Report: Teams Hesitant To Trade For Predators' $49 Million Defenseman
Pagnotta said on DFO Insider that the Predators are listening and have had conversations with teams.
The Contract Problem
Skjei is 32 and signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with Nashville in July 2024, which carries a $7 million cap hit and runs through 2030-31.
Pagnotta said it leads him to believe a lot of playoff contenders might be interested but don’t have the cap space.
"Brady Skjei's name is out there" David Pagnotta reports that the Predators are listening on Brady Skjei. @JeffMarek | @TheFourthPeriod Presented by @bet365ca #bet365 https://t.co/mjo9nNd0Nt
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) October 21, 2026
Nashville GM Chris MacFarland’s asking price figures to be hefty too, which could be hard for contenders close to the cap.
So far this season, Skjei has three assists, a -7 plus/minus rating, 15 blocked shots, and 19:38 average ice time across 13 games played.
Since joining Nashville, he's put up 13 goals, 62 total points, and a -38 plus/minus rating over 177 games played.
Hague Also In Play
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Nicolas Hague’s name is also out there, and said both defensemen are names in play in Nashville that other general managers are paying attention to.
Dreger described it as more of a long-term goal for MacFarland, and Nashville has been getting younger on defense, adding Jayden Struble by trade and Daemon Hunt off waivers.
David Pagnotta: Re Predators: There are teams that, while they've had conversations involving Brady Skjei, for now are a little bit reluctant to take on that remaining contract at its entirety - DFO Insider (10/21) ____ NHLRR: Skjei, 32, has 4 years remaining at at 7 million AAV
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) October 28, 2026
Hague is 27, stands 6-foot-6, and has a $5.5 million cap hit through 2028-29, and he gets a six-team no-trade list next year, which adds a timing factor for the Predators.
