It feels like there is still one more shoe to drop. As we approach the March 7th 3PM trade deadline, it seems as though the Nashville Predators are still looking to make at least one more move to start setting themselves up for next season. Novak and Schenn have departed but it feels like the route out of Nashville might see some more players.
No doubt Barry Trotz is racking up his anytime minutes and trying to do hockey math as he presses the guys behind the scenes in the GM's office do some of the money work behind the scenes. Perhaps even Trotz is shopping players who have contracts that would appeal to certain teams.
Here's a list of players who would have contracts that an opposing GM wouldn't mind signing on to for the remaining duration.
Colton Sissons - $2.857 Million Through 2026
Sissons is one of those players who you don't realize is scoring, but will get his 25 to 30 points a year if he plays the full season. He has 20 in 60 games so far this year, so his tracking is safe. He's also an above average face-off taker, penalty killer, 2nd power play net front presence and a guy who does everything to win. Fighting, hitting, blocking shots, scoring, Sissons can be deployed in a variety of ways. If a contending team has cap room, and feels like their window of opportunity goes beyond this season Sissons is a worth buy. He'll be even easier to move next year on an expiring contract as it almost functions like a get out of trade jail free card.
Cole Smith - $1 Million Through 2026
So most of what was just said for Sissons applies to Smith, but does need to be tweaked slightly. Smith is a bigger player (6'3" vs 6'1") and plays rougher. He gets more penalty minutes, throws more hits, but isn't as a prolific a scorer as Sissons. He is younger with a lot less hard NHL wear and tear than Sissons. He isn't a faceoff guy but he could still kill penalites and in theory take up some space in front of the net. It is a situation where he'd fetch a late round draft pick and be easy to move to recoup it next season.
Michael McCarron $900K Through 2026
McCarron is cheaper than either player listed before him, bigger, a better fighter, currently going 55% on his draws, and might actually be a better pure goal scorer. He's been snake bit this year, shooting a miserable 5.5%. He's got all the hallmarks of a guy who makes a legendary moment in the playoffs, but it won't be this year unless he gets traded. His contract is one that barely scratches the surface of the salary cap, and won't be hard to get rid of next trade deadline if needed.
Jeremy Lauzon $2 Million Through 2026
Just 2 million for one of the most prolific hitters in hockey is pretty cheap. This move won't be with a contending team though. This one will be a team that isn't making a move for this year, but next year. They know that their chance at a high profile free agent and improving that way are slim, so they offer a nugget to the Predators to pry Lauzon away to stow on their IR and hope he comes back better than ever next season.
It's a decent play. Lauzon can be deployed in all situations, and will have fans eating out of his hands as he racks up hits. Worth a draft pick in exchange for sure.
Ryan O'Reilly $4.5 Million Through 2027
Here's the thing. Factor still has it. No matter what anyone says O'Reilly still has his fastball and he'd be a commodity at just $4.5 million. When you can add a former Conn Smythe winner, well you add him. I'd expect Trotz is fielding calls daily and nightly on O'Reilly. The question is, can someone offer up a valuable enough return, for a team that can ill afford to lose a center.
If the managment truly believes that this is going to be a reload or retool scenario next year, O'Reilly won't go. He makes too much sense as a candidate to make it to the deadline unless the Predators are blown away by an offer.