Silver lining for Nashville Predators is finally letting the young players take over

The Nashville Predators, more unwillingly due to mounting injuries, are starting to give much more playing time to the young core of the roster.

Players like Zachary L'Heureux, Fedor Svechkov, Adam Wilsby and Marc Del Gaizo are getting much more NHL playing time than many could have ever expected heading into the 2024-25 season. For the segment of the fanbase that originally wanted this to happen, they can at least be pleased that this trend will probably continue for the rest of the season.

Other prospects who could eventually get called up to the NHL this season for the Predators are Spencer Stastney, Ozzy Wiesblatt, Joakim Kemell and even Tanner Molendyk. It doesn't stop with them, there are a lot of candidates that could get call-ups as the Predators become a rebuilding team.

The Predators are in the midst of one of their longest winless streaks in franchise history, losing eight-straight games which is second-longest. Their longest winless streak dates back to 2002-03 when the team lost or tied 15 in a row.

Trotz and Nashville Predators have to come to grips with reality and think long-term

As things continue to unravel and look pretty hopeless, General Manager Barry Trotz has to really think hard about committing to a true rebuild. That won't be easy after the spending spree he went on free agency and the no move clauses that Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault have.

However, Trotz can begin to move on from other aging veterans like Gustav Nyquist, Colton Sissons, Luke Schenn and maybe even Ryan O'Reilly. And if you can't trade them, then Head Coach Andrew Brunette should make good on his promise of benching or cutting ice time from underperforming veterans.

These two courses of action that both Trotz and Brunette can begin to take will offer up more pathways for the youth of the roster to get elevated time on ice, and with that you have to be willing to live with the growing pains. But at least you're investing in your long-term future over force feeding us veterans who aren't part of the long-term future and aren't playing up to expectations.

With over half of the season remaining, to pull the fanbase back this organization needs to commit to getting younger, faster and living with the fact that this team is going to be a lottery team. This franchise has always historically performed well in the regular season, but in return damaging their chances at getting top-10 draft picks.

The Predators have picked top-10 in the NHL Entry Draft just seven times in their history, but only twice since 2008. Sure, all of the regular season success was fun to watch and gave us hope every year that they would do something special in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the truth is they only delivered once on that promise and that was in 2017, of course.

Of those seven top-10 picks, only David Legwand, Scott Hartnell, Ryan Suter and Colin Wilson lived up to their draft position. And quite frankly, Wilson is arguable. So in other words, this organziation has never really landed big on a top-10 pick aside from Legwand in their expansion year, Hartnell two years later and Suter three years after that, this franchise has really nothing to show for it in the top-10.

Let the kids play, live with the consequences of a top-10 draft pick

So for the fans that have the long game in mind, this is your silver lining for this nightmare season. More minutes for young talent and almost certainly a top-10 draft pick on the way. The Predators already have five draft picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 draft.

However, if this team were to go on another 18-game point streak like last season (not likely), then that could spell disaster for this long-term plan because it would entice Trotz to make more deals, only to miss the playoffs anyway.

Obviously some veterans will remain. Forsberg is probably a lifelong Nashville Predator, as he should be. Stamkos is going to stick around, and I'd love to see him adopt the mentor role in the coming weeks and even years. Marchessault can remain in impact player if you have him on the right line, and Josi will remain the captain.

Outside of those players, everyone should be explored as trade candidates outside of your young talent you have high aspirations for.

At this point, I say preserve the draft capital, continue to elevate the youth into top-six minutes and heavy ice time, and live with the consequences. In the middle of a lot of bleakness, you have to be encouraged by the play of L'Heureux, Svechkov and Wilsby. And you still have Luke Evangelista showing positive signs, and you hope that Tommy Novak can hit a springboard as well.

Trade everyone you can from the veterans. Even O'Reilly, as much as I like him. But you can't keep living this lie and be in fantasy land. Trotz took his home run swing, and he missed. Credit to him for trying something bold, but it didn't work out.