The Nashville Predators are amongst the worst teams in the league this season points-wise and are four games under .500 through a quarter of the 2024-25 season. Barry Trotz has been looking for ways to make the Predators better but not much has come from that just yet.
Some teams have started to make some bigger decisions at this point in the season and Elliotte Friedman reported that after the New York Rangers got blown out by the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, the Rangers have made it clear that they are interested in making some moves.
The two names that were brought up were Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider, but more names aren’t off the table as well.
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Trotz is looking to make the Predators better before tearing anything down, so with these veterans available, he could shake up the Predators as well. Trouba has one more year left on his deal after this season at $8 million AAV with a 15 team no trade list. Kreider has two years left after this season on his $6.5 million AAV deal and also has a 15 team no trade clause.
Do the Predators need both of these players? No. But grabbing one and sending something back that could also help the Rangers shake things up accordingly could be an intriguing option.
The Predators are still reportedly searching for a top-4 defenseman on top of a top-6 center, so Trouba fits that bill. His analytics aren’t spectacular, but he is a leader, been a part of many competitive teams, and is a force on the ice. Picture Nashville having Trouba, Jeremy Lauzon, and even Luke Schenn on the ice at any given time. That would be if Schenn isn’t part of a package back to New York.
It wouldn’t be a long commitment to Trouba if the Predators aren’t on his no trade list and Nashville likely wouldn’t be taking his entire $8 million contract either.
As for Kreider, this is a longer commitment and one that the Predators may not delve much into. He has taken a step back this season as this is only the second time in his 13-year NHL career (excluding a 23 game trial) that he has an expected goals percentage lower than 50% (currently 46.2%). He is on a 12-6-2 team that is winning games and through 19 games, he has yet to record an assist.
Kreider is still scoring goals (9), something the Predators need, but he doesn’t play center and the team would be acquiring another veteran who’s 33 years old. I don’t think that is exactly what they need. While Kreider could come into the top-6 and play net front on the power play, the issue of a lack of second line center would still be present. That won’t look good if more moves are made without addressing what is actually needed.
I’m sure Trotz will inquire about Mika Zibanejad as the Rangers have Vincent Trocheck, Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko (currently playing center), and Adam Edstrom as options down the middle in the top-9, but massive moves like moving an $8.5 million center with 5 years remaining on his deal are very difficult to pull off mid-season and I don’t think the Rangers would be satisfied with what would be remaining without Zibanejad on a Stanley Cup hopeful team.
This is definitely a situation Trotz is likely looking into, even if something doesn’t get done. But it is his job to explore absolutely everything to make the Predators better as general manager. Nashville surely needs it.
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