The Nashville Predators find themselves in a familiar, frustrating middle ground-hovering in fifth place in the Central Division and staring down a playoff picture that’s still technically within reach, but not looking particularly promising. For a team that retooled aggressively in the 2024 offseason, the current state of affairs feels like a step backward rather than forward.
General manager Barry Trotz, in what is expected to be his final season at the helm, made a splash last summer. He brought in proven veterans like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and defenseman Brady Skjei, while also locking down cornerstone goaltender Juuse Saros with a long-term extension.
On paper, it looked like a group built to contend. In reality, the Preds stumbled out of the gate with an 0-5 start and never fully recovered.
The inconsistency that’s plagued them since has left the front office with some tough decisions to make as the trade deadline looms.
One name that continues to come up in trade chatter is Marchessault. The 2023 Conn Smythe winner is now in the second year of a five-year deal carrying a $5.5 million cap hit. He was brought in to add championship pedigree and scoring punch, but with just nine goals and five assists through 36 games this season, the production hasn’t matched the expectations.
Now, the Predators could be weighing whether it’s time to pivot-shed some veteran contracts, get younger, and start building toward a longer-term future. If that’s the route they take, Marchessault becomes a prime candidate to be moved.
Among the teams reportedly interested? The Montreal Canadiens.
The fit makes sense for a lot of reasons. Marchessault, a Quebec native, would be a fan favorite in his home province.
More importantly, he’d bring exactly the kind of experience and offensive upside that could help a young, fast-improving Habs squad that made its first playoff appearance since 2021 last season.
The Canadiens are one of the youngest teams in the NHL, and adding a player who’s been through the grind of a Cup run-and come out the other side with hardware-could be a huge boost in the locker room. The challenge, of course, is the money.
Marchessault has a no-move clause, so any deal would need his blessing, and Montreal would likely have to move salary to make it work. Patrik Laine’s $8.7 million cap hit stands out as a possible piece in that equation.
There’s also the potential for a reunion in Vegas. Marchessault was a foundational piece of the Golden Knights’ rise, and parting ways with him after the 2023-24 season was a tough call for GM Kelly McCrimmon.
But Vegas has never been shy about bringing back familiar faces-just ask Reilly Smith, who returned to the fold after stops in Pittsburgh and New York. If the Predators are willing to retain some salary, a return to the desert isn’t out of the question.
And for Marchessault, the chance to chase another Cup with a team that’s firmly in win-now mode could be enticing.
Then there’s San Jose, one of the league’s more surprising stories this season. The Sharks are still young and building, but they’ve taken real steps forward behind rising stars like Macklin Celebrini, William Eklund, and Will Smith.
With ample cap space and a need for veteran leadership, Marchessault could be a perfect fit. He’d bring a steady hand to a youthful group and provide a scoring threat that could elevate their top six.
For a team on the cusp of emerging from a rebuild, adding a player like Marchessault isn’t just about the goals-though those would certainly help. It’s about culture, experience, and helping a talented young roster learn how to win.
The Predators are at a crossroads. The moves they made in 2024 were meant to push them into contender status.
Instead, they’ve landed in limbo. Whether it’s Marchessault, Stamkos, or others, Nashville has some big calls to make.
And with Trotz’s tenure winding down, the next few weeks could shape not only the rest of this season-but the direction of the franchise for years to come.