The forward core for the Nashville Predators is starting to take shape for the 2026-27 season following Chris MacFarland's moves this offseason. The trade for Mavrik Bourque this past Wednesday likely rounds out the top six, and his other moves directly address the bottom six.
Based on the roster spots that we know are filled, there really are not a ton of questions left, except for one directly pertaining to Jonathan Marchessault. The man who was once one of the prized acquisitions of the 2024 free agency class appears to have one foot out the door two years later.
The trade rumors surrounding Marchessault have existed since just about the end of the 2024-25 season, but now more then ever, it seems like a matter of when instead of if. The Predators need to rip off the bandaid and look to find a new home for the veteran before the 2026-27 season starts.
Nashville Predators have left no good lineup spot for Jonathan Marchessault
When you analyze the Predators' current lineup and who fits where, you can see how dire it looks from the standpoint of Marchessault being able to meaningfully contribute. Four of the top six spots are virtual locks, as Filip Forsberg, Ryan O'Reilly, Steven Stamkos, and Luke Evangelista are still here and not going anywhere.
Borque, as mentioned, will see a lot of top six action following the trade for him, and Matthew Wood will hopefully remain up there, as he looked strong at center alongside Forsberg. It will fluctuate from time to time, but based on the current roster, Marchessault's opportunities in the top six will be limited at best.
Then when you get to the bottom six, half of it will be filled by Ross Colton, Jack Drury, and Nils Hoglander, all of whom MacFarland just traded for. Furthermore, there is a strong chance that those three will be a line on their own, and you also have to account for the recently signed Alex Kerfoot when discussing the bottom six.
The most realistic scenario for Marchessault, if he is still in the lineup, is that he gets put on the fourth line with some third line opportunities, and the very occasional second line stint at absolute best.
Yes, the lineup will undergo changes during the season, and some guys who you expect to be in the top six will be in the bottom six, and vice versa. That being said, Marchessault's possible impact within this lineup will clearly be capped, and even though his time in Nashville has not gone well, he is a better player than that.
Keeping him around from this point forward would do him and the Predators no good, as all it would do for the team is depress his trade value and delay the inevitable. From Marchessault's perspective, all it would do is further hold him hostage by keeping him in a situation that has not worked out, and for no good reason.
The only way keeping Marchessault makes any sense is if O'Reilly and Stamkos are one of the veterans who gets traded, but everything we have read from the situation indicates that Marchessault is the odd man out.
He also has a no-movement clause on his contract, so it is not all within the Predators' control, but every indication we have gotten is that he would be willing to waive it for the right situation. It is hard to imagine that there is not such a team out there given how poorly the experiment has gone in Nashville.
The Predators probably will not get much in return for Marchessault, but once again, the situation has become somewhat untenable and will not get better in that regard. MacFarland should just bite the bullet and deal him so that both parties can move on.
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