Nashville Predators Offseason Grades: Free Agency, Draft, Trades

As many predicted, the Nashville Predators have gone through an enormous amount of changes this offseason as we trek through the dog days of summer.

The height of free agency is behind us, as well as the Expansion Draft and the 2021 Entry Draft. The Predators have no doubt taken on the look of a rebuilding team with many young players looking to take the next step in their development.

The Predators have lost a lot of core veterans this offseason which will give this team a fresh, new look in 2021-22. It’s keeping expectations low, but also giving hope that they can start building towards the future again. Something they’ve pushed off for far too long.

They might be predicted to most likely miss the postseason in 2021-22, but let’s hand out some offseason grades for how the Predators and their front office have managed the offseason so far.

2021 NHL Entry Draft Grade: A-

The Predators absolutely nailed their first two picks in the entry draft this year. Getting a defensive-minded and all-around center like Fedor Svechkov at the 19th pick really addressed a major need for the prospect pool.

Svechkov brings a skill set that should fit nicely into how the Predators want to play, which is smart defensively and being able to set up offensive zone time to prolong the attack.

Perhaps the more exciting of the first two picks was winger Zachary L’Heureux, who brings a toughness and tenacity to his game that this Predators team as a whole has really lacked during their four-year decline.

Just check out L’Heureux’s scouting report from Elite Prospects if you’re not convinced on this pick, which the Predators traded back into the first round to get:

“So much of L’Heureux’s game is defined by his physicality. He’s an enthusiastic hitter, one who’s put more than his fair share of poor opponents into the boards or onto their asses. He’ll get under his opponent’s skin after the whistles. He’ll fight.”

The Predators only had four more picks after their first two picks that seems to please everyone. They took three defensemen in a row, which is smart as they’ll need to start replenishing that position as well as they head into this competitive rebuild and start calling more guys up.

Right winger Simon Knak comes in as the Predators’ final pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. On paper at least, there’s hard to find anything wrong with the selections the Predators made, so I give them nearly a perfect grade.

Unrestricted Free Agency: C+

It’s been a pretty underwhelming free agency period for the Nashville Predators, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. They haven’t pushed for any big names or long contracts, except for retaining Mikael Granlund.

Granlund’s four-year deal at $20M caught most of us by surprise. He’ll come back to the team in a huge role in the top-six as one of the team’s main offensive threats. He has a lot of pressure on him to deliver more consistent results offensively in his point production.

The Predators solved their backup goaltender dilemma by getting David Rittich on a modest one-year deal worth $1.25M. Not my first choice, but also not a horrible addition, either. He should be able to do enough in a limited backup role to Juuse Saros.

Nashville Predators

In reality, Rittich is probably just keeping the seat warm until we have more confidence that Connor Ingram is ready for that same role. But this does address the immediate need for a veteran backup, so no qualms about this addition.

The more modest additions are defenseman Matt Tennyson, who is 31-years-old and never really stuck at the NHL level. He’ll provide depth for Milwaukee, but don’t see much else in this addition.

Another one was winger Matt Luff, which I actually like a lot. Brings the Predators some upside at the position and another young player who maybe hasn’t reached their ceiling just yet.

Again, the Predators weren’t in a position to be aggressive in the free agency market due to their rebuilding status and being cautious about long contracts. However, they might have another move coming. As of now, they get a slightly above average grade in this area of the offseason.

Retaining Restricted Free Agents: B-

Nothing too earth shattering in this department, but the were two very important players the Predators made sure they retained as restricted free agents; Tanner Jeannot and Mathieu Olivier.

Maybe it seemed obvious that Jeannot and Olivier had to be retained, but at least they didn’t find a way to screw it up. Jeannot was a vital player to keep as we move forward into times of being a young team that’s probably going to have to take their share of growing pains in 2021-22.

Olivier is also important to the depth and continued development of the young Nashville Predators. I’m excited to see them stick around and hopefully replicate the success they had together last season.

Other two-way contracts that effect Milwaukee are Anthony Richard, Michael McCarron and Jeremey Davies. Three players who mean a lot to Milwaukee as they return to AHL action, while I do see there being a possibility for all three to get call-ups to the Predators this upcoming season.

The most recent restricted free agent to get a new two-way contract is Rem Pitlick, which is another player I fully expect to be a big part of the rebuild:

Finally, it’s the elephant in the room and that’s Juuse Saros filing for salary arbitration. Not a good look at all for the Predators front office watching your star goaltender have to go through this.

We all expect this to eventually get settled and for Saros to get the hefty pay raise he deserves, but this is a stain on what has otherwise been a fairly productive offseason for the front office. Get this settled quickly, please.

Dante Fabbro has also filed for salary arbitration, which is less dramatic, but still troublesome.

Nashville Predators Trades: B+

Everything really took off this offseason when the Nashville Predators traded away our beloved Viktor Arvidsson. It was hard to stomach, but one that was necessary and wise by David Poile.

In return, the Predators received two draft picks, one in 2021 that ended up being used to trade with Carolina and move back into the first round to take L’Heureux. Hard to argue with what that pick allowed you to do.

The other pick acquired will be in 2022 in the third round. Stacking up draft capital is important, and the Predators would’ve likely lost Arvidsson for nothing in the expansion draft, so I think this was easily a smart trade by Poile.

The trade fireworks weren’t over as Ryan Ellis was then quickly traded, and shocked many people, including myself. Another move that hurt a lot of fans, but was necessary and a clear message that it’s time to rebuild with youth and development.

The return for Ellis was defenseman Philippe Myers and, eventually, center Cody Glass. Glass in particular has me intrigued as far as fueling the rebuild to see what he can become once given the opportunity.

I like both trades for the Predators, and when you factor in the draft day trade up to get L’Heureux, I give them a solid B+ for their trade activity this offseason.

It hasn’t been a complete fire-sale this offseason for the Predators, but they have definitely sent a clear message that change is necessary moving forward. I won’t be too surprised if Poile pulls off one more noteworthy addition as they have nearly $17M in projected cap space right now.

Overall it’s been a fairly successful offseason on its surface for what the Predators are trying to accomplish, but it also means we’re going to have to be patient before they return to being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.