Four players that could change the trajectory of the Predators' reset may end up being big bargains for the team.

The Nashville Predators are counting on veterans Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, and newly signed free agents Ryan O'Reilly and Gustav Nyquist to  lead the team in this new chapter. If Josi and Forsberg can stay healthy and O'Reilly and Nyquist jump into the lineup and contribute offensively, the Nashville reset will be off to a solid start. 

Those veterans don't come cheap. Their combined AAV for 2023-24 is $25,244,000, and Nashville will need the four to earn every penny of that. There are, however, four players who will cost the Predators less than $5 million dollars in total and could be as important to the season's outcome as the expensive veterans. 

Tommy Novak

AAV: $800,000

One of the biggest surprises last season was the emergence of 26 year old Tommy Novak. Novak played 27 games in 2021-2022, but his performance last season helped the Predators stay in the postseason hunt right down to the last week of the regular season. Novak scored 17 goals and 43 points in 51 games and made a nearly inarguable case for making the Preds roster out of camp this season. 

While Novak will have a hard time replicating his 18.7 shooting percentage - eighth best in the league and better than Connor McDavid and Mikko Rantanen - his offensive playmaking ability and solid defense round out a skill set that could make Novak a game changer. The return of veteran Filip Forsberg and the additions of Ryan O'Reilly and Gustav Nyquist will move Novak down in the line up, but a potential 20 goal scorer anywhere on the roster could be game changing for the Predators. 

Cody Glass

AAV: $2,500,000

This is Cody Glass's season. In 2022-23 he went from being just happy to make the roster out of training camp to a confident player who coolly eliminated the Calgary Flames from the postseason with a must win shootout goal on April 10. His growth last season was one of the best storylines of 23-24. 

It still wasn't a perfect season for Glass. He was a healthy scratch for games earlier in the season as he found his footing. When he was catapulted into a top role after injuries depleted the roster, he quickly looked like he belonged there. The 24 year old has an opportunity this season to center some of Nashville's top line talent and solidify his place as an important piece of the Predators' future core. 

Glass could end up being one of Barry Trotz's biggest bargains. Glass just signed a 2 year, $5 million dollar deal. If he can finish on a few more of his shooting opportunities and earn playing time with a teammate like Filip Forsberg, this could be Glass's breakout season that has been four years in the making. 

Luke Evangelista

AAV: $797,500

Evangelista is the wild card in this group of potential game changing bargains. A player who was initially called up to fill in for a weekend, Evangelista arrived on February 28 for his NHL debut and never left Nashville until the season ended. In his 24 games, the 21 year old scored seven goals and 15 points. 

Evangelista displayed his high hockey IQ while in Nashville. A wise pause and move around Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs netted Evangelista his first NHL goal on March 6 - the first of two that night. Evangelista sees the ice well and capitalizes on those small playmaking pockets of time and space. He also played a solid two way game in his introduction to the NHL.

Where Evangelista fits in with this new roster reset will be decided in training camp. He showed glimpses of being a top line player in waiting, but much will be determined by how Andrew Brunette views next season. Can Brunette balance developing young players like Evangelista with getting the Predators back into the postseason? Many fans hope to see #77 on the top line when the season begins. That will be decided by his performance in training camp and the new coach's vision. 

Juuso Pärssinen

AAV: $850,833

On paper, Juuso Pärssinen's 45 game NHL debut season may seem an unlikely success. As a seventh round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, some might think his solid performance in 2022-23 was luck, but this is a player who could be one of Nashville's future stars. How he is utilized next season will determine how quickly that happens. 

Pärssinen is a pass first player who is also a scoring threat. In his 45 games in gold, he scored six goals and 19 points. The 6 foot 3, 212 lb center uses his size and strength in front of the net but also has a finesse to his game that makes him an interesting offensive player to watch. His overtime between the legs goal against the Minnesota Wild on April 13.

The Finnish center is another piece of a brighter hockey future in Nashville. Where he will fit into next season's roster could determine how quickly he realizes that potential. Even in a bottom six role Pärssinen would add depth scoring and playmaking that could give Nashville the boost the team needs to get back to being a contender in the Central Division.