The NHL Trade deadline is Friday at 2 p.m. and the Nashville Predators have already started their process of making moves.

Forward Gustav Nyquist was already traded to the Minnesota Wild for a 2026 second round last weekend.

Nashville retained half of his salary and is on the hook for $1.59 million before his deal expires this summer. Nyquist was previously dealt to the Wild two years ago from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fifth round pick.

All three of Nashville’s retention spots are full so general manager Barry Trotz won’t be able to utilize that moving forward until those contracts come off the books this summer.

There are still more moves on the horizon as NHL GMs are constantly on their phones setting records for screen time this week.

Who could be dealt out of Nashville and who could be acquired?

Assets

Colton Sissons seems like a fit for numerous contenders this trade deadline. He has two more seasons remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $2.86 million. The 31-year-old was mentioned in Elliotte Friedman’s latest edition of “32 Thoughts” on Monday, as are some of the other players listed.

Sissons’ consistent faceoff success is what stands out the most amidst the Predators having a subpar season. His career average in the faceoff dot is 50% in the NHL and has 71 games of playoff experience. Surely a contender would spend draft picks or a young forward in exchange for a skater who has been a fixture in Nashville’s lineup since the 2016-17 season.

Michael McCarron is capable of being a ferocious player when he flips a switch. He may be a minus 18 this year but a playoff team would be lucky to have him on their fourth line who can kill penalties. Having two more years left on his contract ($900,000) is a bonus to a buyer as well.

McCarron has won 54.8% of his draws with his strength being in the defensive zone (55.3%). Given his ability to fight as well, I’d wonder if a team like the New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers, or Detroit Red Wings would be willing to deal a second or third round pick for him to bolster their bottom-six.

According to Frank Seravalli from Daily FaceOff, he has sources saying McCarron is toward the top of one Western Conference team’s list as a guy who brings a different element.

Tommy Novak holds his own down the middle, but among seven Nashville centermen who have been in 180 or more draws he ranks sixth only ahead of Fedor Svechkov. He’s more likely going to be seen more as a center/winger threat for a team interested in adding depth for a playoff run.

Novak is in year one of three of a new contract worth $10.5 million and has 21 points in 51 games for Nashville. Since Jan. 1 he has 12 points in 20 games as he’s slowly picked up steam this season. Nashville could get a younger player to stash in Milwaukee or a later draft pick – no better than a second in my mind – to move off the 27-year-old.

Potential Targets

Casey Mittelstadt from the Colorado Avalanche has two more years remaining on his contract with an average annual salary of $5.75 million. Should Nashville move Novak or Sissons the Predators would be set going into the offseason giving Mittlestadt a test run in the lineup.

Mittlestadt was moved from the Buffalo Sabres to the Avalanche at last year’s deadline. Should Colorado like one of Nashville’s roster plates then Trotz may have something to mull over.

J.J. Peterka is another name mentioned by Seravalli and when looking at Nashville’s roster it’s hard to not see a long-term need at right wing. Luke Evangelista has been slumping during his second full NHL season scoring just 16 points in 47 games. Evangelista could either be kept or dealt along with a sweetener to acquire Peterka if the Sabres entertained that idea.

Both wingers are pending restricted free agents and Trotz would have a delicate line to balance if he’s to move another homegrown player. A change of scenery could benefit these budding forwards and potentially bode well for a new contract.

Trevor Zegras may be something to look more into if you’re Nashville and trying to develop someone down the middle. Zegras’s resume includes back-to-back 60-point seasons before dipping the last two years due to injuries.

He has two more years at $5.75 million AAV but if he didn’t work out the Predators could move him again or let him go to free agency next summer. Nashville has depth down the middle, however, would Trotz be okay with going to a younger center if Zegras didn’t work out?

A dark horse pick of mine to see on Nashville’s board is Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris. He’s drummed up interest this season after not being able to fully live up to his current contract where he makes $7.9 million AAV.

Norris’ 10-team no-trade list kicks in this summer and should the Predators try and get younger down the middle then the time to buy a player of his caliber may be now. Playing on a new team may be good for the talented forward who wants to revitalize his career.

Trotz may not have interest in a soon-to-be 26-year-old who has five more years on his contract and has a prevalent injury history. Norris has 31 points in 52 games this season and reached 55 points back in the 2021-22 season.

Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick

Photos courtesy of Nashville Predators