Nashville Predators: Status Report on Players That Were Lost

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This past offseason saw the Nashville Predators lose a lot of players. Some were way easier to see let go than others.

Seeing the new-look Nashivlle Predators skate onto the ice for the season-opener offered hope for a fresh start, but also some weird feelings of uncertainty.

As the new NHL season is over two weeks in, the Predators are managing to stay right in the thick of a crowded Central Division race. It remain to be seen if GM David Poile made the right moves in the offseason to let some key players go.

The more this season rolls along the more we’ll see if Poile made the right decisions with the players he added to the roster, mostly to address the defensive issues, or if he swung and missed.

Poile has been somewhat under the hot seat in recent time. He really needs this past offseason to bear positive results and get the Predators back into being a viable playoff team.

Let’s catch up with past Predators who were lost over the offseason.

Craig Smith, Boston Bruins

This one stung more than any other loss over the offseason. Craig Smith was a lifelong Predator that was originally drafted by the team in 2009.

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Smith has appeared in six games for the Bruins so far this season and has two goals and two assists. Both of his goals were game-winners, and he’s playing for a viable Stanley Cup contending team.

I really thought the Predators should’ve figured out a way to retain Smith. The Predators are lacking offensive firepower right now, and Smith would be providing that right now.

Smith’s deal of $9.3M over three years was viewed by many as a free agent steal for the Bruins. I really can’t understand why the Predators didn’t try harder to make a deal with a player that probably wanted to stay in Nashville.

I expect Smith to put up around 30 to 40 points this season if he’s able to play in the majority of the games.

Kyle Turris, Edmonton Oilers

It just never worked out for Kyle Turris in Nashville. It’s viewed as one of the worst deals GM David Poile has made in his tenure for the Nashville Predators.

Turris was placed on unconditional waivers by the Predators as the team finally decided to bite the bullet on a massive deal that never worked out. In this case, the Predators made the wise decision to let a player go.

For all of the issues, Turris did do some good things for the Predators. The problem was he never came close to living up to his contract. That can’t be put entirely on Turris, and should be more so on Poile making the deal in the first place.

Turris has just two points in nine games played so far this season for the Oilers. He’s not really making an impact right now and has failed to reach even 15 minutes of ice time in a game yet.

It might be a rough season for Turris in Edmonton, which is a team that has high expectations and loaded with superstars at the top of the roster, including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Nick Bonino, Minnesota Wild

Another player that was hard to see let go over the offseason was Nick Bonino, but this one was also somewhat understandable.

This came as a draft day trade for Luke Kunin. Draft picks were also traded as the Wild acquired second and third-round picks for 2020.

Kunin has been getting extensive work on the Predators’ second line, while Bonino is mainly sticking on the third line for Minnesota.

Bonino has just two points in eight games so far this season. He’s getting plenty of ice time at over 18 minutes per game, but just isn’t generating a whole lot of offense with 16 shots on goal and a 6.3 shooting percentage.

Minnesota is another team that figures to be in the playoff mix in the Western Division. Bonino is a proven veteran that should get better as the season rolls on, and if the Wild make the playoffs he’ll be a valuable asset for them.

Bonino is off to a somewhat rocky start with the Minnesota Wild, while Kunin has also managed just two goals and no assists through the first seven games for the Predators.

Austin Watson, Ottawa Senators

It was time to move on from Austin Watson for the Predators. He did some decent things for them over his six seasons in Nashville, but just never really took that next step in his development.

Watson was always a fourth line guy that never showed any higher of a ceiling. He did make some big blocked shots and had the occasional fight that made highlight reels, but that was about it.

The Ottawa Senators are one of the worst teams in the league, and Watson has managed two goals and an assist for them through eight games.

Watson actually racked up ten penalty minutes in a game against the Vancouver Canucks earlier in the season. That puts up already up at 18 penalty minutes on the young season.

In his limited ice time that’s barely above 11 minutes per game, Watson has also laid out 23 hits. Something we always knew him for in Nashville.

Watson is currently under a three-year deal worth $1.5M per year with Ottawa. A deal I’m glad the Predators didn’t make.

Colin Blackwell, NY Rangers

I didn’t like seeing Colin Blackwell lost over the offseason. He served his purpose as a gritty and tenacious fourth line player. He put up three goals and seven assists for Nashville last season in 27 games played, which was by far career-highs.

Blackwell might very well still be entering the peak of his career at age 27 and have his best seasons ahead of him. The Rangers were able to get him a relatively low bargain of two years, $725K.

If the Predators could’ve figured out a way to keep Blackwell, he’d be playing on that fourth line with whomever else the Predators might have added. One of the current players probably wouldn’t have been added, like Brad Richardson or Nick Cousins.

Blackwell has only played in three games so far this season for the Rangers, but he has three points in those games. He also has six hits in those three games, so he’s making the most out of his limited action.

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Other players who left last season

Matt Irwin left during last season and played briefly with the Anaheim Ducks. He’s now landed with the Buffalo Sabres and has appeared in two games and tallied one assist, one block and five hits.

Yannick Weber had a “tryout” during Nashville Predators training camp this year but was unable to make the roster, or even the taxi squad. He’s now with the Pittsburgh Penguins but has yet to play a game.

Korbinian Holzer was briefly brought onto the Predators roster last season late in the process, but played only three games and didn’t do much of anything except for make a trip to the penalty box. He’s currently not signed with an NHL team.

Daniel Carr is now with the Washington Capitals and has appeared in two games. Carr got into 11 games for Nashville last season but was never really able to take advantage of the opportunity.

All contract and player salary information via CapFriendly.com

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