Nashville Predators: Post-All Star Break Goals and Expectations

Get Forsberg Signed Before Trade Deadline

All of the power is in Filip Forsberg’s corner. He’s having a career year at just the right time as he’s due to become one of the NHL top unrestricted free agents if the Nashville Predators don’t sign him this season.

Forsberg is leading the NHL in Goals Above Expected, per JFresh Hockey:

Everytime Forsberg touches the puck he looks like he’s on a mission to put the league on notice that he’s starting to elevate into elite level status. And with that, the Predators front office is in a precarioous situation.

As the Predators continue to outperform preseason expectations and stay near the top of the standings, the uncertainty with Forsberg’s Nashville future gets thicker.  At this point, the front office just has to bite the bullet and possibly overpay him to keep him.

Forsberg’s timing is emaculate. He’s earned the right to get a big payday and maybe even get slightly overpayed. Maybe in the neighborhood of even $9M over a six-plus year length. The front office is backed into a corner, but they can’t risk losing him for nothing in free agency.

Even more so, trading him would signal that the Predators could put a serious dent in their playoff push. They’re not sellers, so trading Forsberg isn’t really an option, either. Tough times, but just pay the man already.