Speculation: Armchair GM Thread

[herzausstein]

Agreed. And, just my opinion, if we're going to spend/continue rebuild, I want to start with defense and go from there. With Josi getting another year older, we really don't have any solid defenders.

Definitely would need a rhd. I think Skjei will rebound in a real system which helps things as well

 

[AintLifeGrand]

I would definitely say only focus on guys under 30, and those are the two best UFAs and both under 30.

The main problem is that with the new Cap risers, they are probably going to require eye-popping salaries if they make it all the way to UFA. Marner might temporarily become the highest paid player in the NHL... $14M? Maybe $8M for Chychrun? Both on 7-year terms with full NMCs. Our lineup...

2025-26 Nashville Predators

Forsberg ($8.5M) - Stamkos ($8M) - Marner (UFA - $14M)
Evangelista (RFA - $1.5M) - O'Reilly ($4.5M) - Marchessault ($5.5M)
Smith ($1M) - McCarron ($0.900M) - Sissons ($2.857M)
L'Heureux ($0.8633M) - Svechkov ($0.925M) - Novak ($3.5M)
Jankowski ($0.800M)

Josi ($9.059M) - Chychrun (UFA - $8M)
Skjei ($7M) - Barron ($1.15M)
Lauzon ($2M) - Schenn ($2.75M)
Wilsby (RFA - $0.825M)
Stastney ($0.825M)

Saros ($7.74M)
Annunen ($0.8375M)

Ekholm retention: $0.250M
Turris Buyout: $2M
Duchene Buyout: $6.5556M

TOTAL: $101.8374M
2025-26 NHL Cap: $95.5M
REMAINING CAP SPACE: (-$6.3374M)

So we'd certainly have to cut some players to get that extra $6.3M in Cap... but I think this Trade Deadline is an excellent opportunity to do that. Sissons, Lauzon, and Schenn ought to be very marketable to playoff teams and are very easily replaced from within... so that puts us in shooting distance just with those 3...

2025-26 Nashville Predators

Forsberg ($8.5M) - Stamkos ($8M) - Marner (UFA - $14M)
Evangelista (RFA - $1.5M) - O'Reilly ($4.5M) - Marchessault ($5.5M)
Jankowski ($0.800M) - McCarron ($0.900M) - Smith ($1M)
L'Heureux ($0.8633M) - Svechkov ($0.925M) - Novak ($3.5M)
Wiesblatt ($0.775M)

Josi ($9.059M) - Chychrun (UFA - $8M)
Skjei ($7M) - Barron ($1.15M)
Wilsby (RFA - $0.825M) - Blankenburg ($0.775M)
Stastney ($0.825M)

Saros ($7.74M)
Annunen ($0.8375M)

Ekholm retention: $0.250M
Turris Buyout: $2M
Duchene Buyout: $6.5556M

TOTAL: $95.7804M
2025-26 NHL Cap: $95.5M
REMAINING CAP SPACE: (-$0.2804M)

wtf Mccarron and Smith on the 3rd line above Svechkov, Novak and L'hereux???

Also, Novak much better fit for 2nd line wing than Evangelista