{"id":403651,"date":"2026-01-12T16:35:49","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T16:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/403651\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T16:35:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T16:35:49","slug":"is-the-experiment-over-why-nashville-is-ready-to-sell-big-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/403651\/","title":{"rendered":"Is The Experiment Over? Why Nashville Is Ready To Sell Big Stars"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a>Nashville Predators veteran forwards Steven Stamkos (left) and Jonathan Marchessault (right) are at the center of intensifying trade speculation as reports suggest GM Barry Trotz is ready to overhaul the roster.<\/p>\n

The failed super-team: Why the Nashville Predators<\/a> are open for business. If you look at the standings, you might think GM Barry Trotz would be buying. The Preds are sitting just three points out of a playoff spot. But according to NHL insider Nick Kypreos<\/a>, management has seen enough. Despite the proximity to the postseason, Trotz reportedly has \u201ceverybody available\u201d except for captain Roman Josi<\/a>. It\u2019s a harsh reality check: this group, despite the flashy summer signings, simply cannot win together. The experiment has failed, and it appears the front office is ready to cut their losses rather than chase a first-round exit.<\/p>\n

Why Jonathan Marchessault is the Likely Casualty<\/p>\n

From an asset management perspective, this is where things get interesting. Jonathan Marchessault<\/a> is the name you need to circle in red ink. When Nashville signed him, they wanted that Conn Smythe pedigree and pure scoring touch. They still have that, which is exactly why he is the most moveable piece.<\/p>\n

Unlike some of his teammates, Marchessault\u2019s $5.5 million cap hit is digestible<\/a> for a contender looking for a top-six winger who drags his team into the fight. Yes, he has three years left and full no-movement protection, but players want to win. If Trotz approaches Marchessault with a deal to a legitimate contender, it\u2019s hard to imagine him waiving that clause to stay with a retooling Nashville squad. He retains value, and frankly, his style of play is a commodity that skyrockets at the trade deadline.<\/p>\n

The Steven Stamkos Cap Conundrum<\/p>\n

Then there is the elephant in the room: Steven Stamkos<\/a>. The nostalgia of signing the lightning legend has worn off, replaced by the cold math of the salary cap. While rumors swirl, moving Stamkos is a logistical nightmare. His $8 million AAV is an anchor.<\/p>\n

In today\u2019s flat-cap efficient NHL, very few contending teams have $8 million in space, and even fewer are willing to gut their depth to acquire it. Unless Nashville is willing to eat a massive chunk of that salary\u2014reducing it to the $4-5 million range\u2014Stamkos isn\u2019t going anywhere. It is a classic case of a contract that looked ambitious in July of 2024 and looking unmovable in January 2026.<\/p>\n

Personal Insight: The Saros Factor and The Verdict <\/p>\n

Finally, let\u2019s touch on Juuse Saros<\/a>. The silence surrounding him is deafening, but don\u2019t let that fool you. If Trotz is truly making everyone available, Saros is the nuclear option. Trading a franchise goaltender signals a full-scale rebuild, not a retool. I don\u2019t expect it to happen, but in a season this unpredictable, it\u2019s the \u201cbombshell trade\u201d to keep in the back of your mind.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Trotz deserves credit for admitting a mistake. It takes guts to spend that much money in free agency and pivot less than a two years later. It\u2019s painful for the fans, but ripping the band-aid off now is better than bleeding out slowly for the next few seasons.<\/p>\n

Finding the Latest Nashville Predators News<\/p>\n

For up-to-the-minute updates on this developing story, make sure to bookmark nhltraderumor.com<\/a>. Beyond the rumors, we are your home for winning. Join our Fantasy Hockey Pool<\/a> for a chance to win real cash prizes\u2014we give you the edge you need to dominate your league. Wondering when the puck drops next? Check out our schedule page for how to watch the Predators game on TV today<\/a>. Don\u2019t miss a beat; sign up for our newsletter below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nashville Predators veteran forwards Steven Stamkos (left) and Jonathan Marchessault (right) are at the center of intensifying trade…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":403652,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5119],"tags":[5,781,1500,2409,231,5281,4,2783,2410,1489],"class_list":{"0":"post-403651","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nashville-predators","8":"tag-hockey","9":"tag-jonathan-marchessault","10":"tag-juuse-saros","11":"tag-nashville","12":"tag-nashville-predators","13":"tag-nashvillepredators","14":"tag-nhl","15":"tag-nick-kypreos","16":"tag-predators","17":"tag-steven-stamkos"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/115883106937447585","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=403651"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403651\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/403652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=403651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=403651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=403651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}