"The Predators made a number of big splashes last offseason, bringing in Stanley Cup winners, and future Hall of Famers like Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos, but as far as big splashes go, this one has gone down like a lead balloon for the Preds. For a team who still has some very good talent, things just clearly aren't clicking, and there is only so much time you can waste when it comes to waiting for that spark to come."
"The big additions they made last year like Marchessault and Brady Skjei have turned out to be massive bust. There are guys who are getting paid as premium players, players who should be able to push you to the playoffs, and players who are providing game in and game out, but everything seems to have taken a U-turn for Barry Trotz in the last year."
"Bringing in veteran players who are nearing the end of their career was a bold move to add championship experience to the team, however the opposite has happened, and halted what could've been a very solid youth transition in Smashville. The guys like Steen Stamkos, Ryan O'Reilly, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei are all guys who still have a lot of trade value for playoff contending teams, and in Nashville's case, trading all of them should really be a realistic option."
The Predators sit third-worst after 18 games and appear weak and stagnant with little hope unless major changes occur quickly. Significant offseason additions brought Stanley Cup winners and veterans like Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos, but those moves have backfired and failed to provide the intended boost. Homegrown leaders Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi remain productive and popular, yet surrounding support is inadequate. High-paid additions such as Marchessault and Brady Skjei have underperformed. The team lacks a realistic playoff path, and trading veteran signings with remaining trade value could accelerate a necessary youth transition.
Read at Puck Prose
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