As Nashville pivots toward a youthful future, the veteran’s elite production and professional poise provide the essential leadership needed to insulate the roster’s emerging core stars.
While rumors swirl about the Nashville Predators potentially weaponizing a dry center market to trade some of their pieces, there is one veteran they absolutely need to keep around. Shopping Steven Stamkos might make sense if a team blinks and decides to overpay, but new general manager Chris MacFarland would be smart to hang on to Ryan O'Reilly.
O'Reilly is entering the final year of his contract, and his value on the trade market would certainly be high. He is coming off a good season where he put up 25 goals and 74 points in 81 games, proving he can still produce like a top-line center at 35 years old.
However, his impact in Nashville goes far beyond the scoresheet. The Predators are transitioning toward a younger core, recently bringing in Jack Drury on a five-year deal and leaning on emerging talent like Luke Evangelista, Matthew Wood, and Brady Martin, among others. In order to successfully navigate this youth movement, those players need the right insulation. Which is what O'Reilly would be.
That's not to say that MacFarland can't decide to deal O'Reilly closer to, or at, the 2027 NHL Trade Deadline. It would just be wise for the organization to keep him around for the bulk of the 2026-27 season so the younger, future core can see a true pro in action.
