With the Predators hanging around the playoff race, it’s unlikely they’ll be significant buyers or sellers by Friday’s trade deadline. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t be active on the trade front. Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reports that the team has made it known that they’re open to weaponizing their cap space – more than $37MM available on deadline day, per CapFriendly – to add assets. That could come in the form of being a third-party retainer although they only have one retention slot left. Alternatively, they could take on an undesirable contract or two while adding future assets in return for taking those on. If they’re willing to do so, GM Barry Trotz will undoubtedly have some teams calling him to see what the price of that might be.
More from the Western Conference:
- The Wild were without a pair of wingers for their game tonight against San Jose. The team announced (Twitter link) that Mats Zuccarello was out for personal reasons. The 36-year-old is hovering near the point-per-game mark this year with 50 points in his first 52 appearances. Meanwhile, NHL.com’s Jessi Pierce adds (Twitter link) that winger Marcus Johansson is dealing with a lower-body injury that kept him out of the lineup. Johansson isn’t producing at the rate he was down the stretch last season but still has 27 points in 61 games.
- Sharks forward Luke Kunin has been speculated as a possible trade candidate before Friday’s deadline. However, he told San Jose Hockey Now’s Josh Frojelin that he’s hoping to stay with the team although he acknowledged there haven’t been any discussions about an extension so far. It has been a rough year for the 26-year-old who has just eight goals and four assists in 54 games. Owed a $3MM qualifying offer, he currently profiles as a possible non-tender candidate in June.
- Still with the Sharks, they announced (Twitter link) that forward William Eklund was scratched from tonight’s game due to illness. The 21-year-old is in his first full season at the NHL level and has fared relatively well, all things considered. Eklund has 10 goals and 17 assists through 59 games so far and while those numbers don’t jump off the board, they’re good for third on San Jose in scoring.
The Predators hold the second wild card spot & are 7 points up on their closest pursuer. I would say that they are doing more than “hanging around” the playoff race
Preds are doing what they said they wanted to stop doing and are again a wildcard team without a lottery pick. Could’ve just kept Poile around to do this.
It could be way worse. At least they have all that cap space available & their draft picks. Maybe they could make a deal for Hanifan & extend him. Imo they should dangle Saros to gauge interest if they like Askarov. Overall Nashville is in good shape.
But aren’t they just where they’ve always been? Seems they’ve thrown away the idea of trying to land a top 5 scorer in the draft to persue the same goals they did under Poile.