November 20, 2025 | 10:59am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

PREDATORS OPEN FOR BUSINESS?

Ryan O’Reilly, forward

The Nashville Predators sit second-last in the NHL with a 6-10-4 record and questions are starting to mount over what direction this club needs to take this season.

With six pending unrestricted free agents on the roster, and other veteran players already generating interest, Predators GM Barry Trotz may become very active as the season plays out.

During Wednesday’s episode of “DFO Rundown Inside Edition,” Irfaan Gaffar and David Pagnotta discussed where the Predators are and how busy they will be with season.

“I think we’re getting to the point where they’re open for business, that they’re willing to listen on almost anybody,” Pagnotta said.

“I think Nashville is willing to listen, like I said, on a variety of players, on almost everybody, because I think they just want to understand what their options are and how quickly they could go through a quasi-rebuild or retool here if they move out, you know, three, four or five players this season. So, whether it’s Ryan O'Reilly or some of their pending UFAs like Michael Bunting and (Erik) Haula and others, they’re going to get a lot of attention.”

Reports have surfaced lately suggesting teams have inquired about star forward Filip Forsberg, who owns a full no-movement clause, and Gaffar and Pagnotta acknowledged that if the Predators start fielding calls for him or captain Roman Josi, who also owns a NMC, then Nashville will enter a full teardown.

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“Like if you’re getting rid of your best offensive player, you’re blowing this thing up and you’re starting from scratch,” Gaffar said. “And then my question changes completely and it goes, what do you do with your captain? Where does Roman Josi lie in that equation?”

Added Pagnotta: “I don't know if we're there yet, but I do think that Nashville, it sounds like is at least relaying a message similar to what St. Louis did a couple weeks ago, where give us a call, we're going to listen.”

Forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault also own full NMCs, while O’Reilly does not own any no-trade protection.