Nashville Predators Now 'Serious Contender' for Jonathan Marchessault

The Nashville Predators are being anything but quiet and expected to make some big moves as free agency is about to open. While former Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault should have been on Nashville's radar for a while, Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Predators have emerged as a serious contender.

The Predators have over $25 million to spend for this season and bringing in 2023 Conn Smythe winner Marchessault would be a major upgrade on the wing in the top-6.

Related: Predators Will Be Watching Marchessault & Stephenson's Contract Talks

Nashville needs players who can be counted on to score and Marchessault set a career high in goals in 2023-24 with 42. He also added 27 assists for 69 points, but his career high is 75 points in a season set in 2017-18. The 33-year-old is expected to sign for five year at $5.5 million AAV, per Pierre Lebrun .

Marchessault would be put on the top power-play unit immediately as he logged almost 300 minutes on the man advantage last season. He also set a career-high in hits with 107, making him even more effective on the forecheck and away from the puck.

The Predators aren't playing around and while the team is on the rise and has a lot of young talent, experience and proven production is the goal in free agency. The New Jersey Devils should still be very much in the running, so Nashville has some competition still. It may lead to more money and term, but that is to be seen shortly.

Related: 'Nashville Predators Most Likely' Team to Sign Chandler Stephenson