As Colorado’s cap crunch intensifies, Nashville GM Chris MacFarland is capitalizing on his former club's desperation. Targeting Valeri Nichushkin could provide the Predators a high-impact, top-line offensive spark.
The Nashville Predators' general manager Chris MacFarland has made his second straight trade with his former club, the Colorado Avalanche.
In his first deal, he acquired Ross Colton and Isak Posch in exchange for Magnus Chrona as well as a 2026 and 2027 third-round pick.
Now, today in his second trade with the Avalanche, he acquired Jack Drury, Chase Bradley and a 2029 third-round pick. In exchange for Fyodor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux.
One thing is clear in both of these trades: the Avalanche need to shed money to fill out their roster. Which is exactly why MacFarland and the Predators are taking advantage of it and acquiring players that he knows and adding them to their roster.
Now, the Avalanche still needs to move out money, and that is where MacFarland can try for a third deal to help improve his roster.
There have been reports that Colorado is actively shopping Valeri Nichushkin, who is someone that MacFarland knows extremely well and could welcome to Nashville with open arms.
He is in his fifth year of an eight-year deal that pays him $6.1 million. That is an easy contract for the Predators to take on, especially considering how impactful he could be to their lineup.
He is coming off a 49 point season, where he scored 17 goals and 32 assists in 72 games. Which would sit fifth on the Predators in points. Mind you, that was playing on the third line. If he were on Nashville, he could slot in on their top line or even their second line. That comes with an increase in playing time, more power play time, and more chances to produce offensively.
When you take all that into consideration, as well as the fact that the Avalanche are in desperate need of cap relief. It makes a lot of sense.
In terms of asking price, the Predators would be wise to part with Nicklaus Perbix as the main roster piece going back to the Avalanche. It gives them cheap third-pairing blue liner. As well as draft capital. It may cost Nashville a second-round pick in 2028 (from the Minnesota Wild) and a 2029 third-round pick (from the Avalanche).
If there is more that needs to be added to the trade, it could be either Ozzy Wiesblatt or even the other second-round pick from the Wild, which is from this year's draft. Nevertheless, MacFarland would be smart to add Nichushkin to his young lineup, especially if he plans to move on from Steven Stamkos and Ryan O'Reilly.
