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Nashville Predators Offseason Grades: Free Agency, Draft, Trades

By Chad Minton

Luke Kunin #11 of the Nashville Predators is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game Four of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 23, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
Luke Kunin #11 of the Nashville Predators is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game Four of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 23, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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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.

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