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Penguins scouts monitoring multiple Predators players entering contract years
Penguins scouts were seen at the Predators-Blackhawks game last night, as Nashville GM Barry Trotz has not shied away from saying some of his players are available.
The NHL trade market hasn't truly opened up yet, but Nashville is already becoming one of the more fascinating teams to watch.
On Friday night, the Penguins made things spicy, as their scouts were spotted in Chicago for the Predators-Blackhawks game, a game that had a lot more eyes than usual, with multiple teams' scouts there.
What GM Barry Trotz recently said about his players
Predators GM Barry Trotz has been hinting that he's open for business for weeks. He isn't pushing toward a full rebuild, but he's clearly ready to make a move. Trotz isn't sugarcoating it, either: if a team calls about one of his players, he's ready to listen.
Friday's game reflected that, as nine teams had scouts or executives in the building, which is pretty rare for a late-November matchup in the NHL.
Toronto even sent assistant GM Ryan Hardy, marking the second time this month one of their AGMs has checked in on the Blackhawks, so the Penguins are definitely not alone, and there will be competition.
The Predators have a wide mix of players drawing heavy interest. They have veterans like Ryan O'Reilly and Erik Haula, wingers like Michael Bunting and Michael McCarron, and several depth players who are on expiring deals.
They also have Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, two big-name veterans with full no-movement clauses, who have been struggling, so perhaps a change of scenery is what they need.
Why Nashville is so intriguing at the moment
That's what makes Nashville so intriguing right now. They're not tearing things down, but they're clearly open to reshaping their roster, as long as the right offer comes along.
With Penguins scouts in the building last night, they'll absolutely be keeping tabs on what Trotz decides to do from here on out.
For Penguins fans, Nashville is a team worth watching closely as December unfolds, and with Pittsburgh in a playoff spot, the team is ready to add extra firepower.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 29 | 59 ANSWERS Penguins scouts monitoring multiple Predators players entering contract years Will the Penguins and Predators swing a trade? | ||
| Yes | 29 | 49.2 % |
| No | 30 | 50.8 % |
| List of polls | ||