Predlines
Fansided

Predators: Looking at the Biggest Unrestricted Free Agents Next Offseason

By Chad Minton

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 19: Craig Smith #15 of the Nashville Predators skates against the Winnipeg Jets at Bridgestone Arena on November 19, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 19: Craig Smith #15 of the Nashville Predators skates against the Winnipeg Jets at Bridgestone Arena on November 19, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 7
Next

Matt Irwin

Here’s another player that should be an easy decision to probably let go. Irwin just doesn’t bring a whole lot of value to the team when he’s out there. He occasionally gets a big hit or makes a big block, but that’s all I really see.

Irwin would come at a relatively cheap price if the Predators did keep him, but I’m more of a fan of giving prospects a chance over what we already know we have in Irwin. Also, the Predators are definitely going to be shopping for a free agent defenseman in the coming months.

I don’t see Irwin sticking around past this season. He’s already losing starts and playing on a part-time basis on the troubled third defensive pairing. Even though he’s not out there to produce a lot of offense, he has to give you more than just one point in 12 games. He had seven points in 44 games last season.

There’s going to be some holes to fill defensively for the Predators going into next season. We know what we have in the top four defensemen, but the third pairing is a mess. Ideally, the Predators need a free agent to move to the second pairing, and move Dante Fabbro to the third pairing. Irwin is just a fill-in until something better comes along.

Home/Analysis