The Predators didn't make a splash at the trade deadline this year, but their solid acquisitions are paying off as well as any team's.
The Nashville Predators' trade deadline acquisitions are already paying off in a big way and at the right time for them in the first round of the playoffs.
Both Jason Zucker and Anthony Beauvillier were acquired from the Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks to give the Predators extra scoring help up front. Through two games, they have done just that.
While it did come in the loss in Game 1 of the series, Zucker opened the scoring in the series. Head coach Andrew Brunette said that "(Zucker) has been really good. He's been a warrior. You saw his blocked shot the other night. Willing to pay the price."
The experienced trade deadline addition has made his mark on the series against the Vancouver Canucks early on and showed up in both games.
Beauvillier had a tough season being traded twice and dealing with an injury, but like Zucker, he has played a big part in the series as well. Beauvillier scored the opening goal in Game 2 and assisted on the third goal along with Zucker.
Brunette also mentioned the winger, saying "really happy for (Beauvillier), made a couple really big plays for us."
Zucker and Beauvillier are flanking Colton Sissons on the second line and the coach also noted "that line and that secondary offense kind of carried us through that game (Game 2 win in Vancouver)."
At the time of picking both of these players up for cheap at the trade deadline, it sort of flew under the radar as other playoff contenders were making bigger moves and paying the price to acquire help.
The Predators were solid all the way through and added around the edges. Zucker and Beauvillier are proving that they want to win and can handle the responsibility of adding that secondary layer of production all over the ice. I expect it to keep up throughout the series and the playoffs and maybe each of them are playing their way into a new contract with the team next season.