One reason the Nashville Predators found it easier to trade some of their key players, both young and old, was the juicy return they got for them.

Trading Yaroslav Askarov to San Jose was difficult, but the Sharks gave up a 2025 first-round pick as part of the deal. The same goes for the (in)famous trade with Tampa Bay in 2023, in which the Predators sent Tanner Jeannot to the Lightning for a package of five draft picks that included a 2025 first-rounder.

With three first-round picks already set for the upcoming draft, it would be useful to use one of them to acquire a veteran to balance the lineup and give Steven Stamkos, Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi and Jonathan Marchessault some help.

Admittedly, this idea has its flaws, but the Predators have secured top picks and prospects in previous deals because of their ability to rebuild on the fly and their prospect pool needs help.

However, if you bring in Stamkos, Marchessault and Brady Skjei in an offseason because they just made the playoffs and because they’ve already lost a bunch of young players this season, then you’re trading a first-round pick for someone who This can help now and (ideally) for a few more years makes sense.

Nashville general manager Barry Despite isn’t afraid to make moves, but if he wants this group to get back into the playoffs as quickly as possible, now is the time to be bold.