The Nashville Predators have got their hands full in the last two weeks, reeling in a healthy number of players to reconstruct their roster.
It started with acquiring Ross Colton and Jack Drury from the Colorado Avalanche for young talent and draft picks. The moves then shifted to the wing with the acquisition of Adam Edstrom and Nils Hoglander. Today things began heating up as they traded for center Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, as well as signing winger Alex Kerfoot.
After a flurry of moves, the Predators roster looks a lot fuller than it did before, but that could ultimately be a problem. Nashville nearly made it to the playoffs with the help of a young, and talented group of players. The arrival of Milwaukee's best and the system's top prospects pushed the team to its absolute limits, coming within four points of a wild card spot.
With a bundle of new names, these young guns will have restricted space to bring their talents to Smashville. Among them, there are four names that will be taking the biggest hit out of the roster reconstruction.
A locked-and-loaded blueline threatens a Ryan Ufko return
Prior to the offseason, the Predators had a strong defensive core. While Roman Josi and Brady Skjei stood out as core pieces, other names emerged in the mix, one in particular being Ryan Ufko.
The 2021 fourth-round pick played 18 games with the Predators last season, putting up an impressive outing with two goals and 11 points. He was one of the top players on the team following the Trade Deadline, contributing to just over 20% of the Predators goals scored when he played. He held a crucial role on the blueline despite playing less than 14 minutes a night.
Unfortunately for Ufko, his role in Nashville could be reduced after the arrival of Lyubushkin. The 32-year-old also plays on the right side and given his NHL experience, and words by Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager Chris MacFarland, he may be given more priority to start off the season. Both players are in the final year of their contracts, setting up for an interesting situation.
Space could be made for both if Nick Perbix was dealt. He is also in his final contract year, putting the ball in management's court to make a decision.
The situation just made it harder for an already struggling Joakim Kemell
Joakim Kemell is one of the Predators top prospects. Known for his elite scoring, he is projected to be a staple to their middle-six forward group. He posted back-to-back 40-point campaigns with the Milwaukee Admirals before getting a 16-stint with the Predators last season. In that stretch, he scored one goal and two assists. He averaged nearly 10 minutes of ice time per game, playing alongside some of the grittier faces in the lineup.
The previous situation proved to prompt trouble in the developing winger, but this new situation could pose more struggle. Bourque is expected to occupy a spot in the middle six, Colton and Drury are valuable centers, and Hoglander and Kerfoot are pure wingers. Altogether, and the spots began to shrink down. For Kemell, that leaves little wiggle room.
All signs point to MacFarland developing NHL-ready prospects in the AHL for just a bit more time as he figures out how to clear out room in bigger roles. If this is the case, it's a smart move on his part. Why risk stumping their development by restricting them to the bottom six when instead they can wait just a bit longer until spots are clear?
As much as Kemell could be a valuable piece for the team's future, he's slowly being pushed out of the lineup. If traded, he could bring in a plethora of valuable draft/prospect capital that would add even more promising talent.
Reid Schaefer replaced with recent signees
Reid Schaefer came into the NHL and surprised fans. In 47 games, the 22-year-old scored six goals and eight points. He had a huge presence on the ice, not only on the scoresheet, standing at a 6-foot-5, 226 pounds. Big Red was fifth on the team in hits with 108. Considering he didn't play for the full season, those numbers alone are impressive.
Like everyone else on this list, the roster overhaul has threatened his stability in the lineup. MacFarland has frequently expressed his interest in two-way, defensive-minded forwards, and his recent addition certainly address that. From the looks of it, Schaefer's been replaced by more experienced players, who play on par, or even better than he does.
Like Kemell, Schaefer could give the Predators valuable pieces in return. While not as great as a Kemell deal, it would help both parties in the long-run, giving him NHL icetime elsewhere while giving them picks or another prospect.
Center competition could force Ozzy Wiesblatt out of NHL discussion
Ozzy Wiesblatt is a fan favorite in Nashville. In 40 games, he tallied his first career goal and an additional four points. He perceived after his brother, Orca Wiesblatt, passed away prior to the 2025-26 season, showing just how strong he is beyond the rink. Even with his undersized 5-foot-10, 183-pound frame, he was sixth on the team in hits with 100.
With the list of names added this offseason, there looks to only be one spot open at center. Considering the guys Wiesblatt would have to compete against, it's pretty unlikely he'll be a starter. Vitali Pinchuk is the most likely option to take that spot. The top KHL prospect is signed to a one-year deal with the Predators and given his experience in the KHL, he is one of the easiest to assimilate and translate his skill to the NHL. Brady Martin and Aiden Fink are other names to look out for; two young centers who possess higher upside than Wiesblatt.
While I do see Wiesblatt being slotted in this season, I don't see him being a permanent piece in the meantime.
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