Next 3 Predators On Trade Block After Smith & McCarron Dealt

As of Wednesday morning, the Nashville Predators have been the most active team this week as we steam toward Friday's trade deadline. They shipped out two pending unrestricted free agents on Tuesday, sending Cole Smith to the Vegas Golden Knights, and Michael McCarron to the Minnesota Wild.

Will they remain this active as the week progresses? While most hockey fans are salivating about the big names like Steven Stamkos, Ryan O'Reilly and/or Jonathan Marchessault potentially being next on the block, all three of those are seemingly remote trade possibilities at this point.

However, there are three Predators who will clearly be available, and the next ones on the trade block this week:

Three more pending UFAs could be next up:

Michael Bunting
Erik Haula
Tyson Jost

Insider Pierre LeBrun dropped those names in his reporting on the Nashville trade deadline philosophy:

The Nashville Predators are open to moving some parts despite staying in the periphery of the playoff race, a league source said Tuesday morning.

Bunting is a decent secondary scoring option on the wing, and is coming off a three-year deal with a $4.5 million cap hit. He's close to his usual 19-goal pace.

Haula is a two-way, defensively responsible forward who can play center or the wing. He isn't afraid to get physical or get dirty in tight spots on the ice. In 78 career postseason games, he's scored 16 goals and thrown 163 hits. He'd be a nice playoff addition for any contender.

A former top-ten pick (2016 NHL Draft), the speedy Jost can fill some of the same needs as Haula for a team, adding some versatility, high-energy and center depth heading into a playoff run.

The Preds are currently five points back of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, but a three-game losing streak has them reeling, and obviously re-thinking their deadline stance.