Ryan O’Reilly’s future in Nashville is suddenly one of the names to keep on the radar as the trade market takes shape.
Elliotte Friedman said the veteran center came up repeatedly when he checked in with executives about storylines to watch, noting that O’Reilly could be a player worth monitoring if the Predators’ season goes sideways. He pointed to a situation where the team’s timeline may no longer line up with the window of a player who has already logged more than 1,200 games.
“I was talking with a couple of executives about storylines and what to watch. I asked if there was anything that I’m missing or wasn’t discussing enough. They both answered, “Ryan O’Reilly.”
The key issue, according to Friedman, is that teams have been trying to pry O’Reilly out of Nashville for more than two years, but the Predators kept him in place. He did not have written trade protection, but the club made a verbal promise not to move him. That could become more complicated now that he is in the final year of his contract.
“Over the past two years, team after team tried to pry him out of Nashville and were rebuffed. He didn’t have written trade protection, but there was a verbal promise that the Predators honoured.
Now, he’s entering the final year of his contract. If Nashville indicates it won’t extend, what will he choose to do?
That’s a question interested parties will want to know. The interest - and respect - for O’Reilly remains high.”
Friedman’s read is that Nashville will likely stand by its previous promise, but the bigger question is whether O’Reilly would want to stay if the message is that no extension is coming. At that point, a move could make sense for a player who might prefer a shot at another Stanley Cup, especially if he’s likely to be changing teams next season anyway.
This doesn’t sound like a deal that’s close right now. Still, if the Predators stumble out of the gate in 2026-27, O’Reilly’s name could move much closer to the center of the trade conversation.
In Other News...
Stars Lose A Goalie Depth Piece Right Before Opening Night
The waiver wire kept moving just before opening night, and one of the more notable names to change hands came from a division rival's back end. The St. Louis Blues claimed defenseman Justin Barron off waivers from the Nashville Predators, another reminder of how much roster churn can hit at the end of camp as teams make final decisions on NHL-ready depth.
Nashville also had its own paperwork to sort through, placing defensemen Ilya Lyubushkin and Nick Perbix on waivers ahead of the regular season. For a club still shaping its blue line, those moves fit the familiar late-September squeeze, when contracts, performance and roster math all collide and leave a few familiar names hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]