4 intriguing Nashville Predators players to watch after 4 Nations Face-Off break

Two games into the Four Nations Face-Off tournament, and two more losses for Nashville Predators representatives with both Team Sweden and Team Finland taking losses to open the round robin format.

Juuse Saros got roughed up for six goals surrendered on 32 shots faced against Team USA in a 6-1 drubbing. Team Sweden, with Filip Forsberg and Gustav Nyquist representing, pushed Team Canada to the limit and got it to overtime to at least salvage a point with the 4-3 loss.

Forsberg was held off the scoresheet but notched two shots on goal, three blocks and two hits in 17:13 of ice time, while Nyquist was also scoreless with just over 10 minutes of ice time playing on the fourth line.

The Predators won't return to NHL action until February 22 when they open a four-game homestand against some ridiculously difficult competion with Colorado, New Jersey, Florida and Winnipeg.

With Nashville's season already in the toilet and staring at a top-5 lottery draft pick, let's look at the four most interesting players to watch after the Four Nations Face-Off break.

1. Gus Nyquist, Pending UFA, Top Trade Block Player

How will Nyquist boost his individual stock value on the trade market. He has to know that his days are winding down in a Predators sweater and that his next landing spot might be a serious playoff contender.

Nyquist has an excellent career track record in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 30 points in 77 games. Teams feeling like they're just a piece or two away from going deep and making a run at the Stanley Cup will have interest in a veteran presence like Nyquist.

Being the crafty veteran that he is, Nyquist will be looking to play at the top of his game right out of the gate. Will he have the extra juice following the Four Nations Face-Off?

The asking price is going to be low for Nyquist, but if he can come out of the gate playing with an extra jolt of energy perhaps it will push for more interest. Either way, Nashville has to move on from him because he's definitely not in the plans for 2025-26.

2. Steven Stamkos, Stuck in a Major Slump

Unfortunately Stamkos has been extremely underwhelming after coming to Nashville with so much hype after leaving his beloved Tampa Bay Lightning in offseason free agency.

Aside from some occasional success on the power play, nine power play goals, Stamkos has been invisible at times. He is currently buried in a seven-game pointless drought and his plus/minus rating has tanked to a -18.

With Stamkos having the no trade protection, he's almost certainly sticking around for whatever you want to call this upcoming transition phase that the Predators are about to go through. I want to see if Stamkos can dig deep and finish the season strong, show some mentorship to the younger players, and flash some Hall of Fame greatness that we know he still has.

Regardless of where the Predators finish in the standings, it would be cool to see some vintage "Stammer" in the home stretch of the regular season.

3. Ryan O'Reilly, Trade Rumors Linger

I've gone back on forth on my thoughts of to trade Ryan O'Reilly or to not trade Ryan O'Reilly. The guy is incredibly loyal to Nashville, and the front office is treating him like he has no trade protection even though in his contract he's able to be traded.

I can't imagine General Manager Barry Trotz trading away O'Reilly against the veteran's wishes. That would be a bad look on the Nashville front office, and not to mention O'Reilly is your most consistent player with the exception of Forsberg.

O'Reilly also has two more years left after this current contract for a pretty team-friendly $4.5 million AAV. However, he's your best trade chip as well, and likely could command getting a first round pick and even a upper tier prospect.

For both sides of the argument laid out, it will be interesting to watch O'Reilly's performance leading up to the March 7 trade deadline. He just posted a four assist game against in a win over the Buffalo Sabres just before the break.

4. Joakim Kemell, The Rookie is Getting his Shot and Should Stay

Perhaps a little ahead of schedule, Joakim Kemell is two games into his NHL career and I don't see a reason to send him back down with the season we find ourselves in.

If this team was full of veterans overperforming and the playoffs were in sight, then Kemell developing more in the AHL would be fine, but that's not the case. Might as well see what one of your top prospects has to offer with very little pressure.

Kemell is going to offer fans a reason to keep watching, if nothing else. His dynamic shot should start soon translating to some goals. I wouldn't be surprised really at all if Kemell lights the lamp a few times if he remains in the Predators lineup for the rest of the season.

In his first two NHL games, Kemell has an impressive eight shots on net showing he's not shy and the moment isn't too big for him. That's in only an average ice time of 10:21. His ice time should increase if a big sell-off happens for the Predators at the trade deadline.

No matter how many more times this Predators team takes the loss, there's reason to be watching this team with Kemell in the lineup.

I'll throw in an honorable mention on my list and say Fedor Svechkov should have the spotlight on him as well as an interesting player to focus on. I want to see how he keeps growing into the center role. The organization desperately needs him to show progress in this area to look ahead to 2025-26.