The Nashville Predators are facing a make-or-break moment that could reshape their future. Despite high hopes for the 2024-25 season, the team has stumbled to a 5-6-3 record, leaving them sixth in the Central Division. But here’s where it gets controversial: Two years after General Manager Barry Trotz signed star players like Steven Stamkos, the strategy hasn’t paid off. Now, the question looms: Who could be on the move if the Predators decide to pivot?
On a recent episode of Daily Faceoff Live, Jeff Marek, Tyler Yaremchuk, and Carter Hutton dissected the Predators’ predicament. Yaremchuk pointed out the team’s core—Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, and Juuse Saros—are the only players likely to fetch significant returns in a trade. And this is the part most people miss: Forsberg’s full no-movement clause complicates matters, while Stamkos’s contract would require retaining salary—a tough sell to new ownership. Marek added, “It’s like saying, ‘We broke it, now we own it,’ especially with Trotz’s legacy as the franchise’s most successful coach.”
If Nashville opts for a rebuild, prospects like Brady Martin, Tanner Molendyk, and Teddy Stiga offer hope, but they’re not instant game-changers. Here’s the bold question: Is it fair to ask Forsberg, a veteran who’s already been through one rebuild, to endure another? With careers so short, asking him to commit to years of uncertainty feels like a gamble. This is where opinions will clash: Should the Predators trade their stars now, or risk losing them for nothing later? And what does this mean for Trotz’s future?
The conversation around Forsberg and other veterans with no-move clauses is just the tip of the iceberg. What do you think? Should Nashville blow it up and start over, or is there still a way to salvage this season? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over.
