Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz eyes big trade even after landing Steven Stamkos in the off-season

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Tom Banks
October 26, 2024 (5:38 PM)

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The Nashville Predators are off to a very slow start in 2024/25 even after a high-powered off-season, and now Barry Trotz wants to make a big move.

Last season, the Nashville Predators snuck into the Stanley Cup Playoffs late in the year, and with Juuse Saros in net, the team went all-in to push for a deep run this off-season. In free agency, GM Barry Trotz pushed hard to land Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei, but their start to the season was less than ideal.

Through five games, Nashville remained winless, but with two straight victories, this talented veteran team is showing signs of life. That may be improved shortly as well, as Trotz isn't looking to sit back and wait even after acquiring the star trio, with General Manager addressing the situation.

Know you love the rumors, but it is early. This is the 'we're-still-seeing-what-we've-got' phase. Predators GM Barry Trotz has the second-best hockey radio hit on The Game in Nashville. On Tuesday, he told hosts Willy Daunic, Derrick Mason, and Adam Vingan, «No one is trading anyone right now. I would like to get a center, but no one is giving their center away.»

Two toughest things to find: a stud defender and a top center. No more zero in the win column after Tuesday night, where they opened with Colton Sissons between Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos.

- Elliotte Friedman

Unsurprisingly, with weak center depth beyond Ryan O'Reilly on the top line, as the team has played Colton Sissons on the second line, Trotz has made it clear that he'd like to add down the middle as this team looks to find out who they are early in the year. As Friedman has mentioned when both the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks were linked to center moves, teams just aren't giving away good players for anything.

However, if the Predators can find their form and get back into the race early in the year, the team may look to push hard to add, and if Trotz has his way, this team could land a top star for the second-line to make a Stanley Cup run.