We're entering the final stretch of the 2026-27 season and the Nashville Predators got some work to do.
The Preds have 16 games left in the season and at the rate they're playing, they will miss the postseason by a small margin. With a 29-28-9 record after their loss against Edmonton, they're slowing falling out of the wild card race in the West.
Zachary L'Heureux recently resigned with the team in a two-year, $1.75 million deal. It's clear the youth will be here to stay. Considering the track this team is going through and the events that unfolded at the Trade Deadline, shakeups are bound to be made, and a new identity will be formed.
Nashville will have five NHL contracts to deal with this offseason. If they want to get more of the youth into the lineup, some guys will have to depart. Let's take a quick look at the expiring guys and predict what they get, if they get anything.
Erik Haula is the name to focus on
This will be a very tricky deal for Nashville. After opting to keep Haula during the deadline, the Preds will have to make their final decision on him: keep him or lose him. Trading him is almost out of the question because dealing a UFA retains almost no value. I wrote in the past that more than likely the real reason of keeping Haula was to fill a roster spot and mentor Joakim Kemell. With new rookies entering expected to enter the lineup, Haula doesn't serve much purpose other than providing skill.
If new management post-Trotz wants to pursue that younger core, Haula might very well be on his way out. Part of me believes, however, that he might get some more time in Nashville. It won't be a long contract, but maybe a year tenure, but that gets split with a new squad after he gets traded around the deadline. Brady Martin might need another year to develop so keeping Haula makes sense in that aspect. Here's what I expect the deal to look like.
Erik Haula: 1x3
Slightly cheaper than his current $3.15 million, but that's only because he won't be playing as elevated of a role as he was this season. I expect the youth movement to explode next season, that's why I see Haula taking a step down. Matthew Wood looks promising at center and Fedor Svechkov might take over as 3C. Speaking of Svech, let's move onto him next.
Fedor Svechkov's next contract will be a big decider in his future role
Svechkov at one point was projected to be the team's second-line center, but his performances pushed him down the lineup. However, recently he's been on point, recording three assists in his last five games. I've always been passionate about Svechkov and what he brings to the ice but earlier this season I did have some doubts. Thankfully those are mostly gone, besides the faceoff taking role which is still in the works.
I still do see him as the future of the Predators middle-six center positions and I also don't seem Nashville abandoning him anytime soon. Realistically, he will probably get a bridge deal so the team can evaluate his role and determine his ceiling. He is a restricted free agent so they will have some time to work out a deal once they determine his place on the team.
Fedor Svechkov: 2x2
This is a deal I think is reasonable. It's enough to show that he isn't an AHL call-up anymore but also not too much to make it feel like he's a top player. It'll give Svech enough time to test his limits and try different line combinations, especially with Kemell, Martin, and other prospects heading into the big leagues.
Tyson Jost putting up a good case for an extension with heater as of late
I'd admit it, I used to be on the Jost-hate train but recently I've started to see the good in him. In his last five games, Jost has two goals and three points. This season he's tallied six goals and 11 points in 54 games. The 28-year-old has been a solid bottom-six piece, playing alongside Svechkov and Ozzy Wiesblatt most of the team.
He isn't the greatest of faceoff takers, only averaging 38.6% at the dot. It's probably better to keep him at the wing. With all the center prospects we got like Brady Martin, Fedor Svechkov, and Wiesblatt in the system, keeping Jost on the wing to let these guys develop is key to team's future. Considering what he does physically in hits (55) and shot blocks (21), it's crucial to keep this guy around to protect the rookies.
Tyson Jost: 1x2
Similar to Haula, his deal would be shorter only to give the rookies a chance in the future. It also allows him to become a trade asset if the Preds feel like he can be moved. The only reason why he'll be getting paid $2 million is so he can help Nashville reach the cap floor. With a lot of veterans presumably leaving in the near future, the Preds will need to replace that salary somehow.
Justin Barron isn't a priority for Nashville, no need for an extension
I'd much rather have Alexandre Carrier than Barron. Carrier is seeing success in Montreal and Barron, well, he isn't. Barron isn't playing as well as he was last season, only scoring seven points compared to the previous 12 points in a similar number of games. As the team's bottom pair left-handed defenseman, he should be a bit better all-around.
Defensively, he only has one takeaway but has 42 giveaways per Moneypuck. Now I can say that it's pretty difficult not to give up a puck on a team like Nashville, but 42 in 40 games is a bit much. The Preds are fueled by offense and what he's doing isn't the best. He did have two assists in back-to-back games not too long ago, the first time since October. With guys like Tanner Molendyk looking for NHL time, he's most likely out.
He is an RFA so Nashville can still get value for him. If they restrict him, the Preds could trade him to a team who desperately needs a depth defenseman.
Andreas Englund has an NHL contract but only three NHL games this season
Englund has been a Milwaukee starter for basically the entire season. Other than a small stint earlier this calendar year, Englund hasn't seen much NHL action. He was acquired off of waivers, a good pick-up for Nashville. However, he hasn't really been given much of a chance to succeed this season. Last year, he played 24 games with the Preds where he tallied two assists and laid the body 78 times. This year, 26 minutes of icetime and four hits.
It just seems like the Englund experiment hasn't worked. His stats look clean on Moneypuck so why isn't Nashville playing him more? The answer probably lies in the fact that he is more of an enforcer. Like I mentioned, the Preds prefer a faster, more offensive game. Frankly, Englund doesn't fit that scheme. Last season we were a bit more defensive since goal-scoring wasn't at our best, making Englund a more reasonable option.
His contract is unrestricted so Nashville won't get anything for him. With Mols looking to get NHL time and his scheme fitting the team's, keeping Englund doesn't make much sense.
In terms of offense, keeping everybody is a smart move, but defensively it's anybody's game.