Best Trade Deadline Acquisitions in Nashville Predators History
The 2024 NHL Trade Deadline is nearly here, and the Preds once again find themselves on the playoff bubble and unclear what direction they'll go.
Calle Jarnkrok, Acquired from Red Wings for David Legwand in 2014
It's easy to forget that Calle Jarnkrok wasn't a homegrown player of the Predators organization. He was drafted by the Red Wings in the 2nd round of 2010 and never played an NHL game for them.
The Predators had to make the very difficult decision to part ways with David Legwand, the franchise's first ever draft pick and leader in all major statistical categories up to that point. But it was time to move on, and looking back on it now, what a wise move that was.
Jarnkrok would join the Predators for the rest of the 2013-14 season and appear in 12 games for nine points, and follow up the next season with 74 games and 18 points, and was in the postseason starting lineup.
Jarnkrok would remain a valuable depth player who would be moved anywhere in the lineup for many years to come. He now sits 23rd all-time on the Predators franchise list with 211 points and 16th in goals with 94.
The Predators definitely won this trade deadline deal with the Red Wings, who probably realized they gave up on Jarnkrok too quickly and instead went with the veteran in Legwand who was way past his prime.
Ryan Hartman, Acquired from Blackhawks for prospect Victor Ejdsell, a 1st Rd & 4th Rd Pick in 2018
Although it was a brief stint in Nashville for Ryan Hartman, I really enjoyed watching this guy's tenacity and spunk while he was wearing the gold. And when you look at the deal, it's hard to be too upset about it.
The Predators were in the midst of their Stanley Cup window after losing in six games to the Penguins the previous year, and on their way to winning the franchise's first Presidents Trophy. They were in win now mode and needed some extra beef to their lineup.
Unfortunately, Hartman didn't quite take off like the Predators probably hoped. He was never a prolific point scorer even before the trade, but was instead brought in for defense and physicality.
Giving up a prospect, Victor Ejdsell, wasn't steep considering that player only went on to play in six NHL games for the Blackhawks. Giving up a 1st and 4th round draft pick, however, is rough considering Hartman made very little impact on the Predators in that year's playoff run which ended in the 2nd round to the Winnipeg Jets in seven games.
Hartman was then traded at the following year's trade deadline for Wayne Simmonds. Since then, Hartman has kept his NHL career going strong and even posted a career high 65 points with the Minnesota Wild in 2021-22. So it's fair to say the Predators parted ways too quickly with Hartman in 2019.
Mikael Granlund, Acquired from Wild for Kevin Fiala in 2019
This was another attempt for the Predators to keep their Stanley Cup window open in 2019. They were still expected at this point to at least be a viable playoff team and needed some extra offensive skill.
Trading away Kevin Fiala wasn't easy. Things just didn't work out between the front office and Fiala, so the one-for-one swap with Minnesota to get Granlund seemed like a potential win for both parties.
Granlund brought on the bigger chunk of change for the Predators to take on, while Fiala was much cheaper for the Wild. Granlund had just posted back-to-back seasons of 69 and 67 points for the Wild, so the Predators felt they were getting an efficient offensive player for their playoff push.
Although Granlund wasn't a complete bust for the Predators, 162 points in 268 games, you do wonder what could've been if the organization could've worked things out with Fiala. Fiala has since moved on to the Kings and has had more personal success than Granlund has had.
The biggest letdown for Granlund during his time with the Predators is he never did much in the postseason. Only three goals in 20 playoff games with Nashville.
Steve Sullivan, Acquired from Blackhawks for Two 2nd Rd Picks in February 2004
Going all the way back to the early days of the Predators franchise. Back when the team was trying to crack into the playoffs and starting building a roster that can compete. It took time and patience as an expansion franchise, but Steve Sullivan was one of those franchise changing acquisitions.
Sullivan had already enjoyed an impressive NHL career going back to 1995-96 and had five-straight seasons over 60-plus points. He brought offensive flare to the Predators, which they had largely been missing since joining the NHL in 1998.
When you look back on when the Predators leveled up from being an expansion team bottom feeder to competing for playoff appearances and helping hockey grow in the South, Sullivan was instrumental in that process.
Sullivan's best season with Nashville was 2005-06 with 68 points in 69 games, 13 power play goals and a 16 percent shooting percentage.
JÉRÉMY LAUZON, Acquired from Kraken for a 2nd Rd. Pick in 2022
There wasn't much to get excited about when this deal went down one day before the 2022 NHL trade deadline. Lauzon was a bruiser, but really had nothing else to say about his game. The Predators had sorted through several bottom pairing defensemen who did the same thing. Hit hard, but offered nothing else.
Looking back on it now, this has turned out to be a pretty solid trade for the Predators. Lauzon has shown steady improvement in his all around game, including his offense. He has five goals on the season, and he should easily surpass his NHL career high for shots on goal for a season.
But of course Lauzon's true value still remains being one of the hardest hitters in the NHL. He leads the NHL in hits by a ridiculous margin with 264, with the next closest player being Garnet Hathaway with 203.
Above all else, Lauzon has swagger to his game. He plays hard every night and has room for more growth only being 26-years-old and under a modest $2 million AAV through 2025-26.
The Kraken used that 2nd Round pick to select right winger Jani Nyman, who has yet to make his NHL debut but remains in the Kraken's prospect pool and is performing well overseas in Finland.
Mike Fisher, Acquired from Senators for a 1st Rd & 3rd Rd Pick in 2011
This wasn't an easy choice for the Senators to make at the time. Mike Fisher has talked about how "life changing" this trade to Nashville was for him and his family, including his wife Carrier Underwood.
Fisher came to the Predators that season at age 30 and quickly became a stabilizing force of leadership for the locker room. He brought winning pedigree as the Predators gradually became a more legitimate postseason team.
Up to this point in Predators history, the franchise was nothing more than a 1st round punching bag at best. Fisher helped cultivate a new winning culture as other franchise greats came into their own.
Fisher went on to play in 71 playoff games for the Predators, and put up 24 points which is tied with three other players for 10th in franchise history.
The Senators got a couple draft picks out of the deal, but never saw either player used with those draft picks appear in an NHL game for them. So yeah, this is easily one of the most significant trade deadline deals in Predators history.
Filip Forsberg, Acquired from Capitals for Martin Erat in 2013
It's going to be nearly impossible to every top this trade deadline deal for the Predators. Just highway robbery that Capitals fans will never be able to get over as Forsberg continues to get better and better and join elite company among NHL forwards.
Martin Erat, on the other hand, was among the franchise greats for the Predators up to this point. No one could've imagined at the time of this trade that it would end up being so lopsided.
It does still baffle me that Forsberg being the 11th overall pick by the Capitals in 2012 was just dealt before ever playing an NHL game for the franchise. Instead they took a chance on Erat who was past age 30 and would go on to play in just 62 games for the Capitals.
The Capitals also acquired prospect and Predators 3rd round draft pick Michael Latta in the trade as well. Latta would appear in three seasons for the Capitals but never scored more than seven points in a season and became a regular on the AHL level.
We don't have to remind you that Forsberg is the Predators' all-time leading goal scorer with 265 goals and will continue to pad that franchise lead for years to come.
For context, this list is missing one significant franchise changing player that was acquired via trade during the 2015-16 season and that's Ryan Johansen. I left him off this list because it was so far ahead of that year's trade deadline, but of course looking back on it now, the Predators won that trade by dealing Seth Jones for Johansen with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Honorable Mention: Peter Forsberg (2007), Hal Gill (2012), Paul Gaustad (2012), Wayne Simmonds (2019)