Nashville Predators are now looking to move pending UFAs

Predators will move other players, not their big fish

The Fourth Period’s Dave Pagnotta joined Sirius XM NHL Network Radio with Steve Kouleas and Jason Strudwick on Thursday. He was asked about the Nashville Predators and whether players like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O’Reilly are still available. Do they have others available for trade?

NHLRumors.com Transcripts

NHL Rumors: What is the Nashville Predators’ actual game plan?

Steve Kouleas: “With Dave Pagnotta, a few more. Sirius

Dave Pagnotta: “Yes, I think that has shifted at least to some degree regarding the Nashville Predators. They are still three points out of a playoff spot. They are now just over .500, 23 wins, 22 losses and a couple of ties. I still think this is a team that wants to make moves that will benefit this club more next season.”

And regarding Stammer and Marchessault. So I mean, they have full no-movement clauses. I think there was a lot more interest previously in exploring a move for a top prospect if the Preds could find a deal and if the money made sense. They didn’t want to keep these deals. That was a bit of a block or a blocking point for some other clubs wanting retention.

Barry Trotz has been pretty adamant from the beginning that he has been very reluctant and doesn’t want to keep these deals. Stamkos with two years left for $8 million. Marchessault is a lot tastier at five and a half, but he still has three years. And Ryan O’Reilly has that unofficial no-trade, even if he doesn’t, they’ll kill him right if he gets moved

NHL Rumors: Interest in Steven Stamkos is high, but will he move?

But they also have other pieces. Even if they don’t make those moves, they have other pieces like Erik Haula, Michael Bunting and Michael McCarron, if you want to get physical again, kind of along the (Ryan) Lomberg line in Calgary. They still have a few with expiring deals. So even if they don’t make the bigger moves right now, they still have pieces they can move that are beneficial to some teams who view them as assets they can bring in to get on the road a little bit.

So I don’t think they’ve turned the page on the season, but they’re in the exploratory phase right now and I still think they’ll answer those calls for the big fish. But right now, it seems like given the market right now, the focus might be more on some of their ongoing UFAs for now.”