Nashville Predators: Top Offseason Priorities to Address
By Chad Minton
![Nashville Predators center Matt Duchene (95) celebrates with goaltender Juuse Saros (74) after scoring the game-winning goal in the second overtime against the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports Nashville Predators center Matt Duchene (95) celebrates with goaltender Juuse Saros (74) after scoring the game-winning goal in the second overtime against the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5b57218b42330d8c6684ebf5a6a0091c330af26e1d05379179fd1c5bfd1ee87f.jpg)
Who Will the Seattle Kraken Take?
This offseason item is on every team’s list, and for the Predators it’s a complicated dilemma. I can see these going many different ways for the Predators on who they end up losing to Seattle.
I mentioned Duchene earlier as the hopeful future Seattle Kraken player, but that also seem very far-fetched. The Predators have to decide if they’re willing to expose a young, up-and-coming player like Luke Kunin or Alexandre Carrier, or expose a veteran like Calle Jarnkrok or Viktor Arvidsson.
If I’m looking at it from Seattle’s perspective, I’d assume they want a versatile player who can bring veteran experience. Jarnkrok has always seemed like a high probability to end up in Seattle if the Predators don’t protect him.
Ryan Johansen could also end up as the top-six center for Seattle if the Predators want to work out a deal and shed that contract. Again, that might beg far-fetched, but as much as the Duchene scenario. If you ask me, the Predators need to retain Johansen if possible.
Could they also leave Dante Fabbro exposed? He oddly wasn’t even used in the playoffs against the Hurricanes, but GM David Poile insists Fabbro has a future here:
Poile said he met with Pekka Rinne and said they will get together again to discuss the future in a few weeks. Would be happy to bring him back for one more season. #Preds
— Justin Bradford (@justinbbradford) June 3, 2021
This will be an interesting decision for the Predators, and not an easy one to make. Whatever happens here will affect how this team approaches free agency as well.