The Nashville Predators saw a lot of players come and go in the last few months, and while their summer moves are practically done, some of their former players remain unsigned as they search for their next team.
General Manager Barry Trotz moved away from key depth pieces leading up to his retirement. Some players found success with their new clubs and landed long-term contract extensions; others haven't been so lucky. Here are the former Predators still searching for their next team.
Michael Bunting
Michael Bunting was one of the most reliable middle-six forwards for the Predators last season. Trotz traded for Bunting in March 2025 from Pittsburgh two days before the Trade Deadline, and he played 18 games with the team and scored five goals and nine points. In his first full season with Nashville, Bunting put up 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points. He played on two of the team's top five lines statistically before being traded to Dallas for a 2026 third, later used to draft goalie Dmitri Borichev.
Bunting proved to be crucial in Jonathan Marchessault's early-season success, consistently being slotted on the opposite wing together and feeding him plays. The Predators' power play unit also saw a boost from his presence, with him scoring five goals and nine points on the man advantage. He provided offensive sparks when the rest of his team struggled to open the season strong.
Nick Blankenburg
One player we saw breakout last season was defenseman Nick Blankenburg. Prior to signing a two-year deal with Nashville in 2024, the 5-foot-9 undrafted defender played 55 games with Columbus over the span of three seasons, racking up six goals and 18 points. He played 60 games with the Predators in 2024-25 and set a career-high in points with 16 (four goals and 12 assists). In 11 less games, Blankenburg reached new highs with 21 points (six goals and 15 assists) in 49 games.
Size proved to not be an issue for Blankenburg, as he was consistently one of the most physical players on the ice, averaging 54 hits a season in his time with Nashville, per MoneyPuck. He was ultimately traded to Colorado three days before the Trade Deadline, where he played 12 games and tallied three points. He played five playoff games with the Avalanche and even scored his first postseason goal.
Tyson Jost
Tyston Jost was another player that emerged as a household name for the Predators. He played with Colorado, Minnesota, Buffalo and Carolina before he was claimed on waivers by Nashville before the start of the 2025-26 season. The 2016 10th overall pick played 69 games last season, scoring eight goals and 16 points. Unlike Bunting and Blankenburg, Jost stuck around with the Predators after the Trade Deadline.
He may have started the season inconsistent, but he showed up when he was needed the most late in the season. His three-point performance against San Jose in April helped Nashville get an edge in the very tight Central Division Wild Card race. Considering the impact he had on the Predators bottom six, it is quite wild that no one has gone after him yet.
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