Nashville Predators' First Offseason Trade Could Come at the Draft

The Nashville Predators are in a very unique position. They have some great pieces, are competitive enough to make the playoffs, and have a ton of cap space to utilize this summer. This should lead to some big moves as it makes more sense for the team to attempt to get even better rather than stay level or get worse.

The Predators have a good window to win right now if they make the right moves, but the right moves will likely involve moving one or more young players/prospects.

Necas Could Be the Predators Trade Target at the Draft

There is a lot of talk about which UFAs the Predators are going to go after in free agency, but there's a trade market Nashville can thrive in as well. The Predators need game changers and one stands out to me from the Carolina Hurricanes. This is Martin Necas.

Related: Predators Must Jump at Opportunity to Acquire Necas as it 'Probably Won't Work Out' in Carolina

The Hurricanes have a lot of work to be done and it appears as though Necas is on the trade block as he's due for a new contract and a big raise. He can play center or the wing, something the Predators really need for their top-6. Necas can also perform in the playoffs as he showed with four goals and nine points in 11 games this postseason.

Necas is just an example of a great trade piece the Predators would be able to swing rather than competing with the competitive free agent market and overpaying for someone. Money isn't an issue right now, but a team never knows when some extra cap space will come in handy at the deadline or down the line.

What Pieces to Use in a Trade

The Predators have multiple prospects ready to take the next step and have to or Nashville will likely lose them on waivers. Between Philip Tomasino, Juuso Parssinen, and Egor Afanasyev, one will likely have to be moved this summer in a trade. All three were drafted in 2019 and are all eligible for waivers this season. Only in the event that the Predators were a rebuilding team would all three have spots in the NHL this season. Since Nashville is much better than that, it is far too risky to promote all three to full time roles in the NHL all at once and with the cap space the team has to add more experienced and impactful players.

Related: Predators Have to Move or Lose One of Tomasino, Parssinen, or Afanasyev

This isn't to say that Tomasino, Parssinen, and Afanasyev won't be good and impactful players down the line, but they can't be asked to have that impact right now and the Predators will likely suffer if that's the outcome of this offseason. There just isn't the space for all three with the signings already made earlier in 2024 and who is still going to be brought in, so at least one is going to have to be dealt in a trade this summer.

The first and best place for a trade by the Predators to take place is at the draft. Draft picks are usually in play at the draft to move up to select certain players. The Predators are stocked at the 2024 draft with eight picks in the first four rounds. Using one of the prospects that should be in play this summer and a draft pick or two should get the Predators the right player they need to be immediately better next season.

Once free agency opens, a lot of teams fill their needs and don't wait for trades. This is why taking care of business beforehand is the best case scenario for Nashville as the team will then know exactly what players have to be signed and what holes must be filled in free agency.

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