The 2025-26 season has been a puzzling mess of losses for the Nashville Predators. Bereft of any bite or edge whatsoever, the team goes from one match to another. Barry Trotz’s addition of Steven Stamkos to bolster the Predators’ chances of making a deep playoff run has not borne the desired consequences for the team, as Stamkos remains a shell of his fiery self from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In a recent development for the struggling team, as trade chatter around the league has grown louder, the Predators have attracted the ire of the community for the steep price they intend to ask for veteran forward Ryan O’Reilly.

Fans Not on Board With Nashville Predators’ Asking Price for Ryan O’Reilly

O’Reilly has accumulated 13 points over 22 matches with the Predators this season. As the team tries to overcome this prolonged period of misfortune, a very real possibility has emerged of moving the 34-year-old. However, the return that Trotz is expected to seek can act as a deterrent for any team that would have otherwise been interested in O’ Reilly.

Pierre LeBrun noted on his social media that the Predators will seek a first-round pick and a top prospect if the veteran is ever moved. “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.”

Consequently, the response on social media was swift and one of disbelief. “Who in their right mind would pay that price?,” commented an NHL fan.

While another set their priorities straight, calling the Predators’ demands simply crazy. “If this means something like a 1st and Nemec, no thank you. That’s a crazy price.”

A third social media user bluntly stated that O’Reilly is well past his prime and no longer produces at the level he once did. “For a 35 year old center who is at best a second line player? Lol. They’re not getting anywhere close to that.”

An NHL fan could not help but take a sharp jab at the Predators’ GM, stating that a price like that will be next to impossible in reality. “That’s the price Trotz dream about, not what he will get lmao.”

Finally, the overwhelming sentiment was that O’Reilly is, after all, no longer the player he once was, rendering Trotz’s plans to make tall demands in return for him all the more futile, “Price based on what he did 3 or 4 years ago. He’s not worth it now.”

In a nutshell, it seems that if the Predators want to trade themselves out of this situation, they ought to be more reasonable with their demands.