Nashville Predators have acquired Soo Greyhounds Andrew Gibson from the Detroit Red Wings

The 2023-24 NHL season has officially ended with the Florida Panthers having crowned Stanley Cup Champions. The NHL Draft takes place in three days on Jun. 28 and 29, before the free agency window opens up on July 1. And NHL teams have already started to make changes to their roster and organizational depth.

The Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings completed a trade Tuesday afternoon involving Soo Greyhounds top pairing defenseman Andrew Gibson.

The Red Wings trading away Gibson comes as a bit of a surprise, seeing as the team signed him to an entry-level contract in April. The 6-foot-4, 206-pound rearguard was drafted 42nd overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, but now is a member of the Predators organization.

Nashville gave up a 2024 second round pick (originally Tampa Bay’s pick) and Finnish prospect Jesse Kiiskinen.

This trade works out well for the Soo Greyhounds defenseman. The Red Wings are loaded with defensemen in their prospect pipeline. Gibson’s path to the NHL would require having to beat out players like Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Shai Buium, and William Wallinder for a roster spot down the road.

In Nashville, there are fewer high-end defense prospects in the Preds' system. Gibson could be considered the Predators' top right-shot defense prospect. While he is not yet ready to play in the NHL, Nashville does need to strengthen the right side of their defense.

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