Updated: Mar 22
The Nashville Predators have had a complete U-Turn of a season, and nobody really knows why, but with the team improving not looking likely, Nashville could be set to be the biggest sellers before this year's trade deadline.
A few days ago General manager Barry Trotz outlined his desires to move players if they do not want to be there, poking a jab at some players one in particular being defenseman Luke Schenn. After an awful 4-1 loss to the Panthers the other day, defenseman Luke Schenn told the media he’s never been on a team who ‘literally cannot score goals’, outlining his frustrations in this blunder of a season for Nashville.
It was early in the season when Trotz was adamant about the repercussions the team would face had they not perform to the proper standard, but being known as one of the league's toughest general managers, he definitely won't hold back when it comes to trades.
Had Nashville not improved at all in the next week, a fire sale bound the breakout, some players including Schenn, Novak and Marchessault being some who could see the chopping block.
Luke Schenn is arguably the most likely player to see the end of his time at Nashville come March 7th following his comments about the team, but also due to the recent chatter about a possible unison with his brother Brayden as teams such as Toronto could look to make a double trade to bring both the Schenn brothers to the Maple Leafs. Schenn is expected to leave and see himself out the door of Nashville, but somebody else who could be gone by next week is Ryan O’Reilly. These days O’Rielly is one of the players who is always a hot product on the trade block at the deadline, and with only a very affordable $4.5 million cap hit, he is a solid veteran addition to any playoff team, and could well be on his way out of Nashville for the right price.
But with O’Rielly and Schenn being the two most likely, don't sleep on players like Jonathan Marchessault and Tommy Novak to be out the door too. Differently to Marchessault, Novak is in his last year in Nashville, and would be a decent and smart pickup for any playoff team looking for a third line playmaker, at a very affordable $3.5 million. But where does Marchessault come into all of this? Had Trotz decide he hasn't liked what he has seen so far from his $7 million plus Conn Smythe winner, then he may look to move him simply for cap reasons, and would move him for very little. With a 15 team no trade clause, it's definitely something for the Preds to work with, but its unlikely compared to most players on the block in Nashville due to his age, contract length, and cap hit, but definitely expect some movement come March 7th by Nashville.
Comments