On the Other Hand: The Predators and Brett Pesce
Could GM Barry Trotz make a move to bring defenseman Brett Pesce to Nashville?
On the Other Hand: The Predators and Brett PesceBarry Trotz wasted no time in free agency signing Ryan O'Reilly, Luke Schenn, and Gustav Nyquist. The three signings certainly changed the way Nashville fans were preparing for a "reset" season focused on the youth, but Trotz was clear that he wanted to bring in very specific veteran players to help the team be competitive and help younger players like Cody Glass, Luke Evangelista, and Phil Tomasino as they continue to develop in their NHL careers.
This week, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that the Predators may be interested in another veteran via trade - Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce.
Should the Nashville Predators make a move for Pesce?
His Stats
2013 third round pick for Carolina Hurricanes
28 years old
Right shot defenseman
Last season: 82 games played, five goals, 30 points
Shutdown top four defenseman, paired with Brady Skjei
'23-'24 is last season on six year deal, $4,025,000 cap hit
Has a modified no trade clause
On One Hand - Bring him to Nashville
Most would agree that the Predators' defense is going to need some work next season. While the 2022-23 Nashville blue line may have ranked 12th in the league in goals against per game, that stats is far more a testament to the play of Juuse Saros than the defense in front of him.
Nashville also lost one of their best blue liners at the trade deadline when they dealt Mattias Ekholm to the Edmonton Oilers. Tyson Barrie proved to be a solid return down the stretch as other defenseman like Roman Josi and Alexandre Carrier went out of the lineup with injuries. After the Ekholm move, the Predators didn't get a chance to piece together reliable and healthy D pairings the rest of the season.
It isn't that the Preds don't have good defensive players. It seems more the case that the Preds haven't been able to find the right defensive pairings. Roman Josi needs a solid shut down defender who can free him up to create and facilitate offense, and perhaps this is where Pesce has the biggest appeal. Pesce played with partner Brady Skjei who finished the regular season tied for fourth in goals on the Hurricanes' team. Give Josi an 80 game season with a strong defensive partner and the captain's numbers could potentially be closer to his record setting 2021-22 season. (Interestingly, Pesce just changed representation and his new agent Judd Moldaver also happens to rep Josi as well.)
If the Predators are looking to solidify their defense, Pesce - a top four defenseman for a Hurricanes team that ranked second in the league last season in GAPG - may be a player who could elevate the blue line.
On the Other Hand - A Pesce Move Changes Everything
The Predators roster has plenty of right shot defensemen including a few who recently signed with the Predators - Luke Schenn and Jake Livingstone just inked deals with the team. Schenn was an early free agency signing by Barry Trotz who likes what Schenn brings to Nashville.
"He's played with high end defensemen," Trotz said of Schenn. "We have one of the greatest defensemen in the National Hockey League right now in Roman Josi. I don't like sometimes when Roman takes some big hits. Luke will make sure those big hits aren't coming too often."
If this Predators team is looking to be competitive in the next two to four years, there are younger players on the roster to focus on. Giving players like Jake Livingstone, Alexandre Carrier, and perhaps even Spencer Stastney more ice time during this "reset" could be a better long term payoff for the Predators over signing a nearly 29 yer old defenseman who is going to be looking for a new contract with term next season. The Predators just signed 2023 first round draft pick Tanner Molendyk to his three year ELC yesterday, and he may be a piece ready for NHL ice time in three to four seasons. An 8 year deal next season for Pesce may be a contract that could haunt Nashville's blue line down the road.
With a modified no trade clause, there are no guarantees Nashville would make Pesce's short list of destinations. Of course, there are also the many questions of what Nashville would have to give up to make a move for Pesce this season. Would Fabbro or Carrier be a part of a deal, and would it be worth Nashville giving up a high end prospect to make something work with Carolina?
It doesn't seem like a move to sign Pesce is in the Predators best long term interest during this new "reset" chapter, but Barry Trotz doesn't seem content to allow the Predators to be less than competitive for very long. A trade for Pesce would mean a significant revamping of the Nashville blue line roster, but if there is one thing we've seen early in Trotz's tenure, it's that he isn't afraid of making a big move.