It's that time of the season again: the postseason. Instead of preparing for the playoffs however, the Nashville Predators are preparing for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
For the past 81 games, Nashville has been the laughingstock of the league. They went into the season with contender expectations and are walking out in shame. If General Manager Barry Trotz knows what's best, a rebuild could be in the works. The point is to tear the team down and allow it to rebuild with time.
The Predators are in a rough patch since most of their trade material is locked up long-term on expensive deals. However, that doesn't mean that moves can't still be made. We're going to take a look at three players that are worthy of sacrificing for the future of the Nashville Predators organization.
Colton Sissons
Colton Sissons is a solid two-way depth forward who is extremely reliable. He played top power play and penalty kill minutes with Nashville, racking up both points and +/-.
Last season, Sissons reached a career-high in points with 35 in 81 games. He racked up 15 goals along with 20 assists playing mid-six minutes. He is a consistent 20-30 point scorer with a defensive upside. He's willing to risk his body in order to protect his goalie. All-around, Sissons is the guy.
Unfortunately, Sissons is starting to lose his purpose in Nashville. The 31-year-old's ice time has dropped from a near 17 minutes a night to only 14. Ever since the arrival of Luke Evangelista and Fedor Svechkov, Sissons' opportunities on the ice have declined. He's not a different player by any means but it is clear that he isn't being used as he should.
Sissons is one of the best faceoff takers in the West—53.7% career faceoff average—and any team would benefit from his presence. He is a team alternate captain on occasion and a strong leader in the locker room. He isn't afraid to change up his game.
We saw Sissons shift from a defensive-minded forward to an offensive-focused center. He has an additional year after this season at $2.86 million AAV. The Preds could find a way to exchange an early third round pick for Sissons in the near future.