Predators & Golden Knights linked to Marchessault trade

The Nashville Predators have been the most active team on the NHL's trade market this season, and general manager Chris MacFarland is far from finished. While the Preds are currently rolling at the moment, fully expect to see more trades coming out of Smashville this season. Recently, Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco linked the Predators to the Vegas Golden Knights, specifically, a trade around veteran forward, and former Golden Knight, Jonathan Marchessault.

If the Predators were to make Marchessault a $3M per year player, for example, perhaps a playoff team up against the cap would bite on him. Speculatively speaking, the Vegas Golden Knights could make sense. As always, Vegas is right up against the salary cap this season, so it would take some cap gymnastics from GM Kelly McCrimmon to make any kind of an acquisition. But given the player’s past history with Vegas – he was the Conn Smythe winner when the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023 – a reunion could make sense for both sides if the money works.

Marchessault, 35, is signed for two more seasons at $5.5 million AAV. He owns a full no-movement clause, which doesn't change to a 15-team no-trade clause until July 2028. So far this season, the Preds winger has posted two goals, and three assists for five points in 14 games.

The Golden Knights are pressed against the salary cap, so they certainly need to get creative to add anyone to their roster this season. As for the Predators, Marchessault will likely be moved, and the same can be said for veteran pending free-agent center Ryan O'Reilly, who has been linked to the Montreal Canadiens, and Boston Bruins.