We are just over a month into the 2025-26 NHL season and recently past the Nashville Predators' trip to Sweden, which overall went poorly for the team despite splitting the games. At this point, they are second to last in the league standings and look destined to finish once again in the league's cellar.
Insiders are already talking about which players the Predators might trade, which from a general standpoint, is nothing surprising or even notable during a season like this. The discussion does become notable, however, when it is centered around certain individual players, and that is the case for Ryan O'Reilly.
He is in the third year of a four-year contract, and this is not the first time that his name has been mentioned in possible trades. What is different about this instance is it is the first time that O'Reilly has been mentioned with a legitimate probability of getting dealt, which is eye opening given the Predators' stance on him in the past.
Nashville Predators clearly do not WANT to trade O'Reilly, but might have no choice
The Predators had a bad season last year as well as this one, and naturally, people were discussing the likelihood of them moving O'Reilly. Elliotte Friedman weighed in on this topic at the time, and his main message was that the team valued him so much that a trade was unlikely.
Specifically, Friedman mentioned that Barry Trotz and the Predators were essentially treating O'Reilly as if he had a no-movement clause, despite having no such thing on his contract. He also said that if the team was blown away by a trade offer, that it was possible, but that was obviously a long shot.
It was something not everyone agreed with, but could understand, and not even just because O'Reilly is a great player at the most important position in hockey. The Predators have thought so highly of his leadership ability and general intangibles, and even on a bad team, having a guy like that always helps for no other reason than morale.
It has been approximately eight months since Friedman discussed this, and certainly, the Predators' opinion of O'Reilly as a person and player has not changed. But now rumors of him being traded are picking up steam, and not just that people think it could happen, but that some outright anticipate it.
David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period has come out twice recently to mention that he sees O'Reilly being dealt if the Predators' season does not get better. And of course, nobody expects the season to get better, at least not that much better to justify keeping the gang together for more playoffs.
What is also telling about this situation is that it is being discussed when O'Reilly has a full year left on his contract after this one. It is one thing to trade a guy in the final year of his deal, but doing so before then speaks to deeper reasons, and it is honestly hard to know what is driving it.
Many would assume that the Predators are coming to terms with the state of their team, but given Trotz's comments earlier this week, and his track record, that might not be the case. Maybe O'Reilly and his camp have talked to Trotz behind the scenes about wanting a trade if the season does not continue.
Heck, maybe the report by Pagnotta is pure speculation, as Pierre Lebrun came out a few days ago to mention that O'Reilly's name has not actually been mentioned in potential trades. Even if it might be baseless at that point, until recently, we have not heard anything on this topic other than it is highly unlikely, so it is fair to think Pagnotta might know something we do not.
Either way, on the surface, the Predators. would probably benefit from trading O'Reilly. They clearly will not gain anything by keeping this core together, and they might as well get what they can now for several guys.
That being said, just because they would be wise to make a move does not mean they absolutely have to, and they need to be selective in trade talks.
Nashville Predators would have leverage in an O'Reilly trade and must use it to advantage
As mentioned, O'Reilly has one more year left on his contract with the Predators after this one ends. As much as it would benefit them to make a move this year, waiting to do so until next year is an option too, and surely they will go down that route if they do not get what they want in return.
If the Predators think so highly of O'Reilly as a person and player, why would any other team think they could acquire him unless it hurt? That alone is enough for them to set a high asking price for him, and it also makes sense to do so when you look at the rest of their roster.
If the Predators traded O'Reilly, they would have nobody else they would even remotely want playing as their top line center, and they are devoid of talent and depth down the middle to begin with. A trade would likely require an at least NHL-caliber center coming back in return, and of course, that would just be one piece of it.
Finally, O'Reilly is the kind of player for whom other teams could get in a bidding war, as his pedigree is well known, and he is still a very useful player. You ideally do not want him as your absolute top line center if you are a contender, but he would still be a great middle six guy and a tremendous add for a potential deep playoff run.
Various people are already talking about potential new fits for O'Reilly, as the New Jersey Devils are just one of the teams that has been disc. The Predators need to realize that there will be interest in him and make sure they can get the best offer back from one of those teams.