Nashville Predators Called Out For 'Confusing' Evangelista Trade

The New Jersey Devils shocked the NHL on Tuesday night, acquiring Nashville Predators forward Luke Evangelista in a deal that saw a couple of draft picks head to Nashville. While Devils' GM Sunny Mehta continues to cook this summer, many around the league are wondering what the hell the Predators are thinking.

Evangelista is coming off a career season, he's 24, and is owed just $3 million this season, while sitting as a pending restricted free agent next summer. Evangelista scored 12 goals and added a career high 44 assists, for 56 points in 81 games last season for the Preds, and will be given every shot to be a top-six regular in New Jersey.

Considering where the Predators are with their current roster, it's a shocking trade and certainly a headscratcher. Daily Faceoff's Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHLer Carter Hutton discussed the deal on a recent episode of Daily Faceoff Live, and had this to say:

Tyler Yaremchuk: This is, honestly, kind of puzzling. When you look at the Predators, they had $9.6 million in cap space, and Evangelista was already signed for next season. He’s 24 years old, and yeah, they got a couple of draft picks for him … but I just don’t know why a team in the spot that Nashville is in is quick to offload a good, young player like this.

Carter Hutton: I think that’s my question mark, too. When we look at this team and broke them down years ago when they made all these big free agency moves and it didn’t work, we thought they had to start a rebuild and get younger. And this is a younger right winger who produces points. He’s going to continue to create, and now you’ve moved him out for draft picks. I understand you’ve stockpiled some picks, and Nashville now has seven in the first two rounds over the next two drafts. That’s great, but having a nice 24-year-old who can grow into his own, and his contract is money-controlled, and he’s in a good situation … it’s an odd one for me.

We agree with the DFO boys, as this trade makes no sense for the Preds, and if they get off to a tough start this season, expect to see Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, and Ryan O'Reilly hit the trade market, and don't be shocked to hear Juuse Saros and Roman Josi's names involved too.