...But That Doesn't Stop Us From Imagining It
Forsberg is a must-have for any team looking to compete. He's got elite scoring, ample playmaking, consistency, and most importantly, team chemistry. He's a big personality in the locker room and an even bigger one with the media. Taking a chance at acquiring such a player wouldn't hurt but it will have a massive price tag.
For his skill and position, a first round pick is definitely needed and potentially a second one as well. Alongside that, Nashville will also need a 2nd or 3rd rounder to even out the deal. Additionally, Trotz might ask for a young, but NHL-ready player to stick in the lineup to develop and eventually replace fallen pieces.
A team like the Detroit Red Wings, a squad desperately looking for that magic touch to round up their roster, could be interested. They have their 2026 and 2027 first rounders as well as plenty of depth picks. In terms of a young player, they got a lot of prospects to deal off so that isn't a worry.
The Toronto Maple Leafs could potentially be a team to pursue Forsberg. Without Mitch Marner in the lineup anymore, they'll need another offensive presence to kickstart their offense once again. Although they do not have the draft picks to compensate, they got skilled players to ship. Matthew Knies, Bobby McMann, and Easton Cowan could be swapped in exchange for Forsberg. A 3-team trade could be possible in order for Nashville to acquire some more assets if desired.
A Forsberg trade in today's state is almost little to none. He means a lot to the team and has a lot of trade value but his contract and current market makes it extremely hard to get something done. That doesn't mean that the Predators can't do much to make moves as they have a handful of other pieces to work with as the season progresses.