NHLTR: Nashville Shopping Mikael Granlund

Last season, the Nashville Predators made a huge splash at the trade deadline acquiring forward Mikael Granlund from the Minnesota Wild. Granlund was supposed to solidify Nashville's top-six forwards in hopes of a return to the Stanley Cup Finals. It wasn't to be as Granlund has struggled to produce anywhere near the level he did while he was a member of the Wild(10 goals 8 assists in 44 games this season) the writing is on the wall that Nashville will let Mikael Granlund walk as a UFA at seasons end and use the $5.75 million on other assets in July. Getting a pick and prospect for Granlund would take off some of the sting from last years failed trade. 

It has been speculated that the price to acquire Granlund would probably be a 3rd round pick with a prospect. There are many teams still in the race for the playoffs, Nashville included that are trying to improve their forward corps before the deadline. There are four teams with cap space that could be good fits for Granlund to maybe regain his old Minnesota form. The Calgary Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders all have cap space and have been reported to be shopping for a top-six forward.

The ask from the Predators would be similar for all four teams:

•  TB:    3rd round pick, Mathieu Joseph
•  CGY: 3rd round pick, Andrew Mangiapane
•  NYI:  3rd round pick, Michael Dal Colle
•  PIT:   3rd round pick, Alex Galchenyuk or 4th round pick, Teddy Blueger

Mikael Granlund is only three years removed from putting up 26 goals and 69 points. Granlund followed that up the next year with 21 goals and 67 points. A change of scenery could be just the ticket for Mikael Granlund to return to his scoring ways.