The Nashville Predators keep giving the league something to watch, and the early read on this season has only fueled that attention.
On Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas dug into where things stand with Nashville, a team that has already been part of plenty of roster chatter under Chris MacFarland. Bukauskas pointed to the way conversations around the Predators seem to start early every year, especially when other clubs are eyeing names such as Ryan O’Reilly.
Friedman said MacFarland has been relentlessly active, joking, “What has he made 50, like 11 trades already?” Bukauskas came right back with, “Yeah, and …” to which Friedman replied, “Trader Chris.”
The bigger question, though, is what Nashville’s start means for the direction of the roster. Friedman noted that MacFarland had said, “Let’s see how the start goes,” and described the team’s opening stretch as “okay up and down, .500, which is probably what you expect.”
He also tied the conversation to Nashville’s recent moves on defense, mentioning the Jayden Struble trade and the Daemon Hunt waiver claim. Friedman said he has previously believed MacFarland wants to reshape his blue line, and those transactions have only reinforced that view.
With those additions, he said, the Predators suddenly have a lot of defensemen, and there are also rumors about Brady Skjei. Friedman added that they might be “looking at some other things there.”
O’Reilly remains a name to watch too. Friedman said the longer Ryan O’Rielly goes without an extension, the more the situation becomes part of his weekly Nashville check-in, with the team’s season likely to shape what happens next.
The context around all of that included a pair of games Friedman highlighted. Nashville lost in overtime to Pittsburgh on Saturday night after holding a 2-1 lead, with Rakell tying it late in the third period. Friedman said Andrew Burnett’s postgame quotes made him think, “uh oh.”
Then came Sunday’s response, when Nashville picked up a big win over Colorado. Friedman said the Avalanche, along with Vegas, have had some “really weird losses” early on, even while he still views both as strong teams.
That’s where the Predators sit right now: active, unsettled, and worth watching every week.
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 🡒]