Report: Predators Planning A Move This Week; Talking to Sabres

The Nashville Predators are ready to make some moves. And in fact, they don't want to waste any more time trying to right the ship, as they're angling to make a move before the NHL's Holiday Roster Freeze which kicks in this Friday, per Marco D'Amico in RG.com.

Word is, the Preds have tapped into another struggling team to try to shake things up. D'Amico says a source tells him that the Dylan Cozens interest is real.

I know they’ve spoken to the (Buffalo) Sabres and one of the players they like is Cozens.

Cozens has been floated by several sources in recent days and weeks as a prime trade candidate for the Sabres, who have gone winless in their last 10 games. Cozens—a 7th overall selection in 2019—is having his second straight disappointing season, with only 13 points in 31 games. But teams are clearly circling the Sabres, hoping they can be the ones who unlock Cozens' talent.

As for the Predators, they know they'll have to give talent to get some, and their needs are plenty: they hope to land a middle-six center and a top-four defenseman. That's a hefty Christmas shopping list, and with the freeze coming in a few days, not much time to get it done.

Could disappointing newcomers Jonathan Marchessault and/or Steven Stamkos—their two big offseason free agent splashes—be on the table? For now, D'Amico's source says no, there's "no indication from Stamkos or inside the team that the former Tampa Bay Lightning captain is already thinking twice about his new team."