3 Key Takeaways From Nashville Predators’ Busy Offseason – Hockey Writers – Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have had a very busy season so far. Despite many people assuming they would launch a complete rebuild due to the age and lack of depth in the program, new general manager Chris MacFarland has added a lot of talent to the roster.

He began by acquiring players from his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, adding forward Ross Colton on June 16 and forward Jack Drury on June 24. On June 27, the second day of the 2026 NHL Draft, he traded senior center Adam Edstrom from the New York Rangers, and on June 29, he traded Nils from Vancouver.

On the first day of free agency, MacFarland went out and acquired two more players, trading Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque (and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin), and signing former Utah Mammoth forward Alex Kerfoot to a two-year, $7 million deal.

The top forward addition was the opposite of what many had predicted the Predators would do, but they did provide some interesting commentary. They may also give fans a look at what MacFarland believes is the plan for next season. Here are some details I found on the trip.

Mavrik Bourque Could Be a Legitimate Sixth Forward

I loved the Predators going out and buying Bourque from the Stars. He was the biggest player to be signed as a pending free agent (RFA), and the Stars had very little room to try to re-sign winger Jason Robertson.

The Predators were smart in their pursuit of Bourque, who has been steadily improving in the front six. He scored 20 goals and added 21 assists this past season, but was mostly used in the bottom six, with Roope Hintz, Matt Duchene, and Wyatt Johnston taking his minutes. They also took one year out of a tough contract from Lyubushkin so they wouldn’t have to trade a second time.

With Nashville, Bourque will quickly move into the top six. He could be a second-line center alongside Matthew Wood and Steven Stamkos on the wings, and he could make that line even better. They were solid last season, but they needed another striker to contribute.

The Bottom Six is ​​Crowded

Other than Bourque, I don’t see any of the front six as important. Hoglander, Drury, and Colton make for an impressive third line, and Kerfoot and Edstrom could slot into the fourth line, although Kerfoot is paid more as a third-liner. Hoglander is a good scoring forward, Drury may be the best under-six defensive center in the league, and Colton also provides power and goals.

However, several young players in Nashville may not be getting the opportunities they deserve. I’d be interested in seeing Aidan Fink, Cole O’Hara, Joakim Kemell, or Vitali Pinchuk get extended looks in Nashville, but it looks like they could be put on the fourth line. We will get a clearer picture during the pre-season.

Prospects like Brady Martin and Wyatt Cullen are a little green, so they can be hidden for a while, but what about when Yegor Surin’s contract with the Kontinental Hockey League expires after 2026-27 and he wants to play in the NHL? Will there be a place where he can show his promise? That will be an interesting question to answer.

Maybe Another Move Is Coming?

With the sudden fullness of the spine moving forward, things may be headed for another move. When Predators beat writer Alex Daugherty asked MacFarland about the roster limit and whether that would require a move, MacFarland said, “Maybe. If we can improve the team, we’ll try to do it. It’s going to take some creativity, some threading the needle at times. It may require some tough decisions, or moving some players that you seem to be used to moving.” (from ‘Predators GM Chris MacFarland has ‘tough decisions’ ahead of free agency),’ Tennesseeans, July 1, 2026)

If the Predators move the core forward, who would be moved? Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L’Hereux were traded in the Drury deal, but neither would play above the fourth line. Are the Predators considering trading or buying Jonathan Marchessault? There’s no doubt they’ll get more from him considering his 2025-26 retirement, but he could benefit from a switch.

Does it involve one of the NHL’s best young forwards, like Fink, Kemell, and O’Hara? Does it involve a young player who has played in the NHL but is serviceable, like Ozzy Wiesblatt or Reid Schaefer? Does it involve pending RFA Luke Evangelista?

However, Nashville still has about $12.8 million to play with. They still need to sign Bourque to a new deal as he is currently an RFA. They also need to extend extensions to Evangelista and Matthew Wood, if they want to keep them in Nashville long term.

They could use another linebacker as depth, unless the coaching staff believes Tanner Molendyk is ready for that role. The Predators don’t look like they’re done yet, but with what they’ve done, they’ve set themselves up for a very exciting season.