It feels like this past trade deadline, and lack of significant moves by the Nashville Predators, was just postponing the inevitable for what's to come this offseason.
Despite hanging around in the wildcard race like a bad cold that won't go away, the Predators seem destined to eventually blow it all up in the coming offseason if they can get certain players to agree to abandon ship.
One last chance for the playoffs before the Nashville Predators enter the dark ages for a while?
In retrospect, it was hard to break up these veterans that carry a lot of personal pride to finish what they started here. I've been very clear about my respect for Ryan O'Reilly deciding to stay in Nashville despite being the team's top trade asset and having easy access to go to a true Stanley Cup contender. Disagreeing with GM Barry Trotz for not pushing O'Reilly out anyway is fair game, but he did do right by a highly respected veteran who has given it his all for this organization and wants one final run at it before things drastically change.
The Predators are obviously a far-fetched Stanley Cup contender, and I would confidently say even a long shot to win more than one game in an opening round series against Colorado or Dallas. So I think we're far too focused on what will probably happen in the playoffs if they somehow make it, which on its own is also higly improbable despite only being four points back. It might as well be Mount Everest the way it feels.
Elliotte Friedman recently joined 102.5 The Game in Nashville that he suspects that Nashville ownership is finally coming around to a commitment to rebuild in the coming offseason, with June being when we finally can confirm that possibility.
Elliotte Friedman: I suspect that [Nashville's] new owner is not afraid of a rebuild, but I don't think we're really gonna know the truth about that until June - DMase Vingan & Daunic (3/12)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) March 17, 2026
It's going to be much easier to intice some of these veterans, even someone like Roman Josi, to explore waiving their trade protection once this team is no longer in a playoff race and the objective is clear that Nashville is fully ready to rebuild. Some veterans just aren't going to be willing to stick around for that, and who could blame them?
Moving past the trade deadline was Trotz's way off giving these core veterans one last chace to do something special. Quite frankly, this team won a little too much to go into tank mode for the lottery. They were stuck in no man's land, which has bee a prevailing theme for this franchise for several years and has frustrated fans enormously as a result.
I can see a major franchise shakeup on the horizon. They have this last chance to prove themselves, and barring some outlandish run and upset in the first round of the playoffs, I don't see any reason to change your mind. It's time to let go and likely enter the dark ages for a few years af best. It all depends on how the prospects keep developing, some of whom we're seeing play big minutes right now and showing some promise.
I can see them exploring moving Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in the offseason. Marchessault especially, who just never found his fit here. Stamkos loves it in Nashville for his family so I'm not fully convinced that he would want out even if a rebuild happens. He may be content with living out his final years in the NHL in a city he loves and being a mentor. I wouldn't be mad about that.
Josi is more complicated for me, as is Filip Forsberg. I'm sure these guys want a Stanley Cup and may not see it as possible by sticking through a Nashville rebuild. And to truly rebuild, you probably got to move on from one of these two Nashville staples who are the top-2 scorers in franchise history.
If you move Josi, then who becomes Captain? That's an interesting question to fathom.
Either way, the end is near and a new beginning seems to be coming this offseason. Trotz is on his way out as GM, and the new front office is going to be much more willing to wipe the slate clean. Especially if it's an outsider, which it should be.
Enjoy this one last ditch effort for the playoffs while you can because we might not be back here for a long time.