Nashville Predators fans, brace yourselves! The dream of a Stanley Cup contender might be fading faster than you think. After a disappointing start to the 2024-25 season, whispers are growing louder: Could a major roster shakeup be on the horizon? The Preds, who many hoped would be a force in the Central Division, are currently struggling, sitting at sixth place with a 5-6-3 record as of Tuesday. Their recent overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks only adds fuel to the fire.
Just two summers ago, General Manager Barry Trotz, fresh off a successful coaching stint, aimed to revitalize the team by bringing in high-profile players like Steven Stamkos. The expectation was clear: build a team capable of competing for a championship. But here's where it gets controversial... the plan simply hasn't worked. The high-priced talent isn't translating to wins, and the team finds itself at a critical crossroads.
On Tuesday's episode of Daily Faceoff Live, hockey minds Jeff Marek, Tyler Yaremchuk, and Carter Hutton dissected the Predators' predicament. The central question: what moves could the team make if this downward trend continues?
Yaremchuk kicked off the discussion by highlighting the team's core players with no-movement clauses: Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, and Juuse Saros. "Those are kind of the only three guys who I think would get you, like, a true haul, right?" he stated, acknowledging their immense value on the trade market. But then comes the tricky part: Steven Stamkos. Trading him would require retaining salary, a move that could be tough for any GM to justify, especially to a new owner. "Can a GM go to a new owner and be like, ‘hey, you know that guy we just spent a bunch of money on, can we trade him for a pick?’" Yaremchuk questioned. It's a valid point; admitting a recent signing was a mistake is never easy.
Marek jumped in with a compelling perspective on Barry Trotz's situation. He argued that firing the coach after investing heavily in the team is akin to "paying someone not to work." He emphasized Trotz's legacy as the organization's most successful coach, stating, "You broke it, you buy it, it becomes yours." This puts immense pressure on Trotz to find a solution and turn the season around. And this is the part most people miss... it highlights the inherent risk of transitioning from a coaching role to a GM position. The skills required are vastly different, and the pressure is amplified.
If the Predators ultimately decide to embark on a full-scale rebuild, the prospect pipeline isn't overflowing with immediate game-changers. While prospects like Brady Martin, Tanner Molendyk, and Teddy Stiga offer promise, they're not the type of players who can single-handedly turn a franchise around overnight. "This isn’t the San Jose Sharks or the Chicago Blackhawks," Marek noted, implying that the Predators' rebuild wouldn't necessarily be as drastic or lengthy as those teams'.
The crucial question then becomes: How quickly can Nashville realistically rebuild? Marek pinpointed Filip Forsberg as the key player to watch. He argued that it's unfair to ask a player of Forsberg's caliber to endure another rebuild. "You can ask a player to go through a rebuild once. But, given how short careers are, it’s not fair to ask a player to go through a rebuild twice," Marek explained. He suggested that Trotz should have an honest conversation with Forsberg, outlining the team's potential direction and gauging his willingness to endure the pain of a rebuild. "Do you have the stomach for this? Because it is going to be years of pain before we get back, and who knows where you’re going to be at the end of all of it." It's a difficult conversation, but a necessary one.
Ultimately, the fate of the Nashville Predators hangs in the balance. What direction should the Predators take? Should they attempt to salvage the season, or should they embrace a rebuild? And, perhaps more controversially, is it fair to ask star players like Filip Forsberg to stick around during a prolonged rebuild? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Do you agree with Marek's assessment of Forsberg's situation? Or do you believe the Predators should prioritize building for the future, regardless of the impact on veteran players?
