5 Unrestricted Free Agents the Predators Should Sign

P.K. Subban

It’s been three seasons since P.K. Subban donned the Predators jersey, and it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for the once-elite blueliner.

In 189 games with the New Jersey Devils, Subban tallied only 59 points (17 goals and 42 assists) and was a minus-45 in the process.

With that said, he is coming off of his healthiest, most productive season with New Jersey, as he recorded five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 77 games.

It’s no secret that Subban is no longer the Norris Trophy-winning defenseman that he was years ago. He’s also not the 59-point scorer that the Predators knew during the 2017-2018 season in which he helped Nashville win the Presidents’ Trophy.

Of course, at this stage of his career, and given what the Preds already have in place on the right side of the defense, he would be signing up for third-pair minutes.

His most valuable asset would be his locker room presence, which a team trying to win in the playoffs can never have too much of.

Anton Stralman

Another defenseman whose best years are behind him, Anton Stralman would serve a very similar purpose to the one outlined above for P.K. Subban.

Stralman will be 36 years old when the 2022-2023 season commences, but he put up respectable numbers last season with the Arizona Coyotes. In 74 games played, he tallied eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points and a minus-16 rating.

What plays to Stralman’s advantage, and what could give the Predators some hope that he could be useful in Nashville, is the fact that last season was one of his best seasons since his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning three years ago.

Both Stralman and Subban made north of $5.5 million last season and would be due to make significantly less this time around. At the right price, either one of these defensemen would be a good fit for the Predators’ third pairing.