Round-up for:
This is the roster we are left with, with Sceviour waived. Luca Sbisa and Mark Borowiecki also on IR, so when healthy we have to waive either both of them or one and one or two forwards to place in the taxi squad. Which we are comfortable with.
Nashville Predators roster:
Acquisitions:
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson - (ARI)
- Jason Demers (50% retained - $1,968,750, the rest already retained by FLA) - (ARI)
- Derick Brassard - (ARI)
- Brayden Burke (prospect) - (ARI)
- 1st round pick 2022 - (MTL)
- 2nd round pick 2021 - (MTL - originally belonged to TBL)
- Jesse Ylonen (prospect) - (MTL)
- Victor Mete - (MTL)
- Taylor Raddysh (prospect) - (TBL)
- 3rd round pick 2022 - (TBL)
- 2nd round pick 2022 - (PIT)
- 2nd round pick 2023 (PIT)
- 4th round pick 2022 (PIT)
Offloaded:
- 1st 2021 Predators - (ARI)
- 3rd 2021 Predators - (ARI)
- Rocco Grimaldi - (ARI)
- Egor Afanasyev (prospect) - (ARI)
- Luke Prokop (prospect) - (ARI)
- Mattias Ekholm - (MTL)
- Matthew Benning (33% salary retained - $330,000) - (TBL)
- Mikael Granlund (46,67% salary retained - $1.750M) - (PIT)
Overall:
The interactions we have had with other GM's have been good. Good discussions, some agreements, some disagreements, but both informal and professional. Good stuff!
Our project was a bit difficult to determine, as we are in a playoffs spot, but at the same time only with some points. So initially we set out to re-structure the team a bit, get a different environment, and would like to get some more skill in there forward side long-term. At the same time we are in a playoffs and acquiring some pieces both long-term and short-term could improve our roster.
Now we shipped out Granlund, Ekholm, Grimaldi and Benning from the roster. Granlund a top 6/top 9 forward, Ekholm top 4 defenseman and Benning an bottom 4 defenseman, both on the defensive defensiveman side of things. We shipped out two good prospects in Egor Afanasyev (Winger) & Luke Prokop (Defenseman. And we shipped out a 1st and 3rd round pick this year.
Especially when it came to Granlund, I don't think we would have re-signed him, and if we have the option to do so now in the off-season, it made sense to move him and acquire assets.
Let's face it, we are not going to outscore opponents in this playoffs IF we get there in the end (form table is good with winning 10 or 11 out of the last 12 or 13 matches). So, with that in mind and for the future, we acquired Oliver Ekman-Larsson. He is a top-pair defenseman, and I think he would fit better into our system and a good longevity on a high level as his playing style makes him avoid major injuries and staying healthy.
We acquired Jason Demers for these playoffs if we hold this form and get in. Replacement for Benning with more experience & physicality and is a possible re-sign opportunity if he fits and likes it here. Could be a rental, could be more, we'll see. We also acquired Victor Mete which to me is a feasible bottom 4 defenseman with some upside, shown good things prior to this in Montreal, is an RFA and can stick around if we work it out. Derick Brassard is also a Predator now, we acquired him for veteran presence and experience, could have been a trade chip if something worked out, but it didn't. Happy to have him with us. And lastly we acquired Colton Sceviour because of cap-purposes, he's a rental. Got some experience, never enough bodies if you need it.
So, that is the roster players. What did we acquire outside that?
First let's deal with the picks.
1st round pick next year (2022) from MTL.
Three 2nd round picks. 2021 (TBL-pick) from MTL. 2nd round picks from the PIT in 2022 & 2023.
3rd round pick in 2023 fro TBL
4th round pick in 2022 from PIT
I'm quite satisfied overall with two pick going out and six picks coming in. Had accepted or come to agreements on Ryan Johansen or Ryan Ellis discussions, there could have been a good couple of more into the mix.
The prospects we got, to me are interesting. Taylor Raddysh a bit stuck in the TBL-system because of their solid depth on the main roster is a great and youthful addition on the wing. He is also NHL-ready quite soon. Jesse Ylonen is also an interesting pickup, and a player I think with some more development can fit into the style of play we want to have. Lastly, Brayden Burke who I think can come in and be a bit of a surprise addition with the change of scenery. He has never gotten anything for free, always fought himself into positions and with us looking to become younger and more offensively minded on the forward side, he will get an opportunity to come in and claim a spot.
Expansion Draft (and offseason):
When it comes to the expansion draft, we have to make some decisions. Either to go 7-3-1 or 4-4-1. With the trades in place, the most likely outcome is going 7-3-1, but also a possibility to go 4-4-1. There are obviously more players we like to protect than the ones highlighted, but those are for now those who will get protected. Either four more forwards or one forward and a defenseman will get protected, and some converstations with Seattle Kraken will need to take place of course.
For our own part. Pekka Rinne will come off the books. Only way he will get re-signed is if the salary/caphit is small. Juuse Saros will get re-signed, because we need to re-sign him to protect him. Jason Demers if there is a fit moneywise. Eeli Tolvanen requires a new contract, might wait with it as he is an RFA. Outside that, we would like to re-sign the prospects we acquired who are RFA's.
Matt Duchene
Ryan Johansen
Filip Forsberg
Viktor Arvidsson
Colton Sissons
Luke Kunin
Calle Jarnkrok
Erik Haula (UFA, meets requirements if we re-sign)
Nick Cousins
Yakov Trenin
Derick Brassard (UFA, meets requirements if we re-sign)
Brad Richardson (UFA, meets requirements if we re-sign)
Taylor Raddysh (RFA)
Brayden Burke (RFA)
Roman Josi (NMC)
Ryan Ellis
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jason Demers (UFA, meets requirements if we re-sign)
Mark Borowiecki
Dante Fabbro (RFA)
Victor Mete (RFA, meets requirements if we re-sign)
Ben Harpur (5 games away to meet requirements)
Luca Sbisa (9 games away to meet requirements)
Alexandre Carrier (12 games away to meet requirements)
Pekka Rinne (UFA)
Juuse Saros (RFA)
Connor Ingram
Exempt:
Eeli Tolvanen (RFA)
Jesse Ylonen