The Canadiens are still weighing how bold to get, the Predators are keeping tabs on the blue line market, and Drew Doughty says his next deal could be built to keep him in Los Angeles.
Frank Seravalli of Sportsnet reported that Montreal has stayed active in the trade market all season and into the offseason, but the team still hasn’t locked in how hard it wants to push. Part of that patience comes from possible internal answers already in the pipeline.
The Canadiens may want to wait on defenseman Luke Mittelstadt, Adam Engstrom, and forwards Alexander Zharovsky and Michael Hage. Mittelstadt is in the AHL, Engstrom is with the Habs, Zharovsky is in the KHL, and Hage is at Michigan in the NCAA.
Hage, though, won’t be available until the end of the season.
Nashville has also been busy, having acquired Jayden Struble from Montreal two weeks ago, but that hasn’t stopped the Predators from continuing to monitor the defense market. Teams are also watching forward Ryan O’Reilly as a possible target later in the season.
Another name drawing attention is Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin. Some teams around the league view him as a $6 million defenseman rather than a $9 million one.
Pierre LeBrun reported that with Nikishin re-signed for one year at $3 million, the Hurricanes and Nikishin could revisit a trade this offseason if he still wants out. Nikishin will also be eligible for an offer sheet next season, which he wasn’t eligible for this year.
Puck Pedia noted that he will be offer sheet and arbitration eligible next offseason.
On the other side of the country, Doughty made it clear he wants to keep playing in Los Angeles. Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reported that the Kings defenseman wants to re-sign with the team, and he believes general manager Ken Holland wants the same thing.
“He knows what I want. I believe he wants me to stay,” Doughty said.
“We just haven’t talked about it yet. I feel like I’m performing better than I have in my past two seasons.
So, I think that I’ll take a team-friendly deal and stay in L.A. That’s my plan.”
Doughty said he isn’t sure how an extension would be structured, but he intends to do what he can to give the Kings flexibility.
In Other News...
Predators Fans Should Watch How Aggressive Nashville Gets Next
With the trade market already beginning to stir, the Predators are a team worth keeping an eye on in the early going. Nashville has stayed active under general manager Chris McFarland, and theres a sense around the league that the next wave of activity could arrive quickly as clubs start sorting out needs and opportunities.
That matters for a Predators team still looking to keep building in the right direction, especially with other clubs also shopping for scoring help and trying to manage injury uncertainty of their own. The Kraken are in the hunt for a top-line winger, and Nashvilles willingness to keep moving pieces around since June suggests McFarland may not be done shaping the roster just yet. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Surge Puts Craig Conroys Next Roster Calls Under Pressure
The market around the Predators is getting a little more interesting as Nashville keeps looking for ways to add youth and skill to its blue line and overall roster mix. Around the league, teams are already weighing tight cap situations and looming roster decisions, and that has helped keep the conversation active on defensemen who could be available if the right trade materializes.
For Nashville, the timing matters because the chatter at the position keeps expanding beyond the usual names. Craig Conroy and other decision-makers are navigating a league where clubs are trying to balance present needs with future flexibility, and the Predators are right in that mix as they monitor what might become available. The recent surge in Calgary only adds another layer, since the Flames improved play could force tougher calls on players and shift the market again before long. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Suddenly Face A Battle Of Alberta Lineup Question
The Predators have been dealing with a familiar late-season injury shuffle, and William Trudeau is back on the ice after resuming skating. There is still no firm timetable for his return, but his presence at practice at least signals a step forward for a blue line that has had to absorb plenty of moving pieces already.
For Nashville, the bigger picture is how crowded that defensive picture has become. The club has recently added more left-shot options in Jayden Struble and Daemon Hunt, which only makes Trudeaus route back into the lineup trickier to read as the schedule tightens and roster decisions start carrying more weight. [Read more 🡒]