Predlines
Fansided

Nashville Predators: Five Mid-Level Trade Targets to Look At

By Max Greenberg

Matt Duchene #95 of the Nashville Predators is congratulated at the bench by teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of a gameagainst the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 21, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Matt Duchene #95 of the Nashville Predators is congratulated at the bench by teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of a gameagainst the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 21, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Clayton Keller
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes

Keller is not exactly someone who is expected to be traded this offseason, but his teammate, Jakob Chychrun, has been in rumors since the middle of last season.

Why a team like the Coyotes would part with a young building block like Chychrun makes zero sense, but the Coyotes are not exactly a team that has been known to make smart decisions or be a desirable organization for players to play.

So if you are Poile and the Predators, why not at least give Keller a look?

Keller, like Boeser, has not been the most consistent from year to year, but he is only 23-years-old and has his prime ahead of him. And a huge difference between the two is that Keller just had his best statistical season on a Coyotes team that was not only terrible, but supposed to be one of the worst teams in NHL history.

Related Story. Why a Trade for Alex DeBrincat is Unrealistic for Preds. light

The dude’s offensive skill backs it up, as he can score, pass, stickhandle, and you would be hard-pressed to find a team that would not put him in their top-six. He is coming off of an injury, but is expected to make a full recovery, so that is not something that should scare the Predators.

What should give teams some hesitation is his contract, which has six years left at $7.15M per year. If he plays like he did in 2021-2022, then it will be worth it, but that is a huge commitment for any team to make for a player who is not recognized as elite.

If the Coyotes were to retain some salary in this trade, Poile should inquire on Keller.

That is not saying that Keller’s contract is one to completely avoid, but it is costly and one that could easily come back to bite the Nashville Predators in a trade.

With that said, this is still a trade worth exploring for the front office.

Home/Rumors