Are the Nashville Predators the bad guys in the Matt Duchene departure?

In a recent episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, former Nashville Predators star forward Matt Duchene detailed his exit from Nashville. He recalled being an “emotional mess” when he found out that the team would place him on waivers for a buyout.

Listening to Duchene describe the process and the emotions involved highlighted how trades are more than just analyzing which team won or lost. There are people’s lives impacted – not just the players’, but their families as well.

"“My son heard me say out loud, ‘I’m not a Predator anymore,’ and he started crying, so then I started crying,” Duchene said. “It was just a freaking mess.”"

Via Spittin' Chiclets podcast

Some may take the approach that business is business, and these are the possibilities athletes sign up for when they ink lucrative contracts that most working folks would kill to have. While that may be a valid argument, it doesn’t detract from the fact that the process can be tough on many players, especially when they have so much emotionally invested in a city, as it was clear Duchene had in Nashville.

"“I’ve never had anyone close to me pass away, but that was like the feeling, right away,” Duchene said. “I was just devastated.”"

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A messy exit from the Nashville Predators for Duchene

Aside from the personal impact on Duchene, the interview left you wondering if the Predators were the bad guys in the process. The 33-year-old explained that he “begged” the team not to place him on waivers, but they responded that they would think about it and get back to him. However, just several hours later, Duchene learned his fate through social media.

"“I called them (Predators’ management). I begged them not to do it, like literally in tears and they said, ‘okay, we’ve heard you, we’ll talk about it till five’ (o’clock), and then said they’ll let me know,” the 15-year NHL veteran explained. “I read it on Twitter before I got the call, which sucked.”"

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Longtime Predators fans may be familiar with this type of narrative, as they were supposedly on the other side of a similar situation when Ryan Suter left to sign with the Minnesota Wild. The story goes that the Predators were assured they would have the opportunity to match the Wild’s offer and potentially keep Suter in Nashville. However, that allegedly never happened, and the next thing the Predators knew, Suter was a member of the Minnesota Wild.

So yes, arguably, this practice goes both ways. Some may agree with it, sticking to the “business is business” mantra, but others may oppose it. Honestly, it just feels like the wrong way of conducting business – especially when you rely on building a reputation as a desirable place to play in order to entice future free agents. The best players will have their choice of teams.

In a salary-capped league, many teams will offer the same or similar compensation. It can be the reputation of a team that sets it over the top when star players are choosing where to spend the next several years.

Duchene mentioned that he fully supported and completely bought into the required changes that the Predators identified. The team was in decline. They hadn’t sniffed success since their 2017 Stanley Cup Final appearance. Being a contender was the bar, and they were desperate to make the moves to stay relevant.

So, reasonably and rightly so, they had to mix things up. You can’t blame them for their approach. However, it seems odd that they would quickly release a player who was clearly passionate about the city and the success of the team.

Yes, statistically, Duchene was coming off a down year, and paying $8 million in annual average value raised the expectations. But in reality, that decline in play still saw him score 22 goals and 56 points in 71 games, and don’t forget, he had 43 goals and 86 points in 78 games right before that. So, there was every possibility he could have rebounded. Based on what we learned about Duchene during this recent interview, it wouldn’t have been for a lack of trying.

Guiding and mentoring the future talent

In sports, it’s not uncommon to hear words like “brotherhood” thrown around. After all, hockey seasons can be long and grueling. It’s understandable that bonds form between teammates who you see day after day, spend long hours with, and essentially go to battle with every other night.

Having players buy in is huge for team chemistry. It’s easier to sacrifice when others around you are doing it too. The Predators have more than a handful of players who may have benefited from having a player like Duchene in the locker room.

During his interview, Duchene mentions how important it is to him to be a mentor for younger players, as he remembers the impact that certain veterans, such as Darcy Tucker, had on him. Duchene recalled interactions he’s had with Wyatt Johnston, the Stars’ young forward, guiding him through the ups and downs that come with being a young pro athlete.

Of course, the Predators still have veterans who can play the same role, but does it really hurt to have one more? Especially when the player in question can produce at a high level and demonstrated as much while in Nashville.

The plan long before Duchene was placed on waivers was a “reset” rather than a full rebuild. The Predators have continued to try and operate in that "win-now" mode. They’ve never completely sold off all their older assets for prospects and draft picks. So, it seems there was never a time when Duchene didn’t fit in with the Predators’ vision.

Maybe Duchene’s drop in production during his final season in Nashville soured his future outlook with the Predators. However, it didn’t seem to deter them from making similar signings, as they handed the aging star, Steven Stamkos, a similar $8 million AAV contract the following summer.

Although said slightly tongue-in-cheek, Duchene summed up the cruel downside of being a professional athlete and a tradeable commodity.

“You know what? We’re pieces of meat, at the end of the day.”

He acknowledged several times throughout his conversation that he feels blessed and that hockey players are well-paid. So, he isn’t looking for anyone to feel sorry for him.

There are always two sides to every story, but if these events unfolded close to how Duchene described, you’d like to think the Predators could do better. Maybe there’s work to do both on and off the ice.