The NHL Trade Deadline Can Handle Three Nashville Predators

Nashville Predators couldn’t make up for their early downturn.

We started seeing the real separation in the Western Conference standings, and the Nashville Predators were one of the clubs whose playoff wishes were actually over.

The Predators lost five games and now they are now 16 points on the last universal card in the West. GM Barry Trotz said he would have looked into the reconstruction process if his team didn't improve, which would have been more opportunities to switch to some veterans while staying at the core. They did not improve.

With that in mind, here are three predators that can be traded on the NHL March 7 trading deadline:

1. Ryan O'Reilly, C

This is O'Reilly's second year in Nashville, with the 33-year-old having 14 goals and 30 points in 49 games. His salary cap is $4.5 million this year and the next two seasons.

O'Reilly has no trade or inorganic protection, so Trotz can send him anywhere. But the organization's respect for him made him a difference.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on January 11 that O'Reilly was treated well as if he had a non-conduct clause. By then, there was no sign that he was seeking to move. A deal has to make a lot of sense for the team and is enough for O'Reilly to accept.

O'Reilly is the veteran that many teams want, the mid-six center type, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, who played 24 games in 2022. Probably another option.

O'Reilly's Cup Champions experience and tenacious game made him very attractive to the team, so if he did get shot it would be a post-season for the next three seasons The team of the game lock.

Related: Buy, Sell or Stand: What 10 NHL Teams Should Do Before Trade Deadline

2. GustavNyquist, LW

The 35-year-old Nyquist has a season-difference, with nine goals and 20 points in 51 games. But last season, he posted 23 goals and 75 points, so there will be teams who think he can produce more teams than the Preds.

Nyquist also has a lot of playoff experience, with his 77 playoff games. He didn't always become a huge producer of the playoffs offense with 30 points, but he scored four in six games last season, and in the Minnesota wild, he got six games of the season 5 points.

Nyquist has a cap of $3.18 million, making him an affordable acquisition, and he is also pure rent as he is the UFA this summer. He won't cost a lot of money to get him down, but Troz should be able to get a good draft pick or prospect to help build the future.

Related: NHL Acid Rankings: Chicago, San Jose and Nashville hold top lottery odds

3. ColtonSissons, RW

The 31-year-old Sissions has a hat hit rate of about $2.85 million and has another year contract, so he's more than just rent. But despite only five goals and 13 points this season, his PREDS scored 15 goals and 35 points last season. Like O'Reilly, Sissons is a faceoff expert with a winning rate of 55.6%. Sissons also have fine killings.

Teams seeking help in the fourth line and free throw kills have 71 playoff experience than the Sissons’ playoffs. An intermediate draft pick or prospect could be the asking price for Sissons, which would expand the number of teams interested in him. New, new beginnings may boost Sissons, and now better teams than Nashville will join.

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