As the NHL trade deadline creeps closer, the chatter around potential moves is starting to heat up-and Nashville is right in the thick of it. According to recent reports, the Predators have been engaged in discussions with the New York Islanders about a potential deal involving Michael Bunting. And that’s not the only name drawing attention.
Let’s start with Bunting. At 30 years old, he’s the kind of player playoff teams love to add-a gritty, middle-six winger who can chip in offensively and bring some edge to the lineup.
He’s on the final year of a deal that carries a $4.5 million cap hit, and with 12 goals and 29 points through 53 games, he’s proving he can still make an impact. He’s not a flashy name, but he’s the type of complementary piece that can tilt a postseason series with a timely goal or a momentum-shifting shift.
But Nashville’s trade talks don’t stop there. Nick Perbix has also surfaced as a potential target.
The 27-year-old defenseman is in the second year of a deal paying him $2.75 million annually, and while his eight points in 50 games won’t jump off the stat sheet, he brings a steady presence on the blue line. He’s the kind of under-the-radar player teams look at when trying to shore up depth for a playoff run-capable, dependable, and cost-controlled for another season.
And then there’s Michael McCarron, a name that might not dominate headlines but could be a sneaky valuable addition for a contender. At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, McCarron is built for the grind of postseason hockey.
He’s a right-shot center who plays a physical, straight-line game on the fourth line, earning $900,000 this season. With three goals and 10 points in 52 games, he’s not going to carry an offense, but that’s not what he’s asked to do.
What he does bring is size, toughness, and the kind of playoff-style game coaches trust when the ice gets smaller and every shift matters.
While the spotlight might be on Nashville’s bigger names, don’t be surprised if it’s these types of players-Bunting, Perbix, McCarron-who end up being the difference-makers for teams looking to go deep this spring. They’re not the headliners, but they’re the glue guys, and come playoff time, those are often the ones who make all the difference.