As has been the case in each of the last two seasons, it's truly difficult to see how the Nashville Predators' 2026-27 season will go.
A strong start could mean that they find a way to earn a playoff spot either in the always competitive Central Division or through the wild card, which is impossible to predict at this stage given the amount of changes to teams in the Pacific.
A slow start on the other hand, could mean that it's time to make some major changes to the aging core. In The Hockey News' list of players who could be on the trade market if their teams have a slow start, Ryan Lambert placed Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly in the top spot:
O'Reilly, 35, is in the final year of his four-year contract that he signed back in 2023 and has no trade protection. Given his strong offensive contribution last season, his effective 200-foot game, and of course his prowess in the faceoff circle, quite a few teams would likely be willing to bring him into the mix considering he carries a cap hit of just $4.5 million.
Of course, if the Predators get off to a strong start and push for a playoff spot, they may look to hang onto O'Reilly in order to give their aging forward core the best possible chance of having some success before they completely fall off.
After missing the playoffs for two straight seasons, it seems unlikely that Chris MacFarland is going to be overly patient with the older players on Nashville's roster. A rebuild, or at the very least an in-depth retooling, seems inevitable in the near future but how soon should it begin? We'll certainly find out in the coming months.
