It’s almost like the worst fear is playing out in real time. Filip Forsberg, the star forward for the Nashville Predators who has blossomed this year, is supposedly being shopped by General Manager David Poile and the front office.
The report that’s getting everyone’s attention is from Andy Strickland who covers the St. Louis Blues for Bally Sports Midwest. It’s possible that he has a source he trusts and is going for a major scoop. Happens regularly in this business, and he’ll end up looking like a genius if Forsberg does indeed end up getting traded in the next few weeks.
Hearing the #Preds are actively shopping superstar Filip Forsberg.
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) February 24, 2022
Forsberg’s future with the Predators has remained up in the air all season long, but this news was quite surprising. He has developed great chemistry with Mikael Granlund and Matt Duchene in what has been a career year for him, and with the Predators in the playoff race, you would think Poile would want to keep the gang around.
But this statement would indicate they are cutting their losses with their star forward. Is it time for the Nashville faithful to hit the panic button?
Here’s why you might want to pump the brakes on that one.
Nashville Predators’ plans not indicated by one statement, but what if true?
Before we go into how this would affect the Predators, let’s take a second to calm down and realize that just because this statement was reported does not mean the Nashville Predators will stay true to it.
For all we know, it may not even be true, and Poile may not even know what he is going to do with Forsberg yet. Including what Robby Stanley of the flagship station of the Nashville Predators 102.5 The Game is saying:
I've been told Filip Forsberg has not told the #Preds that he doesn't want to remain a Predator.
— Robby Stanley (@RStanleyNHL) February 24, 2022
That doesn't mean that he's going to sign here. And that doesn't mean he's going not going to be traded. I've just been told that he has not told them that he for sure wants out.
So given everything, let’s assume that things are still up in the air between Forsberg and the Predators. But even if this was true, is this the worst thing in the world? Absolutely not.
The absolute worst thing that could happen is if he walked for nothing in free agency this upcoming offseason. The only way to justify that is winning the Stanley Cup and — let’s be honest — that is extremely unlikely to happen.
If the Predators know that Forsberg wants out or even get to the deadline and do not know, they need to trade him. At the end of the day, this team is still building for the future and if nothing else, they need a haul of assets in return for him. And they would get it.
Once again, Forsberg is in a career year with 26 goals in 39 games, which is absolutely unheard of. They would have to demand a first round pick, a strong prospect, and a mid-tier asset. And who knows what else other teams might give up if they could sign him to an extension as an unwritten condition?
This is not to say that it would sting any less to see Forsberg go, as he has established himself as one of the better and more loved players throughout his eight years with the Predators. But you have to do what is best for the organization, and the Predators absolutely cannot afford to see him leave for nothing when they have such a low shot at a deep playoff run.
But for now, we should expect business as usual. Nothing from the team itself, their own sources, or anyone else have confirmed the report, so there is no reason to assume anything one way or the other.
This will continue to be a fluid situation as we approach the trade deadline, which is on March 21.