NHL Rumors: Panthers & Predators Becoming Trading Candidates

The Florida Panthers have had an immensely underwhelming season this year. After winning the Presidents' Trophy in 2021-22, they are currently sitting out of a playoff spot and need to heat up quickly to have any chance of changing that. A major reason for their struggles this year has been their defensive group. According to Frank Seravalli, the Panthers may make a push for Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm because of it.

It was recently reported that the Predators are looking to trade Ekholm. He is exactly the kind of defenseman that playoff teams would love to get their hands on, as he plays a very reliable defensive game and can also chip in offensively from time to time. On the Panthers, he could end up being a perfect fit on the top pairing with star defenseman Aaron Ekblad. This, in turn, could help Florida put together more wins.

Ekholm also has multiple years left on his contract, so he would be more than a rental if required. With that, Florida would also need to send salary the other way, as they have limited cap space at this juncture. Alas, let’s see if the Preds and Panthers can end up striking a deal before the deadline passes.