The Nashville Predators traded defenseman Spencer Stastney to the Edmonton Oilers for a third-round pick in 2027 on Dec. 12.
Stastney had one goal and eight assists in 30 games for the Predators this season, mostly as a third pairing defenseman. The 25-year-old had three goals and 18 assists in 81 career games with Nashville.
A fifth-round pick in 2018 out of Notre Dame, Stastney made his NHL debut on April 1, 2023. A 6-foot, 184 pound defenseman, Stastney is known for quick feet and smooth skating. His offensive production was limited in his time in Nashville, though he was mostly used in defensive situations.
Stastney missed most of the 2024-25 season while dealing with a personal issue, which he later revealed to be a lifelong battle with anxiety and depression. He returned to Nashville for the 2025-26 season and made the team out of training camp.
Adding a third-round pick gives Nashville four third-round picks in the 2027 NHL Draft.
The move by general manager Barry Trotz indicates a desire to capitalize on a surplus of defensemen, especially when considering players like Ryan Ufko, Tanner Molendyk and Andrew Gibson are still developing in Milwaukee.
With Stastney traded, the Predators have six active defensemen in Roman Josi, Nicolas Hague, Brady Skjei, Nick Perbix, Adam Wilsby and Nick Blankenburg. Justin Barron is still on injured reserve, but could be returning soon.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.