Like every other team, the Nashville Predators entered into the silly season with a couple of holes to fill on their roster. In the first couple of days, the Predators seemed to be quiet on the free agency front until news broke out that they signed forward Bobby Ryan to a 2 year deal worth $7,000,000 per season. 

 

 

 

"Bobby Ryan is someone we had circled since the end of last season. We courted him at the very beginning of free agency, and him and our team had very good dialogue since the beginning. We had a need in our top 6, and the idea of playing alongside Crosby and McDavid was quite appealing to him." Wolf said. "We're very excited to add the #1 target we had all along in free agency and Ryan is very excited to join our franchise as well. It just seems like a natural fit for both parties." 

 

 

 

Bobby Ryan joins an offense that already boasts the likes of Crosby, McDavid, Hall, Skinner, and Okposo. Ryan will most likely slot in the 2nd line and play with McDavid for the majority of the season, an opportunity most players in the league would be excited for. "I am quite excited to join this team" Ryan said in a phonecall interview. "I had numerous teams contact me, but it was the Predators that really stood out from the very beginning. Everything that general manager Eric Wolf had to say about the team and his plans moving forward and why he wanted me in the fold really spoke volumes. I believe everything he had to say and I really believe he wants me a part of this team. It was an easy decision for me." Ryan said. 

 

 

 

Bobby Ryan joins his 4th team in the EHE. He previously played for the Ducks, Blues, and Canucks. Ryan hopes to settle some roots here in Nashville.

 

 

 

The Predators weren't done there, with them needing to strengthen their bottom 6, they also signed free agent Trevor Lewis to a 2 year deal worth $2,800,000 per season. "We really like Lewis's game and feel like his playstyle will compliment our bottom 6 very well. He has good speed and can play both ends of the ice. He's also a very versatile player and can play all 3 forward positions, so that was very appealing to us." Wolf said. 

 

 

 

With the additions of Bobby Ryan and Trevor Lewis, the Predators opening line-up on forward project to be,

 

Hall-Crosby-Okposo

Skinner-McDavid-Ryan

Hertl-Haula-Lewis

Meier-Matthias-White

 

 

 

The Predators also made a trade. In need of a goalie, the Predators shipped forward Jordan Martinook to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for goaltender Jacob Markstrom. 

 

 

 

"The goalie market was very bad this year." Wolf explained. "We obviously have been doing our homework and have been looking for a goaltender for a couple of months now. We had some interest in free agency with a couple goaltenders, but the prices were ridiculous." 

 

 

 

Wolf is likely referring to the top 3 coveted goalies in free agency: Luongo, Mason, and Howard. All 3 goalies signed deals over $5,000,000 a year. The Predators also explored other options via the trade route for quite some time, but every goalie that was available costed too much for Wolf. "We explored for a long time to find the best possible fit. The goalies either had too crazy of a contract, or teams wanted draft picks or our top young players, and we just aren't prepared to part ways with that." Wolf retorted. "But when I placed a call to Sven in Anaheim, a deal came together very quickly." 

 

 

 

The Predators give up an original player they drafted in the inaugural draft in Jordan Martinook. "It's tough to move Martinook. But next summer we have players like Hall, Skinner, Haula, Krug, and Severson to re-sign. We wouldn't of realistically been able to squeeze Martinook under the cap. With players like Meier, Sprong, Kostin, and Gauthier likely joining our team on entry level contracts - Martinook becomes the odd man out." Wolf explained.

 

 

 

Markstrom has only played 23 games in the history of the EHE. 20 for the Rangers, and just 3 for his previous team the Ducks. He will get an opportunity between the pipes for the Predators.

 

 

 

It appears that Nashvilles off-season moves have come to an end, and their shift now focuses to pre-season. "We made our first playoff appearance last year and unfortunately got bounced pretty early by the Wild... our goal this year is to build off of that and go even further." Wolf concluded.