Nashville Predators Talk - 2024/2025 Season

[Porter Stoutheart]

Waaaay back on Page 1 this is the first roster I thought we had heading into the season... which I think most of us were fairly confident was a playoff team, right?

2024-25 Nashville Predators

Forsberg ($8.5M) - O'Reilly ($4.5M) - Nyquist ($3.185M)
Stamkos ($8M) - Novak ($3.5M) - Marchessault ($5.5M)
Evangelista ($0.7975M) - Sissons ($2.857M) - Parssinen ($0.775M)
Jankowski ($0.800M) - McCarron ($0.900M) - Smith ($1M)
Tomasino ($0.825M)

Skjei ($7M) - Josi ($9.059M)
Lauzon ($2M) - Carrier ($3.75M)
Stastney ($0.825M) - Fabbro ($2.5M)
Schenn ($2.75M)

Saros ($5M)
Wedgewood ($1.5M)

Ekholm retention: $0.250M
Johansen retention: $4M (???)
Turris Buyout: $2M
Duchene Buyout: $5.5556M

TOTAL: $87.3291M
2024-25 NHL Cap: $88M
REMAINING CAP SPACE: $0.6709M

How different do things look for next season? We have given away a few players, and will presumably trade Nyquist at the deadline. I'm sure the team would get rid of Novak too if they could find a taker for his contract, but that might not be possible. I'm not at all confident that Trotz would move any of the other veterans or tweeners.

Evangelista and Wilsby are the only un-signed guys and are RFAs. Repeat: everybody else is already signed for next season!

For all the organizational love shown towards Molendyk, I'm not sure how they wedge a 6th LD onto the roster rather than starting him in Milwaukee? Also assuming we're not going to manage to get a top-5 pick or like a Hagens who could step right onto the roster.

Next season could be...

2025-26 Nashville Predators

Forsberg ($8.5M) - Stamkos ($8M) - Marchessault ($5.5M)
Sissons ($2.857M) - O'Reilly ($4.5M) - Hinostroza ($0.775M)
L'Heureux ($0.8633M) - Svechkov ($0.925M) - Evangelista (RFA ?$2.5M?)
Jankowski ($0.800M) - McCarron ($0.900M) - Smith ($1M)
Novak ($3.5M)

Josi ($9.059M) - Blankenburg ($0.775M)
Skjei ($7M) - Schenn ($2.75M)
Lauzon ($2M) - Barron ($1.15M)
Stastney ($0.825M)
Wilsby (RFA ?$0.825M?)

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

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

TOTAL: $82.3874M
2025-26 NHL Cap: $92.4M
REMAINING CAP SPACE: $10.0126M

Lots of space to extend Nyquist... and a Novak buyout is only $1.167M for 4 years.

John Tavares is a veteran UFA center? Jamie Benn is just a year older. Claude Giroux. If we want another center, we have the Cap space to get a guy that will fit the roster perfectly... We could start laying plans to snag Gavin McKenna... that 2026 draft is probably when you really want the #1 pick?

 

[Armourboy]

Frankly I think the only guys that are close to a guarantee after the season we had is that top line and then Josi and Skjei, and even they are only guaranteed if they don't decide they want out.

I am not thrilled with Trotz, but I don't see him as a guy that will be happy to roll in with the same roster that stunk this season. He's going to do something even if its bad. I'm still not sold Brunette is here to start next season if we end up picking top 5. Probably is but I don't think its a given.

 

[nine_inch_fang]

Frankly I think the only guys that are close to a guarantee after the season we had is that top line and then Josi and Skjei, and even they are only guaranteed if they don't decide they want out.

I am not thrilled with Trotz, but I don't see him as a guy that will be happy to roll in with the same roster that stunk this season. He's going to do something even if its bad. I'm still not sold Brunette is here to start next season if we end up picking top 5. Probably is but I don't think its a given.

I wish I had any amount of hope that Brunette is replaced over the summer. I just don't see it.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I wish I had any amount of hope that Brunette is replaced over the summer. I just don't see it.

Yeah, if you are going to stick with that guy after what we saw in the first 41 games of this season... then I don't see what possibly changes that evaluation. He can't show anything worse than that. It seems clear that Trotz fundamentally believes in giving the coach the biggest benefit of the doubt imaginable.

 

[Scoresberg]

I think Trotz already said in some interview that he is planning to put the team back into contention next year. Whether he can do it or not, is obviously another question. But there's no way he goes into next year thinking that "let's land McKenna".

 

[nine_inch_fang]

Yeah, if you are going to stick with that guy after what we saw in the first 41 games of this season... then I don't see what possibly changes that evaluation. He can't show anything worse than that. It seems clear that Trotz fundamentally believes in giving the coach the biggest benefit of the doubt imaginable.

Yep, unfortunately, this is exactly why I feel like Brunette will be back.

 

[Kat Predator]

Unlike Trotz, if we assume there is no miracle about to happen (upper 90s points) then if we do not improve at all, this season is headed to 66 points overall. If we find a significant updraft in this freefall, we might see mid 70s to low 80s points.

Trotz will be conflicted with himself. Does he reassess his flawless free agent moves? Does he reassess his coaching choice? Or does he continue to scapegoat the role players that fill out the roster?

Someone like Novak or Evangelista are in precarious positions if its more of the latter. I don't see him re-signing Nyquist and a mutual parting of ways, if he's not already gone at the TDL. It would be logical to assume anyone with a contract below ROR's in terms of cap hit would be in peril under this scenario.

The trouble with that scenario is that it blames all the problems on the wrong people. Instead of scapegoating the Fabbros and Hinostrozas, it's clear that this team is Trotz's plan and it yields what it yields as the product of that plan. Confounding coaching. Systems that don't work and confuse veteran NHL players. Huge scoring issues and deficits for a team loaded with HoF caliber scorers who've been to the pinnacles of success elsewhere and got shutout time and time again.

So yeah, maybe we can find another McCarron or Blankenburg in a broom closet or cereal box, but we can't take someone seriously if their default setting is those guys are the drivers and difference makers of the team on the ice. Add: and it is clear to anyone, the guys on the ice don't set the systems, lineups, TOI, etc., etc.

 

[Armourboy]

I wish I had any amount of hope that Brunette is replaced over the summer. I just don't see it.

It's not a matter of hope, its more a matter of watching other GM's over the years and realizing that what they say during the season doesn't always have any meaning once the offseason hits. When you are sitting back looking at a team that performed poorly, the season is over and you can just sit back and relax with your thoughts, a whole lot can change.

Like I said I'm not expecting it, I'm just not sold its a given he is back if the entire season ends up being bad. Of course this is the same GM who thinks we still have a chance at the playoffs.

 

[originalpredfan]

I am not a millionaire owner of a sports franchise. In fact I am not a millionaire (far from it) so I have a hard time believing that accruing that much wealth would make someone oblivious to what Trotz has done to this team. Just my opinion, but why would I watch my money be wasted on ridiculous contracts and the future be pushed back solely because of the incompetent decisions being made by a GM and coach.

 

[Kat Predator]

Kiefer Bellows got called up.

 

[101st_fan]

Kiefer Bellows got called up.

Youth movement. He's under 30.