Nashville Predators: Realistic Free Agent Defensemen to Watch

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We’re under a month away from the NHL free agency market opening up, and for the Nashville Predators it could be the start of much more roster movement.

The Predators are one of those teams that are hard to put a peg on when it comes to mapping out their offseason plans. Some of it became more clear after Viktor Arvidsson was traded this past week to the LA Kings for two draft picks, but there’s still many different ways this can go once free agency opens on July 28.

According to PuckPedia, the Predators now have a projected cap space of just under $23 million, so GM David Poile has some room to maneuver with not only new free agents, but also with the Seattle Kraken.

I’m staying away from the heavyweight free agent defensemen like Dougie Hamilton, Alexander Edler and others because I just don’t think the Predators are going to drop any big contracts on this position. At least I hope not.

Although the Predators aren’t really in a position of dire need to look for free agent defensemen, I do think it’s worth exploring who’s out there. Let’s take a look at the ones are probably way out of the realm of possibility, and also look at some others who are more realistic fits.

All contract information courtesy of CapFriendly.com

Jamie Oleksiak, Dallas Stars, 2020-21 Salary: $2.137M

A physical mammoth of a defenseman, Jamie Oleksiak will get a lot of looks on the open market if the Dallas Stars are unable to retain him. He’s enormous and plays very well analytically speaking on top of being a big bodied defender.

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Oleksiak isn’t a major scoring defenseman, but he does everything else well that you want out of a second or third-pairing defenseman. And what’s most intriguing about Oleksiak is he won’t require too much of a big payday for a team that’s got the money to spend.

I’m not saying the Predators should heavily pursue any expensive defenseman out there, but as the offseason rolls on who knows if they’ll find themselves in a precarious position to replace a void in the defensive corps.

Oleksiak is a player I really like for a team that wants to play a very physical and bruising brand of hockey that gives the other team nightmares to get set up in the offensive zone. The Predators seem to be trending that way, so Oleksiak might be intriguing to them.

Brandon Montour, Florida Panthers, 2020-21 Salary: $3.85M

If the Predators are going to get into the market for free agent defensemen this offseason, the last thing I want to see is them continuing down that road of chasing aging players that are well past their prime.

Brandon Montour doesn’t fit into that category. He’s just 27-years-old and had a pretty solid season for a very talented Florida Panthers team last season. I like his trajectory to at the very least plug into being a bottom pairing defenseman for someone.

Montour is also a player I believe can come relatively on the cheap end, and of course this all hinges on who the Predators could end up losing in the expansion draft.

Gavin Lee of Pro Hockey Rumors highlighted in his recent piece on Panthers free agents that Montour looked closer to the player that posted 30-plus points in the past. Whoever gives him a new contract, whether he stays in Florida or finds a new team, will be taking a gamble that he’s going to continue to raise his game.

I would entertain looking at a player like Montour if the Predators end up having a void to fill in their defensive corps.

Erik Gustaffson, Montreal Canadiens, 2020-21 Salary: $3M

Let’s talk about a player who is currently playing in the Stanley Cup Final, and that’s 29-year-old defenseman Erik Gustaffson.

It hasn’t been a great showing from the Canadiens in the finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and now Gustaffson is reportedly going to be replaced in the starting lineup for more speed, as reported by NHL.com.

Nashville Predators

Gustaffson’s time with Montreal has been brief with just five regular season games, but also another 16 playoff games. He’s put up just three points in the playoffs so far, and might not see the ice again after being replaced ahead of tonight’s game.

This almost certainly looks like he’ll be on the open market and will land with a new team for next season. Getting replaced in the starting lineup in an elimination game doesn’t usually bode too well for your future with that team.

Be that as it may, Gustaffson could end up being a decent replacement for the Predators if a couple defensemen of their own are lost this offseason, most notably Erik Gudbranson and Luca Sbisa. Sbisa was a complete non-factor for the Predators appearing in just one game, and Gudbranson hopefully won’t return, either.

Again, I think there are plenty of current prospects who deserve starts for the Predators next season, but adding another veteran might be needed for depth purposes. Gustaffson is a possibility to explore.

Cody Ceci, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2020-21 Salary: $1.25M

Alright, I’ve got one more realistic and moderately cheap free agent defenseman to look at; Cody Ceci, currently of the despised Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ceci once had a pretty bright future and expectations of being a regular top-pairing defenseman. He’s clearly not that anymore, but I don’t believe the book should be written on him yet, either.

Assuming the Predators lose a player or two out of their defensive corps this offseason, then they’re going to need to explore free agents defensemen out there. Ceci is a player that could fit nicely for them as a bottom pairing player.

Ceci is another “defense first” type of player that’s not going to wow you with flashy offensive play, and that’s just fine with me. I need smart defensive players in this role who still have room for growth.

At just 27-years-old, Ceci will be looking for a decent raise that Pittsburgh might not be willing to pay to keep him. This is another free agent I expect to be on the open market and land in a new spot for 2021-22.

) Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Final Analysis

I left off all of the high-priced defensemen in this exercise because I don’t think the Predators are in the market for those types of players. It would be way too risky to be chasing long-term contract with aging defensemen.

With that said, it’s not unfathomable to think the Predators are going to be in a position to add more depth at this position. I don’t expect Gudbranson or Sbisa back, and the expansion draft could end up plucking another defensemen away from Nashville, depending on what their protection list looks like.

Next. Viktor Arvidsson Trade Difficult, but Smart Move. dark

Matt Benning and Mark Borowiecki, two defensemen who were offseason additions for the Predators last summer, will most likely return unless an unforeseen trade comes up. So this really comes down to if the Predators front office is happy with they currently have returning.

I’m also not sold on Ben Harpur as a long-term answer on the third pairing, so there’s still a lot to figure out at the bottom end of the defensive corps. Maybe a prospect is the answer, or maybe it’s a fairly priced, low-risk free agent.

In the end, the Predators should be more aggressive with getting their young prospects a stronger look in the starting lineup to open 2021-22. I’ve got players like Jeremey Davies and Frederic Allard at the top of that list.

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