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Nashville Predators Shouldn’t Oversell at NHL Trade Deadline

By Patrick Stewart

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 22: Egor Afanasyev, 45th overall pick of the Nashville Predators, is greeted at the draft table by general manager David Poile a the team draft table during Rounds 2-7 of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 22: Egor Afanasyev, 45th overall pick of the Nashville Predators, is greeted at the draft table by general manager David Poile a the team draft table during Rounds 2-7 of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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It’s a hot topic right now with the Nashville Predators that they should trade players and bring in a fresh identity, but will they pull the trigger?

Being several games past the midway point of the season here the Nashville Predators sit clinging onto hope that they can rally and overcome the struggling season. They’re showing some fight with wins in the last two nights.

It’s been an uphill battle with new players, injured stars and a lack of motivation it seems at tims, and has left the fans with the questions of why and how? It leaves some tough decisions to be made in the coming weeks leading up to the trade deadline.

With elite players such as Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, Viktor Arvidsson, Matt Duchene and others, the team still isn’t where it needs to be. This is mainly due to a lack of defensive prowess, which in turn is resulting in shaky goaltending.

The frustration at hand

As a result of the struggling season, fans and spectators from all around can only wonder who will be thrown into the mix when we hear the word “trade”. It’s easily agreeable that several players have not peaked to their full potential, and that maybe the chemistry is just not there with the team.

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For an example, take a look at Forsberg. When he has the puck you can expect advanced puck handling skills, creative moves, A-plus sniping accuracy and even some physicality that keeps him driving to the net. He scored 33 Goals and 31 assists in the 2015-16 season.

Over time however, he has slowly dwindled with goals, leaving fans with higher expectations for players like himself.

With that said, Forsberg just had a monster performance last night to propel the Predators to a win and move into a tie for third on the franchise’s all-time goals list with 163. The Predators need him to continue surging.

Sellers, buyers or neither?

To pull the trigger and dump over half of the team’s top-six forwards would be overkill for me. It wouldn’t have the desired effects that we should want.

There are a lot of new guys coming up from Milwaukee, and the veterans can really help out with showing the ropes of how the Predators play. The minor league talent has been exceptional this season and helped keep the team’s head above water.

This has no doubt become a building season when head coach John Hynes took over, and there’s a lot of work left ahead with the younger players. Obviously some trades will have to be made, for there is some weak points to the team that I understand needs to be addressed.

What side of the ice is the bigger problem?

Defense, Defense, Defense. It’s not a hidden gimmick now that the Predators’ defense has been slacking around protecting the crease and turning over the puck, but more importantly they need physicality.

The Predators don’t need a defenseman that necessarily thinks offense first like Roman Josi, but an enforcer or multiple enforcers with a strong defensive hockey IQ and skating skills to take over and protect the goaltender.

If you are a goaltender and you don’t have good defensemen to help alleviate the shots on goal coming at you, then it will tear you down over time. This is happening to Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros, and it’s showing on the opposing team’s goal total.

Even the last two wins over Washington and New Jersey nearly didn’t happen because of defensive blunders that’s making it harder on goaltenders.

I believe a trade for a couple bottom line defenseman and a draft pick or two will be appropriate.  If they’re going to make playoffs, they have to get tougher and grittier to make it through a seven-game series and the grind of playoff run.

Throwing in an extra defenseman or two, and getting Ryan Ellis back from injured reserve, would allow the bottom lines to add some extra physicality to the game. There’s a strong need to shoot down the odd man rushes and back door shots on goal in the Nashville zone.

light. Counter Point. Predators Should Be Sellers Regardless of What Happens Next

If you break down the fundamentals of hockey, you have to correct the issues at hand and elevate their skills. The Nashville Predators can still be deadly and avoid a long rebuild if they play this trade deadline smart and logically.

They have stacked players on every line, and trading them all will not help. Instead make what trades necessary to tighten up loose ends on both ends of the ice, and try to solidify a roster that shouldn’t be on the playoff bubble.

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