The Nashville Predators got a nice return by trading Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Sharks. The return included a piece that is very important this season, a first-round pick. It brings the total of first-round picks the Predators have in 2025 to three. For a team expected to already compete for the Stanley Cup, this is extremely rare. The Predators draft well, but there is a very small chance that all three first-round picks they possess will stay all the way to the draft. It is excellent trade bait to have three first rounders. Depending on how each of the three teams that the draft picks originally belonged to are doing, it can raise or lower the price by the trade deadline. Nashville could very well make a trade well before the trade deadline if the opportunity or need arises. The two big areas that need addressing now and will likely need addressing at the deadline is a second line center and a top-4 right defenseman. It's not like Barry Trotz to overpay for a player as he does well in the trades he makes for the Predators, but if the team is in a good position later in the season and it is clear where the weaknesses are, an upgrade at either is worth a first-round pick. If Nashville can get a player with a little bit of term as well, that's a bonus and even more worth the first-round pick that should be used. Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz speaks to the media following a busy first day of free agency on July 1, 2024. Why this situation for the Predators gets even better is that the team also has another second-round pick in 2025 as well. So if Nashville decides to really go for it and use a first-round pick on each of the aforementioned areas needing upgrades, that would still leave them with a first-round pick and two second-round picks. The core pieces of the Predators are locked in, there were three major additions in free agency to really make the team a serious contender, and there's plenty of high-valued assets to use to get even better. What's not to like if you're a fan of the Nashville Predators? Big things are on the horizon. RECENT PREDATORS NEWS Canucks Need to Sign Ex-Predators Goalie Kevin Lankinen for Security [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/canucks-need-to-sign-ex-predators-goalie-kevin-lankinen-for-security] Ex-Predators Defenseman Tyson Barrie Could Be Signed by Former Team [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/ex-predators-defenseman-tyson-barrie-could-be-signed-by-former-team] Ryan Johansen's Contract Termination Could Give Predators $4 Million in Salary Cap Space [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/flyers-to-terminate-ryan-johansen-contract-due-to-material-breach] Nashville Predators Are Out of Offer Sheet Danger This Summer [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-are-out-of-offer-sheet-danger-this-summer]
