The Nashville Predators continue remaking their roster by adding Shane Wright from the Seattle Kraken for Matthew Wood. New GM Chris MacFarland has not only added Wright, but also Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Mavrik Bourque, Nils Hoglander, and others to influx youth into the roster.
However, Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period said on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, when asked what else the Nashville Predators will do as GM Chris MacFarland continues to make changes, he felt they weren’t finished.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Where are things at with the Nashville Predators?
Jason Strudwick: “Pags, there have been multiple changes with Nashville with their new GM; they’ve brought in some new players. They’re in the playoffs right now. I mean, it’s early, so we’re not going to roll the red carpet out. But how do you see him navigating kind of short-term and long-term goals for a group that was brought together a couple of years ago, maybe hasn’t reached the pinnacle they wanted to be?”
Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, and that’s another very interesting situation that Chris MacFarland has to kind of navigate here. You’ve got some good pieces, obviously, in (Filip) Forsberg, and (Juuse) Saros, and you have others that are locked in on term. But then you’ve got either short-term deals or pending UFA’s that you look at, and you go, those could bring back some decent assets, decent packages.
They’re listening on defence to some teams that have interest in a veteran piece, like Brady Skjei, who’s got some time left on his contract, some no-trade protection, a $7 million cap hit. Nic Hague’s name has popped up this week as well, with another year on his deal, and he’s only 27. They want to get a little bit younger, but it’s not just on the D core. They’re also looking up front as well.
And I think it’s still premature on the Ryan O’Reilly front. He’s on an expiring deal. What are they going to do with him? Again, a lot of that is going to depend on how the season goes. Because if they’re going to be in a playoff picture. I don’t think Chris MacFarland at all wants to potentially make a move that can be detrimental to their push for the postseason.
NHL Rumors: Nashville Predators Are Loaded for Future Moves
He’s always been one of the guys. I mean, pretty much every GM out there would want to amplify his team and reward his team by bringing in pieces to help push for that playoff spot and get to the postseason, and then you never know what happens.
But if they’re out of it later on this season, then you’re going to hear a little bit more about the defensemen and, with respect to a guy like Ryan O’Reilly, a couple other guys on pending deals, and even Jonathan Marchessault, who’s got some time left on his deal. But his performance, along with the team’s, will dictate whether or not they find some options for him as well.”
NHLRumors.com Note: The Nashville Predators continue to get younger and faster down the middle under GM Chris MacFarland. MacFarland wants his team to play similar to his former club, the Colorado Avalanche. He will continue to rebuild the offensive front, but he still looks to upgrade the defensive side of the puck even after adding Jayden Struble. Could they add someone like Simon Edvinsson from Detroit or a more controllable asset in Alexander Nikishin?
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