Nashville's Roster Shift Targets Tenacity Ahead of 2026
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President of hockey operations Chris MacFarland has prioritized depth and grit, but aging stars and looming free agency create questions for the Predators' center depth.
Nashville Predators president of hockey operations and general manager Chris MacFarland has focused on upgrading team depth and increasing "tenacity" following a period where the club reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs only once in four seasons, as Sports Illustrated first reported.
To facilitate a youth movement, Nashville traded Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux to the Colorado Avalanche and saw 35-year-old Erik Haula sign as an unrestricted free agent with the Los Angeles Kings. In exchange, MacFarland added players like Jack Drury, acquired from the Avalanche, and Mavrik Bourque, who was traded from the Dallas Stars for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round selection. Bourque has since signed an extension worth $33 million over six years.
Despite these additions, the Predators' center depth remains tied to veteran Ryan O'Reilly, 35, who is an unrestricted free agent. Sports Illustrated notes that if Nashville falls out of the playoff race, O'Reilly would be a primary candidate for a trade to a contender, though he reportedly expressed a desire to stay in Nashville last season.
Other center options include 24-year-old Vitali Pinchuk, who recorded 66 points for Dinamo Minsk in the KHL last season, and Adam Edstrom. The team currently holds approximately $7.7 million in cap space, which MacFarland may use for trade-deadline acquisitions or to sign upcoming unrestricted free agents.