Nashville Predators May Still "Strengthen" Roster Ahead Of trade Deadline

The Nashville Predators have been better in recent weeks than for the majority of the season and it has created some hope that all seemed lost for the team. While they have the pieces to compete, not very much has gone right and the Predators sit 14th in the Western Conference and are 12 points back of the Calgary Flames for the second Wildcard spot with a game in hand.

Nashville is playing well and making a comeback at the right time as the West has really struggled, especially the teams between them and a playoff spot. There are six teams that sit between the Predators and a playoff spot and of those teams, only the Flames have won more than five games in the past 10, but they have now lost two in a row. Nashville has won seven of their last 10 games and are gaining ground.

That being said, general manager Barry Trotz said that, "if we can crawl ourselves into it, within striking distance, I will go out and do what I did last year. I will strengthen and give them more assets."

For the Predators, this is encouraging for the players and fans. The players took time figuring things out with such big changes to the group in the offseason and the veteran core should still be intact for the next couple of years. The Predators have lots of assets in order to strengthen without damaging the future of the team too much too.

Who knows when the next time the Predators will have players who are the caliber of Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, Juuse Saros, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Skjei, and Ryan O'Reilly. Some of the prospects are talented and have shown encouraging signs, but things don't always line up.

Despite some off games that every team has, the Predators are proving that the team can play at the level that was expected of them coming into the season. They went on a run with a much worse team on paper in 2023-24 and something similar could very well happen again.

I think that if the Predators are 6-7 points or better from a playoff spot by trade deadline week, Trotz will make some adds. He may not use one of the three first-round picks, but if he's looking at bringing in a player who can make an impact on the team for more than this season, a lot should be on the table. We will have to wait and see what Trotz has cooking if Nashville continues to play how they are and make up enough ground in the playoff race.