Nashville Predators: Five Hypothetical Trades to Entertain this Offseason
Vince Dunn
Position: Defense
Current Team: St. Louis Blues
2020 Salary Cap Hit: $722,500
Vince Dunn, a restricted free agent, went for 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) last season, but only had three assists in the playoffs.
The Blues are in a tricky situation as they are close to their limit on cap space and still need to re-sign Alex Pietrangelo. It would seem almost impossible to accomplish this and re-sign Dunn.
To clear cap space, the Blues may be willing to let go of Dunn for not much in return, similar to what they did when moving goaltender Jake Allen to Montreal.
Dunn would be a welcome addition to the second defensive pairing with Ekholm. This move would give some firepower back to that pairing and provide some much-needed offense.
Dante Fabbro could then be moved to the third pairing with, possibly, Alexandre Carrier. This move would give Fabbro some much-needed development and allow Carrier to ease into a role in the NHL.
Dunn will be looking for a raise next season. If the Predators let some free agents go and possibly execute a contract buyout for Kyle Turris, they should have more than enough to afford Dunn’s cap hit.
Since St. Louis needs to clear some cap space, they may be willing to accept a 2nd round draft pick and a later pick or two.
A move like this would benefit both teams. The Predators would get a better defenseman to help out Ekholm, and the Blues would free up some money to re-sign their Captain.
Ryan Graves
Position: Defense
Current Team: Colorado Avalanche
2020 Salary Cap Hit: $735,000
Ryan Graves is another young, restricted free agent that could definitely be in the Predators’ wheelhouse next season.
Last season, Graves racked up 26 points (9 goals, 17 assists). He also had three points in the Edmonton playoff bubble.
The Avalanche have 12 players that are free agents this season, including Graves. This may put them in a position to make some deals. This is a team that has high hopes for a Stanley Cup in the near future.
Like Dunn was mentioned earlier, Graves would make an excellent partner for Ekholm on the second defensive pairing. This move would also work for the Fabbro move to the third pairing.
Like Dunn, Graves will also be looking for a raise from his current contract. After the free agents are gone, the Predators could absorb a deal for Graves.
I’m doubtful that Colorado would take some picks for Graves as they aren’t as cash-strapped as St. Louis. Maybe they would be interested in bolstering their third or fourth lines with say, Calle Jarnkrok, and a later round pick.
The Predators could use help on the defensive front. After Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, and Ekholm, things get dicey. Graves could step right into that role and provide some offense that they are lacking.
Jake DeBrusk
Position: Left Wing
Current Team: Boston Bruins
2020 Salary Cap Hit: $863,333
If the Boston Bruins are entertaining the idea of holding on to Torey Krug, they may not have enough cap space to pay Jake DeBrusk. This makes him a prime target for the Predators.
DeBrusk scored 35 points (19 goals, 16 assists) last season. These numbers are down a bit from his previous two seasons, although this season was shorter due to the pandemic.
DeBrusk would be a welcome addition to the second line with Matt Duchene. He’s a gritty player who can score, which is exactly what the Predators’ second line needs.
The asking price for DeBrusk should fall nicely into the range of what the Predators could pay with others leaving the organization.
With an aging Bruins team, they may be willing to accept a first-round and a second-round pick or two to get some youth into their pipeline.
Offering a player of Nick Bonino‘s caliber may entice the Bruins even more, but the Predators would possibly have to retain some of his salary to make it beneficial for the Bruins.
This wouldn’t be a popular move among some shipping off a veteran like Bonino who has been so critical to leading the bottom-six and the third line.
However, this move would benefit all involved. It would keep DeBrusk on a second line and allow him some excellent feeds from Duchene. The Predators would bolster a second line that needs scoring, and the Bruins would save some cap space so that they could focus on re-signing Krug.
Tyler Toffoli
Position: Right Wing
Current Team: Vancouver Canucks
2020 Salary Cap Hit: $4.6M
If the Predators want some scoring on their second line, they may do well to take a look at Tyler Toffoli.
Toffoli posted 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists) last season with the Los Angeles Kings, which would’ve been good enough for third on the Predators. He also scored four points in this year’s playoffs for the Vancouver Canucks as his team put up a valiant effort but came up short against the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. .
Toffoli is a scorer who would benefit from being with a puck handler like Duchene. He could boost that second line and, if matched with Eeli Tolvanen, become a potent line for the Predators.
The salary falls right in line for the Predators, who could swing a higher payday for Toffoli than other suitors.
I would offer Bonino and a second-round pick to the Canucks. Bonino could bring some experience to an otherwise young team. He can also offer some Stanley Cup experience as well.
The Predators would get a younger skater in Toffoli who is experienced and whose career could be on the upswing. Another bold trade move to consider, but bold moves are sometimes necessary when you’re teetering between relevancy and the basement of your division.
Taylor Hall
Position: Left Wing
Current Team: Arizona Coyotes
2020 Salary Cap Hit: $6M
Lastly, we have Taylor Hall. I know. Just hear me out as this hypothetical trade scenario is by far the biggest one to discuss.
There is no doubt that Taylor Hall is an incredible player. This guy is just a few years removed from a 93-point season. Hall had a 52-point season this year, including time with a Coyotes team that isn’t really know for its offensive prowess.
Hall had a tough first half of last season, languishing on an awful New Jersey Devils team. Moving to the Arizona Coyotes seemed like a good idea for him, but he still struggled.
General Manager issues and the loss of draft picks due to NHL combine testing violations leaves Arizona as a less than desirable home for Hall.
Hall and Head Coach John Hynes have a good history together, and a new beginning for both of them could produce favorable results. Now comes the hard part.
Hall made $6M last season and will want some kind of raise even in this COVID-19, money-strapped NHL atmosphere. This may be a tall order for the Predators.
With the Predator’s free agents’ apparent departure and a Kyle Turris buyout, it is not impossible that Hall could be in Nashville. The question is, what could the Predators give up to attain Hall?
More. Potential Breakout Players for Predators in 2021. light
The Coyotes’ loss of draft picks may motivate them to make some trades. It would be a huge gamble, but the Predators could offer their 1st round pick this year and maybe throw in Jarnkrok or Austin Watson.
The pressure is on Poile to make the Predators relevant again. If Hall were to be successful in Nashville, Poile would look like a genius. If Hall were to stumble like the majority of the recent forwards that have come to the Predators, then Poile might as well call it a career.
These are all trades that will take creativity from the Predators front office to happen. But Poile has never shied away from making bold moves in the offseason. Sometimes he misses, and other times he hits a home run.
Poile is badly in need of a home run offseason signing to change the direction of the Predators that not too long ago had Stanley Cup aspirations, but now are in danger of becoming a mediocre team that will be lucky to sneak into the playoffs.