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Nashville Predators: How Can the Preds Acquire Jesse Puljujarvi?

By Alec Creasy |
CALGARY, AB - MAY 26: Jesse Puljujarvi #13 of the Edmonton Oilers in action against the Calgary Flames during Game Five of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on May 26, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Oilers defeated the Flames 5-4 in overtime to win the series four games to one. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - MAY 26: Jesse Puljujarvi #13 of the Edmonton Oilers in action against the Calgary Flames during Game Five of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on May 26, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Oilers defeated the Flames 5-4 in overtime to win the series four games to one. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

The Nashville Predators have mostly taken care of business this offseason, but they might have one more move up their sleeves. While we all wait on news from Yakov Trenin’s arbitration decision, lets look at how the Preds front office can make a move for Jesse Puljujarvi.

Can The Nashville Predators Pull Off a Trade for Puljujarvi?

The Nashville Predators have had a great offseason so far, and have already made a signing to help with depth scoring in Nino Niedereitter. As good as this offseason has been, General Manager David Poile doesn’t have to stop now.

The Preds can absolutely make some moves to make a run for Puljujarvi. They can accomplish this goal by making some roster moves and shipping off a full-time NHLer or two to make the trade work out.

Currently, Puljujarvi is on a one year, $3M deal with the Edmonton Oilers, signed July 26 as reported by the team’s official twitter account. The Predators can take on his cap hit even with Yakov Trenin still needing to be paid.


As it stands, the Preds have about $4M in cap space according to CapFriendly before signing Trenin. Some of that money could be freed up from moving some of their players to the Milwaukee Admirals.

The Predators have a few players they can move down to the AHL level such as Michael McCarron, a depth center who was on the fourth line for a good chunk of the 2021-22 season. You could move him, Markus Nurmi, and newly acquired John Leonard. This would free up about $1.8M in cap space, putting the new cap at about $5.8M, easily enough for Trenin and Puljujarvi.

To get Puljujarvi, the Preds will have to put up a decent player who is proven at the NHL level. A few good options would be Dante Fabbro, Eeli Tolvanen, or both.

Fabbro is a solid defender, but with Ryan McDonagh coming in to strengthen the D-core, I just don’t see a spot for him in the top 4. He deserves to go somewhere where he can play to his true potential, and not be stuck on the bottom pairing.

Eeli Tolvanen would be another good piece to move. He’s solid in all areas, but unfortunately couldn’t find his scoring ways last season. I feel like the Preds are willing to give him another shot, but if not, he’d be a perfect piece to trade away.

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If the Oilers ask for two players, however, I think it would still be a good idea to move both of these players. Fabbro won’t be getting as much ice time this season, and Tolvanen may just need a change of scenery to find his scoring ways once more.

If the Preds trade for Puljujarvi, they would be getting a quality depth piece who put up a career high 36 points in 65 games last season. Depth scoring is something this Predators roster still needs a bit more of, and Puljujarvi would be a great option to help with that.

The Nashville Predators have an opportunity to really improve their depth even more in the last bit of the offseason. Only David Poile knows what he wants for this team, but if I’m him, I’ve got my sights set on Puljujarvi.

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