Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
It was last summer when Barry Trotz took over as GM of a veteran Nashville Predators team at a philosophical crossroads.
Gone was David Poile, who had been the GM ever since the team’s inception. And after missing the playoffs and losing key pieces such as Mattias Ekholm, Matt Duchene, Tanner Jeannot and Ryan Johansen, many were bracing themselves for a lengthy rebuild.
Instead, Trotz went all-in and signed Ryan O’Reilly, Luke Schenn and Gustav Nyquist on July 1 and then steered the team into an unlikely playoff spot.
“I don’t want you to come to Nashville to retire,” Trotz said at the time. “I want you to come to Nashville to win.”
A year later, Trotz continued that message by making an even bigger July 1 splash by signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei.
A year ago, Trotz said he didn't want Nashville to be a place where vets went to retire.
— Michael Traikos (@Michael_Traikos) July 1, 2024
Stamkos, who is 34, and Marchessault, who is 33, may very well end up retiring in Nashville. But with a playoff-caliber core that still includes defenseman Roman Josi, forward Filip Forsberg and goalie Juuse Saros — who will reportedly sign an eight-year extension — they may end up doing so with more championship rings on their fingers.
Either way, the Predators continue to surprise a lot of hockey fans with the direction they are taking.
It all started with Stamkos.
When the Lightning started shedding salary over the weekend by trading Mikhail Sergachev and Tanner Jeannot — a cap savings of $11 million — it appeared the money would be spent on re-signing their captain. But GM Julien BriseBois instead went younger and went after free agent Jake Guentzel — a move that caught Stamkos by surprise.
“To be completely honest, I found myself asking the same question,” Stamkos told Sportsnet when asked what led to his exodus from Tampa Bay. “The more people I talked to, everyone seemed to share that same sentiment, which is puzzling and strange. At the end of the day, there was no question that I was willing to put all that aside to remain a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“Like I said, my family and I absolutely love playing for that city and playing for the players that are there. It just seemed that not everyone thought that way. Listen, I’m a big boy, I can’t handle that. We went about doing our business. I felt that I played extremely well this year regardless of the contract distraction … we wanted it to end and retire with the Tampa Bay Lightning. It certainly didn’t work out, but at the end of the day in order to look yourself in the mirror you have to be honest with yourself, know yourself, know what loyalty and respect means to you and move on.”
Whether Guentzel, who is five years younger, is a better fit than Stamkos remains to be seen. But don’t necessarily assume so.
Related: NHL Free Agent Frenzy 2024: Tracker, Top 50 Ranking, Analysis
Stamkos, who signed a four-year deal with an $8-million cap hit after failing to come to terms with the Lightning, might be considered old. But he’s coming off a 40-goal, 81-point season. And he’s won two Stanley Cups as the heart and soul of the team.
In other words, he can still play. And he can still lead.
Marchessault, who signed for five years at $5.5 million per year, is another useful weapon that continues to get better with age. This year, he set a career high with 42 goals and led the Golden Knights with 69 points.
Despite his salt-and-pepper hair, the 30-year-old Skjei is the youngster of the trio. He was also regarded as one of the top defenseman available in free agency, which is why the Predators had to pay top dollar, signing him for seven years at $7-million annually.
In a crowded and competitive Central Division, suddenly Nashville looks to be just as dangerous as Dallas, Winnipeg and Colorado — the top three teams. If anything, they just might be the favorites heading into next year.
That is, as long as Father Time doesn’t come for Stamkos and Marchessault.
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News Summary:
- Seen Stamkos? Try Nashville, Where Everyone Wants to Go to Win – Not Retire
- Check all news and articles from the latest NHL updates.