NHL Rumors: Canadiens & Predators Emerging as Trade Partners

According to David Pagnotta of Fourth Period, the Nashville Predators are one team to watch when it comes to Montreal Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin. The Preds have a ton of cap space and a very good hockey team and are expected to make a run at some players before the March 21 trade deadline.

Drouin is still only 26 years old and he's enjoying himself a fine season in Montreal, collecting 20 points in 32 games. The Canadiens knew this season was going to be a struggle but they certainly didn't think it was going to be this bad. Now the team is taking trade calls on a number of players and Drouin and his $5.5 million contract this season and next is becoming appealing to other teams who are looking for help on the wing in their top-six. He does hold no-trade protection against 3 teams, however Nashville is one of those teams that normally doesn't get blocked.

Nashville will be involved in a lot of trade discussions as general manager David Poile has $22 million in cap space to work and a team that's exceeding expectations near the top of the western conference. With Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen both have bounce back seasons, look for the Preds to try and get them some help on left-wing and that's certainly where they see Drouin fitting in. Poile is loaded with an assortment of draft picks and prospects that are certainly in play this season.

The Predators lost Pekka Rinne, traded Ryan Ellis and lost Calle Jarnkrok to the Seattle Kraken, meanwhile are 27-14-4. Adding a talent like Drouin will make them even tougher to beat in a seven-game series.

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