Report: 3 Big Names Are Potential Trade Candidates For Nashville Predators

It was a tough collapse Wednesday night in Toronto for the Nashville Predators. After skating out to a 3-0 lead, the Preds lost their footing, and the Maple Leafs soared back for a 5-4 overtime victory.

Nashville has just seven goals total in their three games (and four of them came in last night's loss). Should the team start to question their direction as the season moves along, it's quite possible that new president of hockey operations and general manager Chris MacFarland could pull some big moves. He wasn't shy about changing things up during his first offseason on the job, and he likely wouldn't hesitate to consider more trades—even with some of his more notable charges. 

Insider Pierre LeBrun, speaking on RDS, named three players he could see on the move, or at least an attempt to do so by MacFarland. 

Chris MacFarland was honest with (his players) during their meetings before the season. (His) message was very simple. If the team doesn't get off to a good start this season, he certainly has no choice but to start looking at how he might have to make a deal. 

The reality is that Ryan O'Reilly is the only one among the top veterans whose contract expires at the end of the season. So he'll be the one drawing the most interest from other teams before (the trade deadline) March 1st.

If things aren't going well, he might have conversations with (Steven) Stamkos, who has one year left on his contract after this season, and with the captain (Roman) Josi, who also has one year left (after this year).

Those are some big names. Of course, O'Reilly was a much-wanted man on the trade market last season as well, but even without any trade protection in his contract, the old Predators regime treated him as if he had a "verbal" no-trade clause. That's not the case anymore under MacFarland.

O'Reilly, Stamkos & Josi could be asked to move on if Predators struggle

Stamkos, who does have a real, honest-to-goodness no-move clause in his contract, also doesn't seem to be interested in leaving Nashville. He and his family are quite happy there. The 19-year veteran had an under-the-radar 42-goal season last year (if that's even possible for a player of his stature), and already has three goals in three games this season. 

Josi, the captain, has been with the team for his entire 16-year career. He, too, is off to a fine start, with three points in three games while logging 25:21 of ice time per game. He also holds a no-move clause, and it doesn't feel like he'd be keen on moving. 

In the end, LeBrun notes that MacFarland isn't interested in the Predators just treading water trying to make the playoffs. "His vision is a team that is possibly among the top 6 teams in the league that tries to win the Cup every year, like the team he built in Colorado."

And if that means trying to move on from some future Hall of Famers, so be it.