It’s nearly May and the Nashville Predators still haven’t named their next general manager.
Majority owner Bill Haslam is working through candidates to replace Barry Trotz, who announced his retirement on Feb. 2. Will it be someone with general manager experience, like former New Jersey Devils executive (and one-time Predators captain) Tom Fitzgerald? Or an assistant at a successful franchise, like Florida Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson?
Whoever it is has a growing to-do list. Examine the contract situation, evaluate the prospect pool, establish a near-term strategy, assess whether Andrew Brunette should lead the way, and so forth.
While we wait, let’s imagine for a minute the new guy is bold. Someone who wants to make instant waves. Moves fast and breaks things.
What decisions would an adventurous, risk-taking GM make for the Predators? Here are three possibilities.
Buy out Jonathan Marchessault
The tension between the Predators and Jonathan Marchessault hasn’t boiled over, but there’s water in the pot and the stove is on. In the public eye, both sides are pleasant and want to make it work. But there are signs that Marchessault isn’t happy in Nashville (from a hockey perspective — he loves the city) and that Nashville isn’t happy with his production.
A trade would be ideal, but what team is eager to add a 35-year-old forward with plummeting production for three more years? You’d have to sweeten the deal with a draft pick or prospect.
The nuclear option is a buyout. The status quo is paying Marchessault $5.5 million for the next three years, but a buyout, according to Puck Pedia, would lower the cap hit:
- 2026-27: $4.2 million cap hit
- 2027-28: $3.2 million cap hit
- 2028-29: $3.2 million cap hit
- 2029-30: $961K cap hit
- 2030-31: $961K cap hit
- 2031-32: $961K cap hit
Nashville would save $1.2 million off the cap next season, then $2.3 million off the next two seasons after that. The extended buyout amount in Years 4-6 is less than $1 million, which is manageable.
Adding dead money to the books isn’t pleasant, but Matt Duchene’s buyout price goes down from $6.5 million to $1.5 million next year. Even with Marchessault’s bought-out cap hit on the books, the Predators would see a decrease in dead money in 2026-27.
Trade for Flyers’ Matvei Michkov
There’s a storm brewing between the Philadelphia Flyers and second-year winger Matvei Michkov.
Michkov, the seventh overall pick in 2023, left Russia prior to the 2024-25 season and had 26 goals and 37 assists in his rookie season for the Flyers. After finishing fourth in Calder Trophy voting, many had expected big things in Year 2.
But Michkov declined across the board, dropping in goals (20), assists (30), shots (163) and ice time (14:50), all of which coincides with the arrival of coach Rick Tocchet.
After a season of tough love, Michkov was healthy-scratched ahead of the Flyers’ Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 27. Although there’s no evidence to suggest Michkov is on the way out, cutthroat GMs should see this as an opportunity.
The Predators should put pressure on the situation with a “can’t refuse” package. Something like a first- and third-round pick, plus 2023 first-rounder Tanner Molendyk. Michkov is a potential generational scoring talent at only 21 years old and would step in as a top-six right winger.
Send offer sheet to Stars’ winger Jason Robertson
Speaking of cutthroat, here’s where the Predators’ new GM could really make noise.
The Dallas Stars, for all of their recent success, are headed toward a contract conflict with star winger Jason Robertson. The 26-year-old pending restricted free agent is due a big pay raise from his $7.75 million cap hit, but the Stars are up against the salary cap. With Robertson due between $11 and $12 million per year, it will be tough for Dallas to match without a roster shake-up.
Offer sheet compensation would be costly for the Predators depending on the amount of the contract. Between $9.3 million and $11.7 million per year, they’d have to fork over two first-round picks, plus a second- and third-round pick. Anything north of $11.7 million requires four first-round picks (over the next five drafts).
But Robertson would immediately improve the Predators’ present and future. He has already had three 40-goal seasons in six years and he eclipsed the 100-point mark in 2023. He’s not a center, but his presence elevates the play of those around him.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Three bold moves for Predators’ new GM, from buyouts to offer sheets