It looked like it would be a busy trade deadline day for Barry Trotz and the Nashville Predators.
The general manager made four trades earlier in the week, sending away four players on expiring contracts in exchange for draft picks. And with Ryan O’Reilly, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Erik Haula as additional trade targets, folks prepared for a roster overhaul.
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But deadline day was a dud.
The 2 p.m. CT cutoff on March 6 came and went and the Predators made no additional moves. O’Reilly, Stamkos and Marchessault, all on multiyear deals, are apparently staying in Nashville. Even Haula, who is on an expiring contract, will be here at least through the end of the season.
Keeping these players on the roster helps the Predators (28-26-8, 64 points) in the short run. They are only three points behind the Seattle Kraken for the final wild-card spot, so a playoff appearance isn’t out of the question. Plus, Trotz did add some draft capital, however minimal, with his earlier deals.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz addresses the media during the press conference announcing the retirement for the GM at the end of the season at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz addresses the media during the press conference announcing the retirement for the GM at the end of the season at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
L to R: Owner Bill Haslam, Barry Trotz and CEO Sean Henry sit before the media as Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz announces his retirement at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz speaks with the media during the first day of training camp at Ford Ice Center Bellevue in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz, second left, takes in the Nashville Predators development camp at Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz greets first round draft picks Cameron Reid and Ryker Lee at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 28, 2025.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz speaks with first round draft picks Cameron Reid, center, and Ryker Lee, right, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 28, 2025.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz introduces the 2025 first round draft picks at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 28, 2025.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz greets first round draft picks Cameron Reid and Ryker Lee at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 28, 2025.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz, right, speaks with owner Herb Fritch, left, during the Nashville Predators Golden Hall of Fame induction at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz, left, and former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam chat during a Nashville Predators Rookie Camp practice at Ford Ice Center Bellevue in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Teddy Stiga talks with general manager Barry Trotz after being selected 55th overall by the Nashville Predators during the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft Rounds 2-7 at Sphere on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz speaks during a press conference at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, July 1, 2024.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz speaks during a press conference at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, July 1, 2024.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators first-round pick Yegor Surin with general manager Barry Trotz (middle), scout Glen Sanders (left) and director of scouting Jeff Kealty.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz talks to media after the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Barry Trotz takes in the scene as the Predators announce their second pick of the night, Tanner Molendyk, in the 2023 NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Tanner Molendyk shakes hands with Barry Trotz after he was picked by the Nashville Predators in the 2023 NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Barry Trotz heads to the stage to announce the Predators second pick of the night in the 2023 NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Barry Trotz and David Poile talk on stage as the Nashville Predators announce their pick in the 2023 NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Matthew Wood stands with David Poile and Barry Trotz after he was picked by the Nashville Predators in the 2023 NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
The new Predators GM Barry Trotz, poses for a portrait inside the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
The new Predators General Manager Barry Trotz and retiring Predators General Manager David Poile hold up their jerseys for a photo during a press conference inside the Bridgestone Arena, in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Barry Trotz is all smiles after been introduced at the new head coach of Nashville’s new NHL team during a press conference at the Nashville Arena Aug. 6, 1997. Trotz will spend the upcoming season scouting talent and examining how other franchises operate before beginning play in the 1998-99 season.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Barry Trotz, left, the head coach of Nashville’s new NHL team, shakes hands with his assistant coach Paul Gardner as the pair were introduced during a press conference at the Nashville Arena Aug. 6, 1997. The pair will spend the upcoming season scouting talent and examining how other franchises operate before beginning play in the 1998-99 season.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Predators General Manager David Poile, right, and Coach Barry Trotz give an update on some of the team’s free agents during a press conference at Bridgestone Arena May 11, 2011.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Barry Trotz has guided the Capitals to two Presidents’ Trophies, three Metropolitan Division titles and a Stanley Cup Final.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz talks to the media after the Predators lost to the Detroit Red Wings in Game 6 of the NHL’s Western Conference quarterfinal series at the Gaylord Entertainment Center on April 17, 2004. Detroit won 2-0 and ending Nashville playoff run.
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Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators general manager, NHL franchise’s first coach
Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz, back, and player Scott Walker watch the action on the ice with Detroit Red Wings during Game 1 of the NHL’s Western Conference quarterfinal series at the Joe Lewis Arena in Detroit on April 7, 2004. Detroit won the game 3-1.
Here’s how Trotz’s deadline moves (and one non-move) grade out.
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Michael McCarron to Minnesota Wild for 2028 second-round pick
The first domino to fall was sending Michael McCarron to the Wild for a 2028 second-round pick on March 3. A pending free agent, he is about to turn 31, and he makes a lot more sense as a depth center on a playoff team than signing him to an extension. A second-round pick was excellent value, even if the pick is two years away.
Grade: A
Cole Smith to Vegas Golden Knights for 2028 third-round pick
After McCarron, the Predators sent Cole Smith to the Vegas Golden Knights. Also a pending free agent and about to turn 31, it made sense to move on from Smith. He’s a speedy winger, but mostly just a penalty killer at this point. A third-round pick for a one-dimensional player? That’s good work from Trotz. (Note that the Predators also received prospect defenseman Christoffer Sedoff in the deal, but he’s likely an AHL-only addition).
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Grade: A
Nick Blankenburg to Colorado Avalanche for 2027 fifth-round pick
Nick Blankenburg might have been one of Trotz’s best free agent acquisitions. The 27-year-old signed a two-year deal at league minimum ($775,000 per year) in 2024 and became an indispensable part of the Predators’ defense. But they traded him to Colorado for a 2027 fifth-round pick on March 4. That’s a little low for his value. If that’s the return, why not sign him to another year with a slight bump in pay? A disappointing result.
Grade: C-
MARCHESSAULT STAYING: Predators’ Jonathan Marchessault on trade rumors with deadline apporaching
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Michael Bunting to Dallas Stars for 2026 third-round pick
Michael Bunting was an obvious trade candidate, even going back to when Nashville acquired him at the deadline in 2025. On March 5, Trotz sent him to Dallas for a 2026 third-round pick. At first glance, this return seems low, but Bunting is a winger with average scoring ability. He could reach 20 goals this season, but it has to be in the right situation. He’s more an agitator and energy guy than a skilled player. You wonder if Trotz could have held out one more day and turned him into a second-round pick, but this is adequate.
Grade: B
BONUS: Not trading pending UFA center Erik Haula
This is a baffling decision because Erik Haula’s value has never been higher. He’s having a resurgent year for the Predators, with 10 goals and 21 assists in 62 games as the team’s defensively responsible second-line center. He also just helped Finland earn a bronze medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
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Keeping Haula on the roster makes the final 20 games more interesting. There’s also a possibility the Predators sign him to an extension. But missing out on the potential return for a productive two-way center who isn’t signed through next season seems like a big misstep.
Grade: D
“SAD DAY” Andrew Brunette, Predators react to two trades as deadline approaches
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.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Grading NHL trades made by Predators, Barry Trotz at deadline