Connecting dots: Perhaps Nashville makes for a prime trading partner for Vancouver Canucks

For a number of reasons, the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators look like they could meet each others needs

The hockey world will descend on Nashville later this month. First for the National Hockey League Awards on June 26th followed shortly thereafter by the NHL Draft on June 28th and 29th. With that as a backdrop, there will be plenty of focus on the team that calls Music City home.

It would make perfect sense for the Vancouver Canucks to reach out to the Predators to gauge their interest in playing let's make a deal.

By know, everyone in hockey knows the Canucks are motivated to make moves to clear cap space. The Predators, on the other hand, have cap flexibility to be dance partners currently sitting more than $15 million below the NHL's upper limit. 

Beyond their financial position, though is the fact that the Preds missed the playoffs, are entering a new era with Barry Trotz replacing David Poile as General Manager -- and do not discount the fact the Predators, as host team for the draft, may feel the time is right to make a significant splash. 

Trotz admitted earlier this week when replacing head coach John Hynes with Andrew Brunette that he wants Nashville to generate more offensively next season.

Would any of Brock Boeser, Conor Garland or Anthony Beauvillier be a fit in Nashville? What if the Canucks are willing to sweeten any deal? Is there a match to be made?

Matt Duchene was the lone Predator to score 20 goals last season. And only five players on the roster crested 15 goals. Nashville sat 28th in NHL offense last season generating 2.72 goals per game -- slotting between Arizona and Philadelphia in that category. The Predators were 27th in the league on the power play at 17.6%. Captain Roman Josi led the Preds with eight goals with the man-advantage while Cody Glass was the highest-scoring forward on the power play with a grand total of six on the season.

Trotz is not wrong to suggest his team could use a boost of offense. So maybe he should be chasing some this month. And if the new man in charge is willing to listen, the Canucks should very much have Nashville on speed dial.