Report: Two teams looking to trade for help at center

According to hockey insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, two teams who are scrolling the trade market looking for centers include the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks.

Friedman published his latest 32 thoughts and referenced both clubs when discussing trade talks within his article:

The teams that are looking hard at centres now — including Chicago and Nashville — have to weigh when others wade into the market. One of those will be Toronto, for sure. The Blackhawks and Predators have the advantage of more cap space/high picks to trade, and more of a willingness to do it at this time. But as the season continues and cap-strapped teams try to build space, competition will increase.

The Predators and Blackhawks sit collectively at the bottom of the Central Division standings. Chicago has posted a 6-12-1 record, meanwhile the Preds are nowhere close to expectations, with a 6-11-3 record. Both teams have cap space to add without having to give up anything off their current roster to make things work financially.

The Blackhawks have $6.61 million in cap space, meanwhile the Preds have $7.79 million in deadline cap space to work with. So far the Predators aren't open to moving any of their first-round picks, while the Blackhawks have shown a sense of creativity within trades in the past and are likely looking for some proven talent to add up front to help take the pressure of Connor Bedard.

Trade talks are heating up around the league, and as Friedman reports, the Predators and Blackhawks would like to add down the middle of the ice.