Compared to a year ago, the start of free agency was very quiet for the Nashville Predators. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators] During the 2024 offseason, the Predators landed two of the hottest forwards in the market: Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. This year, its focus was "fixing the defense," and that's exactly what the Predators did, adding two defensemen: Nicolas Hague [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-acquire-golden-knights-defenseman-nicolas-hague-in-trade-lauzon-sissons-dealt-to-vegas] from the Vegas Golden Knights and Nick Perbix [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-sign-lightning-defenseman-nick-perbix-to-2-year-deal] from the Tampa Bay Lightning. "We've got some great prospects on the way, but I felt two things: we wanted to get bigger and we want to get younger," Predators General Manager Barry Trotz said. "The deal we made with Vegas with that in mind. You're getting a 6-foot-6 defenseman [Hague] who we project is going to be in a top 4 and is going to play high minutes." Nashville definitely has height in its defense, averaging 6-foot-2-inches among its rostered defensemen. Perbix bumped that average as he is 6-foot-4-inches. This is going to be a heightened role for Hague, as he primarily played in Vegas' bottom pairing. This past season, he had 12 points in 68 games, 40 penalty minutes, and was a minus-2. He has a hard shot, but Hague is below the league's 50th percentile [https://edge.nhl.com/en/skater/20242025-playoffs-8479980]when it comes to skating and speed bursts. Trotz believes that Hague is a good addition to the roster, giving the Predators needed depth on the backend and helping the team achieve it's overall goal of making the defense better. "If you can't defend, you can't win," Trotz said. One of the most significant talking points of the offseason has been the Predators' lack of depth at center. Nashville drafted one center, Brady Martin, fifth overall, [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/players/predators-first-rounder-brady-martin-credits-competitiveness-to-community-growing-up-on-farm] and has not picked up one in free agency yet. While the Predators are still "shopping" the market, Trotz said improving center depth is going to rely on stronger play along the wings and more consistency at defense. "On paper, it's not a deep center group. There's different ways to win," Trotz said. The Predators also extended a qualifying offer to forward Luke Evangelista [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/predators-extend-qualifying-offer-to-forward-luke-evangelista], who reached the end of his three-year, entry-level contract. The Predators' 2020 second-round draft pick scored 32 points in 68 games last season. In need of more help from the wing and wanting a younger look, Trotz went so far as to call Evangelista "the future." "We're just trying to find a term that fits," Trotz said on Evangelista's qualifying offer. "I would like to go longer. The agents are hesitant to go longer on term."
