The Nashville Predators have an embarrassment of riches and made the most noise in free agency to greatly improve. Under Barry Trotz, this team has gone from a group expected to miss the playoffs to a playoff team to a team destined to make a deeper run and challenge for the Stanley Cup in 2024-25.
The Predators added major talent like former Cup winners Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault while bolstering their defense with Brady Skjei, not to mention extending Juuse Saros, Alexandre Carrier, and doing more. Nashville did all this without using any assets.
All it took to make the biggest splash in free agency was good managing, respectful treatment that a couple of their new players didn't get with their former teams, and cap space that the Predators had an abundance of.
Related: The Nashville Predators Revenge Tour Featuring Stamkos & Marchessault Starts in 2024-25
Predators Rolling in Draft Picks for 2025
Trotz has also done a great job acquiring draft picks while keeping the team competitive. Not many teams can do that, but the Predators have seven picks in the first three rounds in 2025. This includes two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and three third-round picks.
While the Predators hold their own picks in the first, second, and third rounds, the Tampa Bay Lightning's first-round pick and second-round pick belong to Nashville as well as the third-round picks of the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild.
How did the Predators acquire all of these picks while continuing to improve over the course of last season and making major upgrades this offseason so far? The first-round pick came back as part of the package the Lightning paid to acquire Tanner Jeannot. What a steal that was for Nashville.
Related: Nashville Predators Trade Tanner Jeannot to Tampa Bay Lightning
The other pick from the Lightning was acquired this offseason when Tampa Bay brought back Ryan McDonagh. The third-round pick from the Avalanche was part of the return for sending Yakov Trenin over at the trade deadline, while the pick from the Wild came on Day 2 of the draft. Minnesota wanted someone at 59th overall this year, so the Predators moved back to 77th and took a third-round pick to do so.
Assets for Askarov
Between getting so much better on paper and having a number of high picks in next year's draft, there's one more big piece that the Predators could still do to get even more. That's move Yaroslav Askarov.
As soon as Saros reportedly signed with the Predators for eight years prior to July 1, there was a ton of interest in Askarov flooding Nashville. This is understandable seeing as he is one of the top goalie prospects and he won't be given the chance to start for the Predators anytime soon.
Related: Predators Reportedly Getting Major Interest in Askarov, Set Price High
For a prospect at the level of Askarov and so many teams showing interest, the price isn't going to be cheap. He was a first-round pick in the top half of the first round and has developed well. The only reason why the Predators would trade him within the next year to year and a half is because of how he may be feeling about the decision and to be able to maximize the return.
Until the Predators get going, there aren't many noticeable weaknesses in the lineup that Askarov can immediately mend. Given that the 6'3 goalie is also exempt from waivers for two more seasons and could use a little bit more conditioning in the AHL, there is no rush to move him until some things clear up.
The Predators should give him a few more games in the NHL this coming season and we could even see him as the full time backup the season after. If Nashville moves him, the return will be very good, but if they keep him, they have a hold on the future in net.
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