{"id":557262,"date":"2026-04-21T13:07:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T13:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/557262\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T13:07:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T13:07:13","slug":"stamkos-predators-anticipating-quiet-off-season-with-focus-on-return-to-playoffs-in-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/557262\/","title":{"rendered":"Stamkos, Predators anticipating quiet off-season with focus on return to playoffs in 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Nashville Predators<\/a> missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second year in a row this season but the players aren\u2019t expecting wholesale changes.<\/p>\n

In November, the Predators were among the worst teams in the NHL but scraped back into the postseason race and missed the playoffs by just four points. <\/p>\n

The late surge came as Nashville was a seller at the trade deadline, moving out forwards Michael Bunting<\/a>, Cole Smith<\/a> and Michael McCarron<\/a> and defenceman Nick Blankenburg<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Despite knowing that the Predators will have a new general manager heading into the 2026-27 season after Barry Trotz announced in February his plans to retire, forward Steven Stamkos<\/a> said he doesn\u2019t anticipate a rebuild in the cards. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe had some meetings today, and I think the message was, the expectation is still to be a competitive team and to push for the playoffs,\u201d Stamkos said on Monday. \u201cSo, I don\u2019t anticipate any huge changes. We\u2019ve kind of talked about, is there going to be a rebuild? And I think that\u2019s probably safe to say not going to be the case.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we all want to be part of the solution\u2026 So, there\u2019s going to be some changes, for sure, but I think the overall message that was portrayed to us today was, \u2018Let\u2019s have a great summer and let\u2019s get off to a really good start next year and push for the playoffs, because that\u2019s what every team\u2019s goal is every year.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Trotz also said Monday that expects his successor to largely stay the course with a focus on returning to he playoffs \u201cas soon as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

#Preds<\/a> GM Barry Trotz says he expects many of the players on the Nashville roster to return and “the goal is to get back in the playoffs as soon as we can.”<\/p>\n

\u2014 Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) April 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

In recent years, the Predators have been a busy team in the off-season. <\/p>\n

Last summer, the Predators added forward Erik Haula<\/a> and defenceman Nic Hague via trade and inked defenceman Nick Perbix<\/a> to a two-year deal in free agency. At the draft, they had three first-round picks, headlined by centre Brady Martin<\/a> at No. 5. <\/p>\n

In 2024, Nashville opened the wallet in free agency, adding Stamkos, forward Jonathan Marchessault<\/a> and defenceman Brady Skjei<\/a> on long-term deals. The year prior, they bought out Matt Duchene<\/a> and inked Ryan O\u2019Reilly to a four-year deal. <\/p>\n

This season, the Predators have just two players who are unrestricted free agents in forwards Haula and Tyson Jost<\/a> while defenceman Justin Barron<\/a> is their lone RFA. <\/p>\n

O\u2019Reilly believes the team is on its way to being a contender. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not too far away,\u201d O\u2019Reilly said. \u201cLooking at the core and the veteran guys, I think a lot of us still have a few good years left in us. If we can add maybe a piece or two, that we\u2019d be close and be right there with any other team. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I\u2019m optimistic that we can be a contender. It\u2019ll be interesting to see over summer how it goes, but there\u2019s so many good people in here, so many good players that I\u2019m confident that we can make something happen.\u201d<\/p>\n