Last-Place Predators Taking Bold Strategy Ahead of Trade Deadline

Barry Trotz, General Manager of the Nashville Predators, is gearing up for a proactive approach ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

Despite the teams current position at the bottom of the standings, Trotz is focused on acquiring assets rather than offloading them, signaling a buyers mindset during the upcoming trade window.

Its amazing how things change.

Not a few weeks ago, Trotz was threatening a rebuild.

With the NHLs holiday roster freeze in effect until December 28, trade activity is temporarily paused, but that hasnt stopped Trotz from laying the groundwork for future moves.

Reports from Emma Lingan suggest that Trotz is prepared to add the right piece to the roster, leveraging the additional cap space created through recent transactions.

Barry Trotz is lining up potential deal(s) for January.

Buying, not selling, she writes.

When challenged on the idea that Trotz might be looking to add a rental to make a playoff run, Lingan clarified, saying, Its becoming increasingly clear that many of you dont understand what buying means.

It doesnt always mean short-term rentals.

Trotz is looking for pieces that will help this team long-term, beyond just this season.

The Carrier Trade Helped Clear the Road for the Predators to Make Another Trade One significant move involved trading defenseman Alexandre Carrier to the Montreal Canadiens, clearing over $2 million in cap space for the Predators.

This deal was not just about financial flexibility but part of a larger strategy to reset the team for a competitive push next season.

Trotz has emphasized that this approach is not a sign of a full rebuild but rather a calculated effort to retool the roster and remain aggressive in the free-agent market during the summer.

Lingan noted: Carrier wasnt a straight salary dump.

The emergence of other D-men (Wilsby, Blankenburg, etc.) made him expendable & he had legitimate trade value.

In addition to having more cap flexibility, the #Preds also got younger & bigger, which Trotz has always said was the plan...

The decision to buy rather than sell may surprise some fans given Nashvilles current standings, but it suggests Trotz is committed to building a stronger team capable of long-term success.

As for who and what Trotz is targeting, that information hasnt presented itself beyond rumors that the Predators were perhaps pushing for Dylan Cozens before the roster freeze kicked in on Friday.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission..

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