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Max Pacioretty Would Complete the Nashville Predators

By Derian Carmichael

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 10: Montreal Canadiens Left Wing Max Pacioretty (67) shoots the puck during the Nashville Predators versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 10, 2018, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 10: Montreal Canadiens Left Wing Max Pacioretty (67) shoots the puck during the Nashville Predators versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 10, 2018, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Max Pacioretty would be the missing piece needed for the Nashville Predators to capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history

After coming up short in the Stanley Cup Finals a year ago, the Nashville Predators appear destined for another long playoff run.  Acquiring Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty before the NHL trade deadline could be the much-needed scoring punch the Preds need in order to win a Stanley Cup.

The Predators are in a unique situation compared to other teams in the league. Where other teams will look to the trade deadline to fill multiple holes, Nashville could make no moves and still be set up just fine for the postseason.

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Their blue line is loaded with depth and considered one of the best in the league. The team’s goaltender, Pekka Rinne, is easily considered one of the best goaltenders in the world.  Even down the middle, the Predators have great depth at center with Ryan Johansen, Kyle Turris, Nick Bonino, Colten Sissons, and the soon-to-be unretired Mike Fisher.

Three of those centers weren’t even with Nashville in the finals a year ago. Johansen was injured at the time, Bonino helped defeat the Predators playing on the Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins, while Turris was with the Ottawa Senators who fell to Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference Finals.

With Nashville set in net, on defense, and down the middle, the only real team need is to acquire another winger. Although the Predators have had solid seasons from wingers Kevin Fiala, Victor Arvidsson, and Filip Forsberg, the team still hasn’t fully replaced James Neal after losing him in the expansion draft.

Enter Pacioretty, who at only 29-years old and another year remaining on his contract becomes a perfect candidate for the Predators in the short term and long term. Pacioretty would join a core group all in the same age bracket of mid-to-late 20s. The remaining season on his contract carries an incredibly salary cap-friendly number of only a $4.5 million cap hit.

With several players signed to below market contracts, Nashville is one of the few teams that could absorb Pacrioretty’s contract and not skip a beat. With players like Roman Josi with a cap hit of only $4 million, or Ryan Ellis at $2.5 million, or even Forsberg and Turris at $6 million each, the Predators are loaded with cap-friendly contracts.

Despite already making a major in-season move by acquiring Turris, Nashville also has the majority of their draft picks for the next three seasons. The only picks the club no longer has is their second-round pick in 2018 and a third-round pick in 2019. This makes parting with a potential first-round pick in a package for Pacioretty a lot easier given how responsible management has been with their draft picks. It also helps having so many key players locked up under contract for the next few seasons.

Should Nashville be able to swing a deal for Pacioretty, pairing him with Johansen could form a duo no team in the playoffs would be able to contain. With a 6-foot-2 Pacioretty and a 6-foot-3 Johansen, opposing teams would have their hands full trying to contain the size and skill of the former 60-point producers. Combine the duo with the chemistry Turris and Fiala have formed and the Predators would be just as loaded upfront as they are on the back end.

The asking price for Pacioretty will be high but given how close Nashville is to capturing the Stanley Cup it’s a price worth paying. It’s not often a team can acquire a top winger who fits the age group of the core roster while also having a below-market cap hit. If there was ever a time for the Predators to go all-in on a player it would be now and it would be for Pacioretty.

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The Predators are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders without making any more trades prior to the deadline. However, acquiring Pacioretty could be the final move needed to make Nashville one of the most complete teams of all time while also helping the club secure the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

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