Nashville Predators' Games In Sweden Could Determine Imminent Future Of Team

The Nashville Predators are hanging on by a thread and it could snap at any moment. After the disastrous 2024-25 season that has carried over into this season, the Predators are on the verge of becoming sellers and going into a rebuild after a failed attempt at competing. The team is third-last in the NHL with a record of 6-9-4, despite winning the first game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Sweden.

There have been plenty of players mentioned as trade candidates, including Ryan O'Reilly, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Juuse Saros, and Michael Bunting. Elliotte Friedman said, "One of the teams I'm really watching is Nashville. These two games that are in Sweden, they suddenly feel very, very heavy. Decisions could be made depending on the way they play there, that's how it feels."

The Predators have had a good mix of young players come in over the past year and contribute, and even beyond that, Brady Martin will be in the mix next season again. He impressed enough to warrant a trial run in the NHL before being sent back to junior earlier in the season.

The Predators either aren't going to sell off all of their veterans or will bring new ones in one way or another. While a first win in Sweden likely won't send Barry Trotz into a fire sale immediately, this is a team that is going to look different later this season unless they go on another incredible run like the one two seasons ago to give the team false hope.

The identity changed when the offseason moves were made in 2024 and the same life, chemistry, and intensity were different as well. The Predators have a lot of value in the players that they can sell, even if they find the right move for Stamkos eventually. It might be worse getting stuck in the middle, but organizations are still worried about having the same thing happen to them as has happened to the Buffalo Sabres. But on the other side, there's success like the ones with the New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks and all of their young talent that has come from selling, gaining assets, and finishing at the bottom of the league.