The Nashville Predators are looking to take their next big step under general manager Barry Trotz. They’ve hired Luke Richardson as an assistant coach and signed Nick Perbix to a two-year deal. Several Predators players seem to show up every time a trade discussion begins. One recurring name on just about every trade board is Conn Smythe-winning right wing Jonathan Marchessault.
Nick Kypreos, an insider for Sportsnet, mentioned Marchessault’s name on his trade board. “If the Predators have a chance to move one of their expensive, long-term contracts, Jonathan Marchessault would be the most likely.”
Last season, Marchessault signed a five-year, $27.5M contract with the Predators. He followed up his Conn Smythe-winning 42-goal season with a solid 21 goals and 35 assists for 56 points in 78 games. Marchessault spent last season on the team’s top line opposite Filip Forsberg and Steven Stamkos. He brings grit, experience and a goal-scoring touch to any line, consistently putting up at least 20 goals a season.
Several Teams Interested in Marchessault
As far as suitors go, Kypreos named a bevy of Canadian franchises as potential matches. “There are several teams that have a need to add scoring into their top-six mix, including the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers. The question would be if he’d lift his no-movement clause to go anywhere. Marchessault’s contract runs another four seasons with a $5.5-million cap hit.”
The Oilers have come up short the last two seasons at the Stanley Cup Final. The Maple Leafs are still searching for a scorer to replace Mitch Marner’s production. The Senators are young and ready to take their next big step. All three franchises could absolutely use a player like Marchessault. But both the Maple Leafs and Oilers will need to clear up cap space if they hope to secure the flashy forward.
Predators Shut Down Trade Rumors
Trotz spoke to the media after the trade deadline regarding a potential Marchessault trade. Trade speculation involving the 34-year-old was abuzz as the deadline came and went, resurfacing again during the draft. Trotz mentioned, at the time, that he’d spoken to Marchessault’s agent, Pat Brisson, to ensure that Marchessault was happy.
“There’s no truth to any of that [trade speculation],” Trotz said. “If [Marchessault] is going to look for something, he [would be] calling his agent and he [would be] calling me. I was just checking in with [Brisson] because people are going, `What’s happening [with Marchessault]?’ There’s nothing happening. I didn’t know if anything was happening, so I just double checked with him that maybe I missed something. I didn’t miss anything.”
With that said, a good general manager keeps his finger on the pulse. It would take quite a bit of effort by another team to even open the door for a trade discussion. To top it all off, Marchessault would need to agree to waive his no-movement clause. As it stands right now, the team can’t trade Marchessault without his permission.
A lot of things will need to go right if Trotz does decide to move Marchessault. With all that said, the amount of roadblocks in place make a trade for Marchessault highly unlikely.
NHL Analyst Predicts Trade for Predators Forward