Haula, Marchessault trade talk to pick up? — The Fourth Period
The Nashville Predators fit four points out of a wildcard spot in the Western Conference, but that won’t stop GM Barry Trotz from selling some pieces off his roster if the right deals present themselves.
While plenty of speculation has surrounded veteran forwards Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly this season, it seems two other veteran players may be the focal point over the next 10 days leading up to the March 6 trade deadline.
Forwards Erik Haula and Jonathan Marchessault have generated interest from several clubs this season and both could be on the move by deadline day.
Haula, 34, is in the final season of a three-year, $9.45 million contract and has a six-team no-trade list as part of his contract. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
Marchessault, 35, is in the second year of a five-year, $27.5 million contract and owns a full no-movement clause – he would need to sign off on any trade the Predators try to complete.
Trotz is navigating Nashville’s trade deadline as the club searches for a new GM – he announced earlier this month they he would be stepping retiring after the club finds a new GM – and is open to making changes to his roster.
Haula appears to be a prime candidate to be moved, as a result of his expiring contract, but moving Marchessault would generate a larger return for the Predators and there is a belief that he would be willing to waive his NMC for the right opportunity.
Teams like the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings have been linked to Marchessault in the past.
View TFP’s Trade Watch List
As TFP’s David Pagnotta reported during the Olympic break, the Predators had been working on one or two trades prior to the trade freeze and those discussions are expected to pick up now that the season has resumed, though it’s unclear if Haula or Marchessault were part of those talks.
Forwards Michael Bunting, Cole Smith, Tyson Jost and Michael McCarron, and defenceman Nick Blankenburg are also playing on expiring contracts. Both Bunting and McCarron have also generated interest from multiple teams, thus far.
