Predators Looking at Offseason Changes, What Moves Are Coming?

Paul Skrbina of The Tennesseean took a look at what the Nashville Predators might do in this shortened offseason, and after a disappointing loss to the Arizona Coyotes in the Western Conference play-ins.

The Predators don’t have a lot of cap room to make big changes. Last season, the big deal was moving out P.K. Subban so they could sign Matt Duchene. The jury is still out on how wise a decision that was. That said, the expectation is that changes will be needed, even if the team likes their core and thinks they can do better than what they showed to end this season.

Skrbina writes:

How different the team might look in a few months remains to be seen.

One option is to buy out Kyle Turris’ contract, which would cost the team $2 million against the cap through 2027-28. Another is to let unrestricted free agents Craig Smith and/or Mikael Granlund go and give prospects such as Eeli Tolvanen and Philip Tomasino a chance.

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Skirbina also notes that Granlund largely underperformed since he was acquired at the trade deadline last season for Kevin Fiala. Fiala has gone on to be a glowing bright spot for the Wild, while Granlund finished the season with 30 points in 63 games.

Turris struggled mightily under Peter Laviolette, often getting bench and there were questions throughout his tenure under the former coach if he would be moved. He showed improvement under Hynes but only ended up with 31 points in 62 games.

Between Granlund and Turris, the two players are eating up $11.75 million worth of the team’s cap.

What About Matt Duchene?

There will be plenty of questions about Matt Duchene, who mightily struggled through the first three games of the play-in rounds and hasn’t come close to living up to his contract.

The start to Matt Duchene’s Predators career could not have gone better. Since then, he has reverted to the player he has been throughout most of his career.https://t.co/W2c5oCo4uy

— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) August 6, 2020

It was rumored heading into Game 4 that the team was considering scratching him. He did play and was a factor, but his production has been far too inconsistent for the six more seasons at $8 million per season the team is tied into him for.

Rumors about the team wanting to move him aren’t out there yet. They may never be. But, if the Predators are at all concerned about having invested so much money into a forward that scored only 42 points and was quiet during the Predators chance to move on in the playoffs, they have until 2023-24 to make a decision. After that, moving him gets a lot trickier because of his modified no-trade clause.

Having said all that, moving Duchene will be much easier in theory than in practice.

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