Fire sale time in Nashville? Not quite yet
The Nashville Predators entered the 2025-26 season with expectations of improving off their dreadful sophomore season under GM Barry Trotz. After going big-game hunting in the summer of 2024, last season proved to be a disastrous year for the Predators, missing the playoffs and falling drastically short of expectations.
Trading for and signing defensemen Nicolas Hague and Nick Perbix, respectively, over the offseason, the hope was the Predators would get back on track with playoff aspirations. Albeit it still being early November, things have not been all too sunny in Nashville.
Sporting a record of 5-7-4, the Predators have not inspired many and are on the outside of the Western Conference playoff race. Despite it still being early in the season, it has left many speculating about what may come in Nashville should the struggles continue.
Speaking with a team source, even with the start being disappointing, there aren’t any imminent plans to make a major move or those that will shift in the team’s vision. Many have wondered about the future of head coach Andrew Brunette, but a team source told me earlier this week there are no current plans to replace him behind the bench.
Beyond the coach, all eyes have been on former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos; he is off to an incredibly slow start, registering just two goals and one assist through the first 16 games. According to a team source, the Predators are doing everything to accommodate Stamkos and trying to get him going. Despite the trade rumors, the team isn’t focused on fielding offers for the 2008 first overall pick (at this juncture) and is focused on helping him gel with the Predators, according to the source.
The Predators want to get back into the playoffs, according to the source, as they want to maintain the winning culture that was implemented by former GM David Poile during the 2010s. In addition to getting back to being a competitive club, the Predators are adamant on integrating younger players into their lineup. 2021 first-round pick and 2023 first-round pick Fedor Svechkov and Matthew Wood, respectively, have found their way into the Predators’ lineup, both projected to play on the team’s third line heading into Thursday night’s game versus the Philadelphia Flyers. Svechkov has just one assist so far this season through 14 games, while Wood has fared better with three goals and three assists through nine contests.
Nashville’s AHL team, the Milwaukee Admirals, is off to a great start, mind you. Sporting a record of 4-1-2 and ranking third in the AHL’s Central Division, the winning culture being set there is a good omen for the younger players looking to make the jump to Nashville in the near future, according to a source.
While I don’t think the Predators are looking to punt on this season, it doesn’t mean that teams across the NHL won’t be circling. In addition to Stamkos’ name, forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Jonathan Marchessault’s names have been brought up to me as potential targets by league executives.
O’Reilly, 34, is under contract until 2027 and is signed to an AAV of $4.5 million. Despite not having trade protection in his contract, it is believed that the Predators will consult O’Reilly on any potential move; they did this last season, as the former St. Louis Blues captain was a hot commodity leading up to last year’s trade deadline. He has six goals and four assists through 16 games this season and perhaps could use a change of scenery, having trashed his own play in a post-game media scrum Thursday night.
Marchessault, 34, is in more of a complicated situation; he is under contract until 2029 at an AAV of $5.5 million, locked and loaded with a full no-movement clause. With four goals and two assists through 12 games this season, it sounds like Marchessault’s contract would need salary retention from potential interested teams, according to league sources.
As for teams who could be interested in the three aforementioned Predators forwards, the Central Division rival Minnesota Wild sound like they would be a fit for O’Reilly and, to a lesser extent, Marchessault. Speaking with a source close to the situation in Minnesota, the Wild have a decent level of interest in O’Reilly, specifically.
Things are not at a panic point in Nashville, as integrating their younger players is also part of the plan this season. Though no major roster (or coaching) moves seems imminent at this point, you have to wonder when the dam will break for the front office to make moves should things not turn around. After all, if the organization wants to maintain a winning culture, the current path is not one that is conducive to getting there based on the past 18 months of play.
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