The Nashville Predators were the darlings of free agency this summer. After going on a miracle run last year to make the playoffs (the U2 run), the Predators went big game hunting in free agency. They signed Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei to massive deals in the summer.
Unfortunately for the Predators, these moves did not pan out, and they were a bottom-five team in the league this year. Many thought they would blow it up at the trade deadline, but many of their veterans expressed they want to work through the problem together. It also helps that the Preds have three first-round picks this draft, so they still have hope for the future.
The Predators also have some promising prospects in Matthew Wood and Tanner Molendyk. Additionally, they acquired young defenseman Justin Barron from Montreal this year in exchange for Alex Carrier. Yet there is one young player who has yet to break out in Nashville.
Luke Evangelista
Luke Evangelista has yet to find a consistent role with the Predators in recent years and is an RFA this offseason. Pens GM Kyle Dubas has shown that he wants to target young players who are disgruntled on other teams. He made moves this year to acquire Tommy Novak and Phil Tomasino from Nashville. Both are young players who did not live up to their high draft pick hype.
Evangelista will need to be offersheeted in order for the Pens to potentially acquire him. I would offer him a 2-year $4.6 million AAV deal. This would cost a 2026 second-round pick from the Penguins. Now the Predators could match, but if they do not getting a soon-to-be 24-year-old winger and give him extensive ice time, he averaged only 14 minutes a game this year would be a shrewd move to make.