At Least 8 Nashville Predators Listed As Trade Candidates

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos celebrates a goal

Although a roster freeze is in effect in the NHL until after the Olympics, things are going to be pretty hectic for the Nashville Predators. With general manager Barry Trotz announcing that he is retiring (though staying on help find a successor), the team will be doing its due diligence on not only the GM front, but also on the trade front.

The Preds are just four points out of a Wild Card spot going into the break, so they're treading on some unusual ground, trying to navigate how and who to sell at the March 6 deadline.

According to insider Elliotte Friedman, appearing on NHL Network, trades are in the offing.

I think they're going to listen on their big guys. I think they are listening on (Ryan) O'Reilly, I think they're listening on (Steven) Stamkos, I think they're listening on (Jonathan) Marchessault...
I also think they have role players that teams like: Michael Bunting, Erik Haula, yes. Cole Smith, yes. I've heard there's been quite a bit of interest in Michael McCarron. And defenseman Nick Perbix.

Bunting, Haula, Smith and McCarron are pending unrestricted free agents, and it certainly wouldn't be surprising to see any of them go. As Friedman notes, McCarron is out there and has interest, and with his size and physicality, he's just the kind of player teams look to add for the playoffs.

Perbix has one more year to run on a $2.75M cap hit, but the big right-shot d-man could also be in play.

Of course, everyone wants to know what they'll do with Stamkos, O'Reilly and Marchessault. All have term left on their deals, and while Stamkos & Marchessault have several years of term and full no-move clauses, O'Reilly does not. But Trotz says they'll treat the veteran like he does and only send him somewhere he approves of.

Plenty of big decisions will be made in Nashville over the next month.