It's totally unclear how much Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz is going to dive into the offseason free agency pool this upcoming offseason. In 2024 he did a downright cannonball into the deep end with offseason free agency spending, but this time around he might just stick his feet in.
Either way, Trotz has made it abundantly clear that this isn't a rebuild the Predators are entering despite being a lottery team and finishing with the third-worst record in the NHL. He's calling it a reset and he's in the business of trying to win always.
In a piece back in mid-December by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Trotz was quoted about his thoughts of what this summer would look like:
"“I want to set myself up for the summer,” Trotz said. “We will look at the free-agent market. We will look at adding pieces. There will be teams that are going to be up against it (the cap), so we want to take advantage of that.Pierre LeBrun, The Athletic
“But I want to set it up beforehand.”"
We've already covered what the free agency open market looks like for the center position and who the wingers are that are currently heading towards free agency. Now let's dive into the defensemen, which is a need for the Predators if Trotz is trying to extend those "bridge years" and feels that he doesn't have enough veteran experience for the defensive corps for 2025-26.
Aaron Ekblad is the top free agency prize at defenseman
Even with the 20-game suspension that raises some concerns, Aaron Ekblad is going to get the most attention if he hits the open market. There's still talks that Ekblad and the Panthers want to stay together as the 29-year-old is completing an eight-year contract with a lot of individual success and a Stanley Cup.
Ekblad is a right shot defenseman who has top pairing skills, and he's not completely over-the-hill year as he hasn't hit age 30 yet. He has a lot of effective years ahead of him, but the literal million dollar question is going to be what is the true market going to be for him with the salary cap rising?
If Trotz is true in his statement that he's in the business of winning now, then at least inquiring about Ekblad makes sense if he becomes available. Mostly because I'm not entirely sure who the Predators have to play with Roman Josi on the top pairing next season that is top pairing worthy.
However, if Trotz was singing a different tune that the Predators were rebuilding and it was time to completely hand the keys over to the youth, then sure put Justin Barron the top pairing and don't seek out a big ticket free agent like Ekblad.
We'll see what comes of this, but my inclination is that Ekblad sticks around with Florida. If he does hit the open market, the Predators should pick up the phone and see what he's asking for. I'd take him for somewhere in the neighborhood of three years at $7 million. Make this your one big free agency move if it becomes possible.
The Panthers are going to really have to crunch some numbers to retain Ekblad and also their prized center Sam Bennett. Their GM Bill Zito seems confident he can keep both, but that could also just be posturing like front offices always do at the negotiating table.
I just don't buy the notion that Trotz is just going to gloss over Ekblad if the guy hits the open market.
How about some depth and physicality on the right side?
Ok, let's step away from the Aaron Ekblad fantasy. I'm sorry, but I had to open with Ekblad because he is indeed the top free agent defensemen on the board with where we sit right now in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
However, the much more likely scenario is that the Predators go fishing for some extra muscle on the blueline, or as Trotz calls it "sand paper".
I really like Cody Ceci as a possibility. He was acquired by the Dallas Stars before this year's trade deadline because the team was dealing with injuries to their blueline and needing extra bodies to carry them into the playoffs.
This seems like a situation where Ceci can hit the open market and the Stars will thank him for his services of filling in while they get healthy and get their superstar back in Miro Heiskanen. Maybe they like him so much they end up keeping him, but I think Ceci hits the open market.
Ceci is rugged. He contributes on the penalty kill in a big way and can provide that veteran leadership/playoff pedigree that Trotz always talks about needing to help cultivate the younger players.
Now truth be told, Ceci isn't going to solve your top pairing dilemma. I'd ride with Barron on the top pairing and hope he takes a big step forward, or you can stick with Brady Skjei on the left side and move Josi to the right side. That's a debate for later in the offseason.
I understand there will be pushback on this because Predators fans are allergic to ever adding anyone over age 30, but the Predators need another piece for their right side. They can't go into next season with their listed right side defensemen being Justin Barron and Nick Blankenburg. They just can't, so someone in free agency needs to be added.
Ceci will have a relatively low price tag, maybe around the $4 million per year range, and won't require a lot of term, either. I'd entertain signign him to two years, and if someone outbids you on that, then so be it. But I also think Nashville would be an intriguing fit from Ceci's standpoint.
The Predators need to get touger on the blueline next year. Ceci played in 85 regular season games due to switching teams, and blocked an insane total of 155 shots. He checks the box of veteran experience, low maintenance, and adding some grit to the blueline.
I'd be extremely happy with getting Ceci this offseason for the Predators.
Other considerations that will be available on the open market and affordable
Who wants a Dante Fabbro reunion with the Nashville Predators? I still think Trotz fumbled the ball by losing Fabbro, who was showing positive results when paired with Josi. And just look at how beneficial Fabbro was to the Blue Jackets as the team went down to the very end and nearly made the playoffs when no one expected them to even be close.
I'm thinking that Columbus is going to try hard to keep Fabbro and give him a decent multi-year deal. They realize Fabbro fell into their lap without having to give up anything.
With that said, if Fabbro hits the open market, Trotz should look at it as a sign from the hockey gods and atone for his mistake of letting Fabbro get claimed on waivers. Bringing Fabbro back also solves your top pairing issue as I would stick him right back up there with Josi.
Fabbro is finishing off his one-year, $2.5 million deal. I'd pay him up to $4 million to bring him back and give him two years. He's coming off his NHL career high in points in a season with 26, doing so in 68 games. He benefited greatly by landing with Columbus, let's see if Nashville wants him back.
Another depth defensemen that has me intrigued in Nick Perbix, who has an expiring two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning coming up this offseason. He is an offense first type of defenseman that has a fit on someone's third pairing in most cases.
Perbix is a pretty inspiring story considering he was drafted all the way back in the sixth round of 2017's draft. Not a high hit rate in those later rounds and Perbix has chipped in a commendable 63 points over three NHL seasons with Tampa Bay.
Perbix will come at a low cost and even leave the Predators with money to spend on someone else to boost their depth. Furthermore, adding someone like Perbix would make it easier to move on from Jeremy Lauzon if a trade comes to the table and Trotz can add more assets by way of a draft pick or a prospect.
And again, Perbix is a right side defensemen which is really what the Predators need most this offseason. I like Perbix as a low-risk reward to add a little offensive pop to the third pairing next season. He isn't going to move mountains for the Predators, but he fits the narrative of making some minor tweaks while not taking away opportunities for the younger talent coming up for the Predators.
Other free agent defenseman that bring more hype and buzz but that the Predators should avoid going after are 40-year-old Brent Burns, 37-year-old Jeff Petry and 40-year-old Ryan Suter, among others that I would stay away from. Those are just the first three that really jump out to avoid if you're the Predators.