Nashville Predators 2023 Preseason Finale: Fringe of the Roster

Could the Cole Smith Experiment Come to an Abrupt End?

It would be wild to see Cole Smith waived after getting a lot of positive feedback at the beginning of training camp. Much like McCarron, he would be another player the team probably doesn’t want to lose, but I’m sure you’re sensing a theme here.

The theme is, you don’t have room for everyone. You get 23 roster spots. That’s it. And with the Predators influx of young talent that you’re certainly not shipping down to Milwaukee when they’re clearly ready for NHL action, that leaves players like Smith right on the roster bubble.

It could very well come down to Smith or McCarron. I like them both as hard-working players and tone setters. They’re great locker room guys and a coach’s dream. Problem is, are they at their personal ceilings, because we’d all like to think that some of the younger players haven’t even come close to their peaks yet, and you’re simply not making room for Smith at the expense of those other players, even if you do risk losing him on waivers.

I was always weary of Smith having any kind of long-term staying power with the Nashville Predators post-John Hynes. Maybe he goes unclaimed if waived and it’s not the last we see of him.

Both Smith and McCarron are in the lineup for the preseason finale, up against most of the Hurricanes’ “A” squad. If one outplays the other significantly, it could be the final difference-maker.