple injuries, including being shelved since October with a lower-body ailment. He was initially named to Team Czechia’s roster and expected to start in net, but he’s still recovering and will miss the WJC.

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The Nashville Predators announced on Friday, December 12 that defenseman Spencer Stastney has been traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 3rd round pick in the 2027 NHL draft. The news was first broke by NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman as he teased a couple moves taking shape for the Oilers. Pierre LeBrun soon confirmed the return of a 3rd round pick in 2027.

Spencer Stastney was drafted by the Predators in the 5th round (131 overall) of the 2018 draft. Stastney would go on to Notre Dame where he played all four years including wearing the assistant captain ‘A’ on his jersey during his senior season. He also represented Team USA three times at the U17, U18 and U20 World Juniors tournaments. After his college career ended in 2022, Stastney made the leap to the pros and joined the AHL Milwaukee Admirals. Over the next three seasons, he rotated between the Admirals and Nashville Predators, playing a key defensive role on some high end Admirals teams. Stastney finishes his Predators tenure with 18 points across 81 NHL games.

While the Predators have been prominent on trade boards and in the rumor mill, much of that focus has been on veteran forwards and less on defense. Looking at the trade from Nashville’s perspective the list of NHL defensemen was longer than the available roster spots. Of late, Andrew Brunette has been putting a 7 forward and 11 defense lineup to keep everyone playing and that does not even account for the injured Justin Barron. Heading into training camp, Spencer Stastney was likely on the outside of the NHL roster but he played his way onto the team. Once he got his opportunities this season, he played his way into a regular role. That also means he played his way into having trade value. Getting a 3rd round pick for a player with a total of a full season of NHL games is quite good value and gives Barry Trotz more roster flexibility with players coming up in the pipeline.

Finally, Spencer Stastney has been a favorite of the Penalty Box Radio team. He’s a great person, a tremendous story of perseverance and using his voice to positively impact others. We will miss him in Nashville and wish him all the success in Edmonton.

Statistics courtesy of the NHL and Elite Prospects