The Nashville Predators are a disaster and have officially hit rock bottom in recent days, seeing the Calgary Flames surpass them to now sit dead last in the NHL. After last year’s debacle, nobody seriously thought things could get worse in 2025-26, yet they somehow have, and that will likely result in mass changes to the roster in the coming months.
Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Michael Bunting are among the veterans drawing interest around the league, though none have garnered more than Ryan O’Reilly.
Nashville supposedly doesn’t want to move O’Reilly, but if the right offer comes around, they’ll certainly listen. The problem is that it might be impossible for anyone to meet the asking price set by general manager Barry Trotz, which TSN insider Pierre LeBrun revealed on Tuesday begins with a first-round pick and an A-level prospect.
Ryan O’Reilly Predators NHL Trade Talk
“As mentioned on Insider Trading, the price on Ryan O’Reilly if the Predators decide to move him later this season would be a first-round pick plus an A-level prospect.”
The 34-year-old is in the third season of the four-year, $18 million contract he signed to join the Predators as a UFA back in 2023.
Will Anyone Pay Up for Ryan O’Reilly?
While O’Reilly would be a tremendous pickup for any contending team ahead of the deadline, doing so by paying up for what Trotz is seeking would be a risky move.
The veteran still has plenty of game left, but a first-round pick and high-end prospect was about what you should get for a prime O’Reilly during his days in St. Louis. Those are a thing of the past, so teams have to be careful and let the ask come down to a more reasonable rate.
That being said, there’s no doubt Nashville will get a solid haul in return, especially given the number of teams desperate for help down the middle of the ice.
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