Predicting which current players will still be here when Nashville Predators make Stanley Cup Playoffs again

It's unclear just how much further the Nashville Predators will dive into a rebuild this offseason with a new General Manager still waiting to replace the outgoing Barry Trotz.

The overwhelming belief is that the Predators are seeking a true external GM candidate, which in turn should mean a fresh outlook and more trades. In other words, we really have no clue how much of tis current roster will be left intact when the puck drops for the 2026-27 NHL season.

The Predators made the playoffs for eight-straight seasons, but have now missed out on three of the last four. It' also been eight years since the Predators even tasted playoff life past the first round.

The core veterans, including Ryan O'Reilly, remain committed to making it work here and winning now, Per Russell Vannozzi of Mainstreet Nashville:

Other veterans gave similar responses about winning here in Nashville. So let's try to predict how long it will actually take for the Presators to make it back to the playoffs, and who will be leading that charge when it happens.

First and foremost, how long will the Nashville Predators playoff drought last for?

Looking at the team's current roster construction, while not having the benefit of knowing who the next GM will be, this is a hard assessment to make. My initial thought is they're not going back next year mostly due to two factors; their veterans are mostly past their primes and their young core still needs more time to fully develop into playoff caliber players.

Despite the veterans all saying the right things in their last interviews before the offseason, someone big isn't ckming back next year. O'Reilly serms like a real possibility if a great trade offer comes along to the new GM.

I'm setting our wait time to go back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the year 2029. By that time hopefully the youth will be budding into their primes, a couple outsiders will have been acquired, and the next GM will be working their magic.

Now let's get to which key players will be leading this franchise back to the playoffs in 2029. And for the sake of this exercise, I'm only including players who ended the season on the Preds roster and not including players who are still full-time prospects, like Brady Martin, Tanner Molendyk and Ryker Lee.

Juuse Saros will still be here in Nashville

I could end up eating my words on this prediction, but by 2029 I expect Saros to still be wearing Preds Gold, but in a more balanced capacity with a 1B goalie. This approach might begin as soon as next season with Justus Annunen.

Saros' contract, which has seven more years left, is going to be very difficult to move in a trade until his individual stats trend back up. Perhaps a lesser workload will be just what he needs.

Even if Saros improves his numbers and gets back to being one of the top goalies in the league, then at his manageable AAV of $7.74 million will be worth keeping if he's helping you end a playoff drought. Plus he has a No Movement Clause.

Add all of this up and you get a high likelihood that Saros is with the Predators in 2029. In a perfect workd, Annunen is still here too, but I'm not as confident as Saros. Annunen will be a UFA in 2028.

Ryan Ufko will be key part of Preds defense

When you take a look at the Preds current defensive corps and think ahead to the year 2029, iit's difficult to imagine too many of them being still around. Roman Josi coukd easily be retired by then, and Brady Skjei might be bought out to move on from a deal that still has five years remaining.

Ufko has already shown a ton of promise in his first 19 NHL games, putting up 11 points in just 13:53 of average ice time. Very efficient for such a young player.

If there is one player from the current defense to feel confident in to still be here, and be playing an important role when the Preds make the playoffs again, Ufko is a safe bet.

Matthew Wood could be a top line center by then

Now I get it, giving Wood a top line center ceiling is probably a stretch, but the chance also isn't zero. And he'll almost certainly be a top-six mainstay by then either at center or wing.

Wood moved to center towards the end of this past season and really responded to the challenge impressively. He finished off his rookie campaign with 17 goals, good for fourth on the team. He spent most of his action in the offensive zone and was extremely efficient in just over 12 minutes of average ice time.

A primary reason I give Wood a chance to be a top line player by 2029 is his confidence and hockey IQ level. He already plays like a wise veteran and he'll be on the Preds playoff roster one day when tgat comes. He would be just 24-years-old by the 2029 playoffs.

Luke Evangelista will eventually be re-signed to a bigger deal by future Preds GM

Another top-six leader for the 2029 playoff roster for the Preds will be Luke Evangelista. He went out and proved hus value against enormous pressure this past season with 44 assists and beating his career high in points from 32 to 56.

My ceiling for Evangelista is a 70-point consistent scorer. The skills are obviously there to generate offense and make his linemates better. Just ask O'Reilly, Forsberg and Stamkos.

The tricky part about this prediction is if Evangelista gets a new deal with Nashville that keeps him here for my 2029 prediction. The new GM will have to make a decision on Evangelista's future with Nashville pretty quick with him becoming an RFA in 2027.

So I say that this past season wasn't a fluke and Evangelista eventually gets re-signed and is a vital piece of the playoff Preds in 2029.

Joakim Kemell will take huge step forward next season

I'm fairly optimistic that Kemell is taking a similar path that Evangelista is taking. Another talented offesnive winger that just needs more time and opportunities to round out his game physically.

I'm expecting Kemell to get his his full rookie season in next season while the Predators go through their transition phase. There won't be a ton of pressure to make the playoffs, but this will be the time to see what you have in Kemell.

Kemell only has 18 NHL games under his belt thus far and under 11 minutes per game. That should increase considerably next season. He willbe an RFA in 2027, and I'm very confident he gets re-signed and is a full-timer on Preds roster by the time 2029 gets here and the playoffs are coming back to Broadway.

Filip Forsberg will retire with Preds

No matter wgat fire sale may come, I can't fathom it including Filip Forsberg. He just had his third-best goal scoring season of his 14-year career with 40.

Forsberg willbe getting to Stamkos and O'Reilly age territory by 2029, but he should still have gas in the tank to be a top line goal scorer, although I admit we're cutting it close here.

Forsberg's final year of his current deal is 2029-30, just one year after my preiction. I hope with everything in me that we get at least one more chance to see playoff Forsberg in a Preds sweater.

Honorable Mention and players I'm less confident in

Brady Skjei: Will he bought out by then?

Nic Hague: Possible, but he could also easily be traded before his final year of current deal.

Zachary L'Heureux: I'm unsure that L'Heureux will have staying power in Nashville with the new GM

Reid Schaefer: Has some upside, but I need another year to raise my confidence in him long-term

Adam Wilsby: Could be another casualty with a new GM wanting their own players

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