{"id":651016,"date":"2026-08-28T08:06:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T08:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/651016\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T08:06:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T08:06:16","slug":"2026-27-nashville-predators-season-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/651016\/","title":{"rendered":"2026-27 Nashville Predators Season Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Nashville Predators enter the 2026\u201327 season with a reshaped roster after a busy offseason that saw them hire a new general manager, add significant forward depth, and bolster their defense. The moves signal a win-now approach, leaning on a veteran core and adding experienced pieces to push for another deep playoff run.<\/p>\n

Key Additions<\/p>\n

Chris MacFarland (General Manager) \u2013 Hired on June 2nd to replace Barry Trotz. The 44-year-old brings a wealth of experience, including four seasons as GM of the Colorado Avalanche, and is expected to implement a more aggressive, win-now strategy.<\/p>\n

Mavrik Bourque (C) \u2013 Acquired from Dallas on July 1st with Ilya Lyubushkin in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick. The 24-year-old center scored 20 goals and 41 points in 82 games last season, bringing speed, two-way play, and middle-six scoring punch.<\/p>\n

Ross Colton (C) \u2013 Acquired from Colorado on June 16th in exchange for goaltender Magnus Chrona and 2026\/2027 third-round picks. The 29-year-old scored 21 goals and 44 points in 78 games last season, bringing physicality, penalty-kill prowess, and middle-six depth. He\u2019s expected to play a third-line role.<\/p>\n

Jack Drury (C) \u2013 Acquired from Colorado on June 26th in exchange for Zachary L\u2019Heureux and Fedor Svechkov. The 26-year-old scored 10 goals and 17 assists in 82 games last season, bringing two-way play, versatility, and middle-six depth. He\u2019s expected to play a third-line role.<\/p>\n

Nils Hoglander (LW) \u2013 Acquired from Vancouver on June 29th for a 2029 third-round pick. The 25-year-old left-wing brings speed, skill, and bottom-six depth, expected to compete for a top-nine role.<\/p>\n

Alex Kerfoot (C) \u2013 Signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal on July 1st. The 32-year-old brings two-way play, versatility, and middle-six depth, expected to play a third-line role.<\/p>\n

Ilya Lyubushkin (D) \u2013 Acquired from Dallas in the Bourque trade. The 32-year-old right-shot defenseman brings physicality, veteran presence, and third-pairing minutes.<\/p>\n

Adam Edstrom (C) \u2013 Acquired from Vancouver in the Hoglander trade. The 23-year-old center brings size, two-way play, and AHL depth, expected to compete for a call-up role.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Key Subtractions<\/p>\n

Erik Haula (C) \u2013 Signed a two-year, $3.6 million AAV deal with Los Angeles on July 1st. The 35-year-old scored 14 goals and 24 assists in 81 games last season, a notable loss of veteran depth and two-way play.<\/p>\n

Zachary L\u2019Heureux (LW) \u2013 Traded to Colorado in the Drury deal. The 23-year-old left-wing had four goals and one assist in 25 games, removing youth and depth from the bottom six.<\/p>\n

Fedor Svechkov (C) \u2013 Also dealt to Colorado in the Drury trade. The 23-year-old center had four goals and 13 assists in 70 games, a loss of youth and two-way depth.<\/p>\n

Magnus Chrona (G) \u2013 Traded to Colorado in the Colton deal. The 24-year-old goaltender had NHL potential but was deemed expendable.<\/p>\n

Tyson Jost (C) \u2013 Departed in free agency. The 28-year-old center had 10 goals and 18 points in 68 games, removing forward depth.<\/p>\n

Jordan Oesterle (D) \u2013 Departed in free agency. The 34-year-old left-shot defenseman had nine assists in 67 games, a loss of veteran depth on the left side.<\/p>\n

Andreas Englund (D) \u2013 Departed in free agency. The 30-year-old left-shot defenseman had five assists in 68 games, removing physicality and depth from the third pairing.<\/p>\n

Impact on 2026\u201327<\/p>\n

The Predators\u2019 offseason moves signal a clear push toward competitiveness. MacFarland brings a win-now mindset, while Bourque, Colton, and Drury add significant forward depth and versatility. The departures of Haula, L\u2019Heureux, and Svechkov remove some youth and two-way play, but the additions should push Nashville up the standings. Expect the Predators to be in the playoff hunt, with a deeper, more balanced lineup pushing for another deep playoff run.<\/p>\n

Salary Cap Situation<\/p>\n

Projected cap hit \u2013 $96,329,556
Roster \u2013 23\/23
Projected cap space \u2013 $7,670,444
Deadline cap space \u2013 $35,430,146<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators Depth Chart<\/p>\n

\"Nashville<\/a><\/p>\n

Nashville Predators Depth Chart from PuckPedia.com<\/a> \u2013 Aug. 23rd<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Top Nashville Predators prospects<\/p>\n

David Satriano
NHL.com <\/a>
Aug. 16th, 2026
\nSteven Ellis
Daily Faceoff<\/a>
July 28th, 2026
\nMcKeen\u2019s Hockey<\/a>
May 11th, 2026
\nScott Wheeler
The Athletic<\/a>
Apr. 5th, 2026<\/p>\n

1
\nBrady Martin (F)
\nWyatt Cullen (LW)
\nBrady Martin (C)
\nBrady Martin (C)<\/p>\n

2
\nWyatt Cullen (F)
\nBrady Martin (C)
\nYegor Surin (C)
\nRyker Lee (LW)<\/p>\n

3
\nTanner Molendyk (D)
\nRyker Lee (LW)
\nTanner Molendyk (LHD)
\nYegor Surin (C)<\/p>\n

4
\nCameron Reid (D)
\nYegor Surin (C\/LW)
\nReid Schaefer (LW)
\nMatthew Wood (RW)<\/p>\n

5
\nEgor Surin (F)
\nCameron Reid (LHD)
\nCameron Reid (LHD)
\nTanner Molendyk (LHD)<\/p>\n

6<\/p>\n

Tommy Bleyl (RHD)
\nRyker Lee (LW)
\nCameron Reid (LHD)<\/p>\n

7<\/p>\n

Tanner Molendyk (LHD)
\nJack Ivankovic (G)
\nJack Ivankovic (G)<\/p>\n

8<\/p>\n

Felix Nilsson (C)
\nRyan Ufko (RHD)
\nRyan Ufko (RHD)<\/p>\n

9<\/p>\n

Jack Ivankovic (G)
\nDavid Edstrom (C)
\nFedor Svechkov (C)<\/p>\n

10<\/p>\n

Ryan Ufko (RHD)
\nJoakim Kemell (RW)
\nZachary L\u2019Heureux (LW)<\/p>\n

Read more on the top Nashville Predators prospects<\/a> heading into the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n

We had to restart our X account. Please follow @MyNHLRumorsX<\/a><\/p>\n

Have you\u00a0subscribed to our YouTube channel<\/a>? Rumor roundups and hot topics from around the league. We\u2019re also posting some stuff on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you love our reporting, choose NHLrumors.com as a preferred source on Google.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n