Buyers or sellers? Nashville Predators have big decision to make heading into NHL Trade Deadline

For the longest time this season, a lot of the trade deadline action seemed to be in flux as teams tried to figure out where they stood in the playoff race. A lot of the best assets were on more middling teams like the Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators, who were just as close to making the playoffs as they were to missing it, so they weren’t in any rush to make a move.

Now, as the final week arrives, that’s all changed. There is now a somewhat sizeable gap between the playoff and non-playoff teams in the Eastern and Western Conference, and suddenly teams have a much better idea as to what they’re going to do. The East’s ninth-place New York Islanders sits five points back of the Flyers for a division spot, and six back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for a wild card spot, while the West’s ninth-place Flames sit seven back of the Predators for the final wild card spot, although in both cases, the teams outside of the bubble have games in hand.

But as Frank Seravalli revealed on Monday on Daily Faceoff Live, that means that teams are no longer uncertain as to whether or not they’re buying or selling. When asked if there are any teams in that spot, Seravalli alluded to the Preds as an example of a team that seems more interested in some light buying than any selling, especially after an eight-game winning streak.

Frank Seravalli: I think even a team like the Preds are probably more leaning towards adding then they are selling off. There may be a few pieces that move, I’d imagine Tyson Barrie gets traded in Nashville, but the Preds have won eight in a row. Maybe they can trade Alexander Carrier, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Barry Trotz add between now and Friday at 3:00 p.m.

You can watch the full episode here…