After a splashy off-season for the Nashville Predators in the Summer of 2024, a few weapons were brought in to turn a competitive team into a contending one. Fast-forward to the end of the season, with 2025 free agency looming, and a glaring hole still remains on the Preds roster.
When Steven Stamkos was signed, many wondered if he would return to Center, a position he shifted away from as his career progressed. The team believed they had their number one center in Ryan O'Reilly, but would Stamkos be able to give them a decent number two?
When the season started, the Preds' second option for number two center got his audition. Tommy Novak was given the role of second-line center on and off, seeing little positive results. This, combined with their poor performance in the standings, led to his trade. After moving him, one of the best replacements at two C was Fedor Svechkov. Scoring 17 points in 52 games, he had a solid rookie campaign and showed glimpses of where his development could lead him.
Despite a good first impression from Svechkov, this team can't rely on him to be a second-line center as early as next year to be a contender. With big tickets signed in the last free agency to some veterans, General Manager Barry Trotz will need to dip into free agency again in 2025 to bring in a win-now roster, and here are some potential fits that could hit the open market.
Brock Nelson
The best available center that could hit the market is Brock Nelson. Scoring 43 points in 61 games with the New York Islanders, he was then moved this year to Central Division rival Colorado Avalanche. He then scored 13 points in 19 games after the move, proving the Avalanche could be a good fit.
If, for some reason, the Avs can't get Nelson re-signed after this year's playoff run, Trotz should make him a priority. With nine 20-plus goal seasons and three straight 30-plus goal seasons the year before this, he is a weapon that could change the Preds down the middle.
Nelson will be familiar with Trotz after being coached by him for parts of four seasons. In that time, the Islanders enjoyed a couple of trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, with that kind of past success together, could a reunion be in the future?
Sam Bennett
Trotz has made it clear how much he loves proven winners after bringing in former Stanley Cup champs like Stamkos, O'Reilly, Luke Schenn, and Jonathan Marchessault. If the Florida Panthers can't retain the services of Cup champion Sam Bennett, he would make a good fit with Nashville.
In a move at this year's trade deadline, Trotz brought in winger Michael Bunting. Wanting more forwards that played with an edge. Ranking top 15 in the NHL in total penalty minutes the last two seasons, Bennett is that exact player as well.
Bennett has scored 40 or more points in the past four seasons, but even more importantly, he has 56 points in 84 career playoff games. He's the exact kind of big-time performer this team could use, with no real noise in the playoffs since the 2017 Stanley Cup Final run.
Claude Giroux
The former Philadelphia Flyers Captain joined the Ottawa Senators in 2022. That year, he scored his best point total since 2018-19. The now 37-year-old has appeared in every game but one in his three seasons with the Senators.
Playing a full season at that age is impressive, and scoring 50 points this year, Giroux is still effective offensively. A steady decline in his point totals over the last few years since he joined Ottawa could be cause for concern, however, as the aging curve catches up.
Another big-time performer, Giroux has scored 81 points in 96 career playoff games. That kind of production in the post-season is what gets a player paid in free agency, so Trotz should tread lightly here. If he could get a short-term term low-risk deal down, however, it would be fun watching Giroux and O'Reilly consistently pick apart opposing centermen in the faceoff dot.
Just Sit It Out
After making a big splash last free agency, there is also potential Trotz sits it out this year. After an awful performance this year, it would be a poor message to send to the fans to do absolutely nothing, but the trade market could be another option.
With three first-round picks at the next draft, perhaps Trotz will look to patch the holes on his roster before free agency even begins.