Nashville Predators: Candidates for the Offseason Trade Block

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The dust has settled on the Nashville Predators trading away Viktor Arvidsson, and now we have shifted our focus back to the upcoming expansion draft.

However, I’m not convinced that the Predators and GM David Poile are done offering trades. They have to be aggressive this offseason in setting themselves up for the long-term future.

The last thing any of us want to see is another wasted year of the same core giving us the same underwhelming results. We need a dramatic change and fresh look to this roster when the new season begins in October.

Trades are a quick way to obtain draft capital and free up roster space, which I put the Predators in dire need for both if they’re going to avoid plummeting into a cellar dweller. The Arvidsson trade, as hard as it was to see him go, was absolutely necessary and a smart decision.

Are there realistically any other players we can put onto Poile’s trade block? There are definitely a few more that I would like to see traded if the return obviously makes sense.

All contract info courtesy of PuckPedia.com

Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Nick Cousins, UFA in 2022-23, $1.5M Cap Hit

Let me preface this slide by saying I appreciate the hell out of Nick Cousins and the style of play he brings to the Predators. I’m just not sure there’s room for him with others who also need to be seeing the ice.

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Cousins didn’t bring much in terms of offense last season, scoring just five goals. He was primarily a bottom-six player that just played that physical style of hockey that Head Coach John Hynes likes to have.

Although scoring isn’t Cousins’ main skillset, you have to give me more than five goals if you’re going to stick around in the starting lineup.

I’m not overly confident that the Predators would be able to get much more than a late-round draft pick for Cousins, but the trade is still worth exploring. It could free up room for other prospects who I think the Predators need to invest in more in the upcoming season.

Cousins probably ends up sticking around with the Predators for the final year of his current contract, but I wouldn’t be opposed to adding another draft pick to the arsenal in a trade for him.

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Mark Borowiecki, UFA in 2022-23, $2M Cap Hit

It wasn’t what you would call a smooth first season for Mark Borowiecki in Nashville. He made it into just 22 games for the Predators, but did still manage to show his brute physical style of play when he did play.

Borowiecki didn’t appear in a game after March 11, and logged just one single assist in all 22 games. He did manage to lay out 54 hits and 37 blocks while being somewhat of a presence on the penalty kill, which was overall a major eyesore for the team early on.

We’ll see if Borowiecki returns to the team for his final year, but I’m doing everything I can to unload him if I’m the general manager. I respect his game and the class act that he is, but it ends there for me.

Borowiecki won’t get many looks from teams aside from the ones who really are desperate for veteran presence on their blueline. If the Predators can find one of those suitors for a late-round draft pick, pull the trigger.

Rocco Grimaldi, UFA 2022-23, $2M Cap Hit

This one stings way more than the first two trade block options I’ve named. Rocco Grimaldi is so easy to cheer for and is an entertaining player to watch. He deserves regular ice time for someone, even if it’s not for the Nashville Predators next season.

Grimaldi has been misused on this team under Hynes, and now might be the time to give him an opportunity to flourish elsewhere. With Arvidsson out of the picture, maybe that actually frees up room for Grimaldi to make a bigger impact in 2022-23, but I still have my doubts.

There could be a decent market out there for Grimaldi, and if you’re not going to use him properly, then at least get something valuable out of him. Again, mid to late round draft pick might be the most you can ask for. Perhaps a prospect if a team really likes Grimaldi’s offensive flare and they’re in need of something like that.

If Grimaldi does return to the Predators for 2022-23, then my goodness find a way to get him more ice time and utilize him properly.

Matt Duchene, UFA 2026, $8M Cap Hit

Ah, yes. The rather large elephant in the room that is Matt Duchene. Everyone knows it, and I can only imagine what’s going on behind closed doors to try to work out a deal to unload this contract.

Duchene gets way more flack than I honestly think he deserves. Fans get sour over him because of the contract and him not living up to it. I understand that part of it, but David Poile is the person you should be disgusted with over the contract, not Duchene.

As for his play on the ice, we absolutely want to see more point production out of him. He’s never been an elite goal scorer, however the points need to definitely come at a higher rate.

Is there anyone out there crazy or bold enough to trade for Duchene. The Seattle Kraken through an expansion draft deal is probably our only hope. It would also probably take the Predators retaining some of the salary.

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This is easily the biggest story of the offseason right now. Can Poile work his magic to broker a deal with Seattle, or some other team that maybe thinks they can morph Duchene back into being an elite top-six caliber player?

Call me a non-believer, but I fully expect Duchene back next season and back in the top-six. If that’s the case, I’d like to see him on a line with Filip Forsberg and we can keep our fingers crossed that he somehow starts producing top-six points.

Poile sent a pretty clear signal that he’s ready to break things up by trading a core player like Arvidsson. He’s definitely not finished with his offseason to-do list.

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