The recent winning and sticking around in the wildcard race has maybe pumped the brakes a bit on the Nashville Predators sell-off, but indicitations are that GM Barry Trotz is still willing to listen and sell in some shape or form.
Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault are the two main traded deadline targets for the Predators, but both would likely require retained salary before another team takes their contracts on.
Marchessault makes $5.5 million AAV for the next three years after this one, and Stamkos makes $8 million AAV for the next two years after this one. So on one hand, Trotz doesn't have to cave to a lowball offer with either of these two as they're both not in danger of becoming free agents anytime soon.
Furthermore, both players have No Movement Clauses. Stamkos appears really happy to stay in Nashville, so I just don't see him being moved unless a suitor comes along offering a massive deal for Trotz, is willing to take on Stamkos' full contract and Stamkos signs off on it. A lot of variable that have to fall into place there.
Marchessault and Stamkos will be difficult to move for the Nashville Predators if they're not willing to retain salary
As for Marchessault, it's not quite that complicated. I can see Marchessault wanting out if it's for the right team. Still some hurdles to jump over to find the right team to deal with, but again retaining salary might end up being the one thing that holds this up.
The Fourth Period has their trade watch list out for 2026 and four players on the Predators show up in the top-30 list; Stamkos at No.10, Ryan O'Reilly at No.11, Marchessault at No.16, and Michael Bunting at No.26.
I would add Erik Haula to the trade list, along with a lower possibility of Nick Blankenburg, Michael McCarron and Cole Smith. All four of those players are becoming unrestricted free agenst this upcoming offseason. I can't imagine Trotz keeping them all.
These players are easier to move because they're relatively small contracts, but that also means not highly valuable returns, either. They might get you a mid-round draft pick and/or a depth prospect. It would be great work by Trotz if he could squeeze out something more like a young talent with future starter potential.
I've actually been on the side of trying to re-sign Blankenburg and Smith. Both have earned modest raises, but nothing that's going to break the bank. They have proven to be quality depth players to keep as long as they're not asking for the moon and the stars.
It's going to be difficult for Trotz to have a full trade sell-off even if he truly wants that. I think he can move Haula, Bunting and McCarron rather easily, and should push hard to trade Marchessault as well. That's four forwards out of your starting lineup, which will make roster space to call up some prospects and give them playing time for the remainder of 2025-26.
If those four players all end up being traded, it will pave the way for Zachary L'Heureux to get back up to the NHL level. He has 18 points (9 goals, 9 assists) in 15 games for the Milwaukee Admirals this season. Joakim Kemell is another prospect who is vital to the Predators' future transition to being a younger roster and should get his call-up after trading some of these upcoming free agents.
Ozzy Wiesblatt is also getting closer to being healthy and returning to the Predators starting lineup. He will be a regular starter after the trade deadline.
Can Trotz find a GM willing to overpay for Stamkos or O'Reilly?
If you can find a bullish GM that wants to take all of Stamkos' contract and overpay, then Trotz should jump all over that if Stamkos approves.
And as for O'Reilly, I just dont' see him being moved at this time. He loves it here, is a key part of this transition phase as a leader and secondary captain to Roman Josi. He'll enter his final contract year next season. Similar to Stamkos' situation, it will take a GM overpaying to get Trotz to pull the trigger on trading O'Reilly.
So to wrap up, the Predators will be sellers despite the winning and not buyers. However, they're not going to be full-on firesale in desperation mode like they were previously thought to be just a couple months ago.
There's 11 games left before the break for the Olympics, and then when they come back, another five games before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. A lot can change in 16 games with the wildcard bubble being so jumbled up.