As the Nashville Predators point their sights to the general manager search, they must not forget to pay some attention to the current state of their roster.
While the team has a wide variety of talented prospects developing in the system, there still sits a handful of veterans that prevent them from getting good ice time. Management created a logjam in the lineup through immovable, expensive contracts which make it very hard to work around.
With guys like Steven Stamkos and Ryan O'Reilly making it clear that they want to stay, things only seem to be getting worse for the rookies. Working with what we have, here's what are the realistic options for opening up the lineup to the next generation of Smashville.
Option 1: Move the pieces you can
There are a few players that stick out as moveable on Nashville. When I say moveable, I don't mean the anybody without a clause; I mean the anyone who doesn't fit the team's future and carries some sort of trade value.
First, we must factor in the players that are more than likely are leaving the team: Justin Barron, Erik Haula and Tyson Jost. It hurts to say but Haula and Jost probably won't be staying, especially with new management. With Haula and Jost gone, that'll open up two spots for a forward prospect to slide into next season. Barron's absence on the right side will allow Tanner Molendyk and Andrew Gibson to enter the lineup sooner than later.
Next is Jonathan Marchessault. Neither side was happy with each other at the end of the season, making a trade possible this offseason. A spot in the middle six opens up with him out. The opening would allow Nashville to further test its winger depth with the additions of Vitali Pinchuk, Cole O'Hara and Aiden Fink.
Option 2: Rotate the rookies
The second option I propose is rotating the rookies/young players on a trip basis, meaning swap players in and out the lineup based on home and away games. The Preds go on a three-game road trip? Healthy scratch some guys and swap them with younger players. Nashville heads back home for the weekend? Call Milwaukee and fly some rookies in. I'm sure its not that simple but the idea is there: play around with the lineup as its clear the team isn't playoff ready.
Five of the six top two forward spots are practically untouchable. Filip Forsberg, O'Reilly and Luke Evangelista are a proven top line. Stamkos and Matthew Wood work well together, and it'll be a shocker to see any of them below the second line. On defenseman, a loaded left side limits the number of prospects that can play the blueline. We were lucky to play Ryan Ufko at the minutes he got.
This scenario isn't all perfect. The constant movement of rookies could stump their development, as their linemates constantly change and their line role won't be consistent. This also hurts the current bottom six players like Fedor Svechkov, Reid Schaefer, Zachary L'Heureux and Joakim Kemell, whom are all trying to find their role in Nashville. With this play, they won't have consistent linemates, making their consistency uncertain.
Option 3: Commit to a rebuild
This is probably the answer you expected. A rebuild is not fully out of the equation, as we don't know if new management would pursue one or not. However, we can assume that based on current rumors, it isn't happening. If the Predators turned a leaf and committed to a rebuild, here's how I think it'll go.
For starters, Ryan O'Reilly would be one of the first pieces to be traded. His immensive trade value would hand the Predators a treasure chest worth of draft capital and prospects. Given the league-wide need for proven centerman, O'Reilly would fulfill the need for many teams.
Secondly, Stamkos and Marchessault would likely be urged to waive their clauses at the expense that they get traded to their desired teams at a lower cost. Even if the Predators wouldn't get much for them, their absence in the lineup would be the real jackpot.
From there, pieces begin to fill the lineup one after another. There is still enough talent on the team to drive these youngsters to success, but not enough to stump their development.
The Nashville Predators must not forget to tend to its evergrowing pipeline. The roster will need a lot of maintanence to allow these prospects to properly develop into the future of Smashville.
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