The Nashville Predators have a huge offseason ahead of them. After declining in 2022-23 and making some big changes that arguably should've seen the team miss the playoffs, the Predators surprised and exceeded expectations to get back to the postseason.

Nashville was able to do this with areas that could very much be improved and a lot of free cap space. This summer brings over $25 million to spend with signings and extensions to complete.

High-End Additions

With so much money, some good young players coming in and hoping to fill roles, and higher expectations to finish the season well, the Predators need to address three areas at the top of their lineup through free agency or through a trade.

The first is a top-6 centerman. Signing or acquiring a top line center is difficult and rare, this is why settling for a top-6 player to play in the middle with Ryan O'Reilly on the other line would still work well.

Tommy Novak should be the third line center and fits there very well. Colton Sissons played higher up in the lineup than he should. This is no knock on Sissons as he did a great job compared to expectations, but he would do the best down a line. Cody Glass also hardly proved he should be in the lineup, never mind serving as the second line center. There's nobody else in the system that should jump into that role too. If Nashville wants to go deeper, they need an upgrade down the middle.

Moving over to the wing, the Predators could also use a top-6 winger to go along with that. There are a good amount of options from Jake Guentzel to Martin Necas to Nikolaj Ehlers and more. Since the Predators are in a unique spot with money and an opportunity to win, it would be a huge loss if the team didn't bring in someone else to produce in the top-6.

The other higher-end player needs to be added on defense. There are some good options on either side, but the right-shot defenseman is more needed with that side being fairly weaker. Luke Schenn should be a 6th/7th defenseman, not in the top-4, and Dante Fabbro needs to get back to his old form if the Predators are going to be confident continuing to play him in the top-4 as well. Brett Pesce comes to mind as a great target, but if Nashville can't sign him, there's other options and it isn't a loss.

Saros Extension

One of the most important offseason things to do for the Predators is to lock up franchise starter Juuse Saros to a new deal even though it may be tough. There were reports that he may not sign until Igor Shesterkin signs an extension with the New York Rangers to get a good idea of what his own contract can look like.

Despite rumors that Saros will be traded, it makes little sense when there's more indication that he will re-sign rather than walk in free agency. It is no guarantee that Yaroslav Askarov will be an elite goalie, and even if he becomes one, that won't be next year. Nashville is in a place to win, not take a big step back by trading their starter who wins the team games.

Sign Bridge Backup Goalie

Staying on topic of goaltenders, the Predators need one. Kevin Lankinen isn't signed and after only two years in the AHL, I still believe there needs to be a buffer for him. By the end of next season or by the start of the 2025-26 season, he should absolutely be ready. That means signing a backup goalie who could potentially be overtaken is a good move to make.

I'm not opposed to the Predators bringing back Lankinen for another year, but there isn't any place for him to move up in Nashville right now. He might sign someplace where there is a better opportunity. Either way, the Predators can't go into next season with Saros, Askarov, and nobody else as a backup plan.

Trade Young Player

A tough decision is going to be moving on from a young forward, but I don't see any other way around it. The Predators need to compete and there just isn't enough room for Egor Afanasyev, Philip Tomasino, and Juuso Parssinen. If the Predators were worse, then absolutely keep all three on their roster. But with the expectation of bringing in a couple of high-end players, roster spots are very limited.

One of these three will definitely make the Predators next season with a possibility of two, but all three are now eligible for waivers. I don't think any of them are going to pass through without another team scooping them up and taking a chance on them. This is why one has to be moved ahead of time.

Unfortunately, this could result in the Predators making the wrong choice, but the team will get something for one of them regardless. There have been a couple of players lost on waivers that have gone on to perform better like Eeli Tolvanen and Connor Ingram. Nashville got nothing for either of them.

Sign All the RFAs

Afanasyev, Tomasino, and Parssinen are all RFAs and need contracts. Even if one is going to be moved, it would be wise to sign all of them if possible. But the result may end up that the player not signed is the one moved and the new team can deal with contract negotiations.

There are two more important RFA, Spencer Stastney and Marc Del Gaizo. Both should be on the team this season. There is no doubt about Stastney as he has been ready for part of last season, but Del Gaizo had a good showing with the Predators this season during his time with the team.

Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz speaks to the media following the team's trade of Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tyson Barrie is going to hit free agency and Alexandre Carrier is likely to join him. Even with an addition of a top-4 d-man, Del Gaizo should get playing time and contribute.

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