2019 Nashville Predators Offseason Checklist

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Another NHL season is in the books. The Stanley Cup has been awarded to some blue team and now the hockey world will shift its attention to the NHL Draft this weekend and then on to free agency. It’s an exciting time for fans and players alike. Trades are already beginning to happen, players are switching teams, and teams are starting to re-sign their free agents (looking at you San Jose, for signing Karlsson to an 8-year deal).

For the Predators, this seems like a critical off-season for the team’s future success. The last two postseasons have been underwhelming to say the least for Nashville. The series against the Jets two years ago showed that the Preds weren’t as lethal as they seemed to be throughout the season leading into the playoffs. This season, the struggles from the preceding postseason seemed to plague the Predators all season long. David Poile rolled the dice by keeping the team intact despite the holes that seemed to appear in the roster and came up empty handed. Yes, the team won the Central Division, but it never quite clicked for the Preds, as they were bounced from the playoffs in six games against the Dallas Stars. So let’s break down what GM David Poile needs to do in order to return the franchise back to legit Stanley Cup contenders for next season and many years beyond that.

1. EXTEND ROMAN JOSI

First and foremost, Poile needs to get Roman Josi signed to an extension. Josi has one year left on his deal and is now eligible to sign an extension per the CBA. It sounds like this is Poile’s top priority and it probably should be. Josi is a great, young defensemen that is consistent year in and year out. Poile and Josi’s reps are prepared to meet this weekend at the NHL Draft to start negotiations. I’m sure all parties involved were keeping close tabs on Karlsson’s new deal with San Jose. I don’t expect Josi to get that deal, but it does give them a framework to start working off of.

2. TRADE ONE OF ELLIS OR SUBBAN

This one is going to sting, but I think it’s a move the Predators have to make if they are serious about being contenders. Hear me out. The Predators are expected to have roughly $7.1 million in cap space. That’s before Josi’s extension. You have to think that Josi will take up a good chunk of that when his deal kicks in next summer. P.K. Subban currently has an AAV of $9 million for three more seasons. Ryan Ellis has an AAV of $6.25 million for eight more seasons. By trading either player, the Preds can create a lot of cap space that can be used to sign one or more top six winger. The quick emergence of Fabbro lessens the sting of losing either player and I think we can all agree outside of the JOFA line, the Preds could use some more offensive fire power. A trade will also likely bring in a prospect or two and let’s face it, the cupboard is a little bare in Milwaukee.

3. ADD A TOP SIX WINGER

As I just said, the Preds could use some more offense. They quickly became a one-line team with Arvidsson, Forsberg, and Johansen. The secondary scoring left a lot to be desired. The second and third lines simply didn’t get it done. Duchene would obviously be a great fit, but you’d have to assume Turris would need to be traded in order for that signing to happen. Players like Gustav Nyquist, Joe Pavelski (if he becomes available), Ryan Dzingel, or Micheal Ferland could all fill this role. One thing for sure is the Preds have to get more out of their second and third line.

4. DEFENSIVE DEPTH

I know I just said the Preds needed to trade Ellis or Subban, but they also need to address their third defensive pairing. Assuming Poile is able to trade one of the two, you’re looking at a top four of Josi, Ekholm, Fabbro, and either Ellis or Subban. The third pairing will need some help. No one wants to go into the season with some combination of Irwin, Weber, and Hamhuis. We’d all feel a lot more comfortable with an addition to the defense to help out that third pairing.

This offseason is going to be huge for the Predators. Just about every team in the Central has gotten better since the Preds made their trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Predators are no longer top dog and will need to fill some holes in their roster to return to dominance. I have a feeling David Poile will be very aggressive this offseason to fix the problems. Maybe more so through trades than free agency, but expect to see the Predators pop up in several conversations this summer.

Herbie Brooks is the Lead Nashville Predators Analyst for SoBros Network. He knows three things: beating Commies, winning Gold Medals, and having great hair. Follow him on Twitter: @SoBroHerbie_B

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