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NHL Rumours: Seattle Kraken and Nashville Predators

NHL Rumours

It’s time for another batch of NHL rumours. We’re closing in on the NHL trade deadline on March 8. Teams are facing some tough choices in what to do with their rosters. Will teams have to cut bait and trade some of their assets? Or will they make some deals to keep some players on the roster? We may find out sooner rather than later. Today’s NHL rumours is a Western Conference bias edition. We’ll focus on the Seattle Kraken and the Nashville Predators.

All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.

NHL Rumours

Seattle Kraken

Rumour: Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman during the 32 Thoughts podcast said that the Kraken want to re-sign Jordan Eberle in the off-season.

Analysis: Eberle is one of the original members of the Kraken roster. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and makes $5.5 million per season. The Seattle assistant captain has been a 20-goal scorer in his first two seasons in the Pacific Northwest. However, there is some concern that Eberle could be trade bait at the upcoming deadline.

Teams are looking to add some forward depth and Eberle could make a good depth addition. The Kraken are still hanging on for their Stanley Cup Playoff lives. However, general manager Ron Francis might be able to get some assets in return for the former Team Canada World Juniors ace.

Friedman did mention that not all hope is lost in keeping the Regina, Saskatchewan native. The Sportsnet insider said the Kraken are likely to take a run at re-singing the 33-year-old before the deadline. Eberle brings veteran leadership and can chip in a fair amount of goals.

The Kraken do have other players that are UFAs that could draw some interest like Alexander Wennberg, Tomas Tatar and Justin Schultz. Tatar is the lowest-cost player at $1.5 million, but Schultz and Wennberg make $3 million and $4 million, respectively. Seattle does have to clear out space for an upcoming new contract for Matthew Beniers this off-season. Off-loading some expiring contracts might be a way to make that happen.

Seattle might have taken a step back in this campaign. However, this team won a playoff series last year. Keeping a veteran like Eberle is hopefully in the cards for Francis and the Kraken. However, it all depends on the trade package Francis might get at the upcoming deadline.

Nashville Predators

Rumour: The insiders switched places and talked about Predators goalie Juuse Saros might be on the market. This was during The Jeff Marek Show earlier in the week.

Analysis: The Predators are doing all they can to keep it together in Andrew Brunette‘s first season. However, it might be time for general manager Barry Trotz to flip some players for assets. One of those in-demand assets could be Saros. The Finnish netminder might be on the market at a relatively low price.

Saros currently makes $5 million and has another year on his deal after this season. However, Yaroslav Askarov is making noise and putting up big numbers in Milwaukee with the Admirals. Friedman said there’s been enough noise surrounding Saros that Nashville is considering making a trade.

The insider added that the Predators are looking for offence as they’re in the middle of the pack. However, adding some more scoring could given the team what it needs. Friemdan made a note that the Predators would consider dealing the netminder if they could get a high-end forward. Saros has been mostly solid for the Predators and done a lot to keep the team in games.

Main photo by: Stephen Brashear – USA TODAY Sports

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