Brady Skjei is on the trade market, and the Predators are finding that interested teams get nervous once they see the contract.
According to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, some of the teams that have spoken with Nashville are reluctant to take on the remaining money in full. Pagnotta said on DFO Insider that the Predators are listening and have had conversations.
Skjei is 32. He signed a seven-year, $49 million deal in July 2024 that carries a $7 million cap hit and runs through 2030-31.
Pagnotta believes plenty of playoff contenders could be interested but simply don't have the cap space. And Nashville GM Chris MacFarland's asking price is expected to be hefty, which is a hard sell for teams already close to the cap.
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | |
| 2026-27 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -7 |
| Career | 786 | 81 | 228 | 309 | -17 |
The current season isn't helping the pitch. Skjei has three assists, a -7 rating and 15 blocked shots through 13 games, while averaging 19:38 of ice time.
The longer view is rougher. Since arriving in Nashville, he has 13 goals and 62 points over 177 games, with a -38 rating.
A hefty price tag on a defenseman with that rating, on a deal that runs four more seasons after this one, is a tough ask of any contender. If MacFarland insists on real assets back, this one could sit for a while.
Nicolas Hague also on the Predators' radar of trade targets
Skjei isn't the only blueliner drawing attention. TSN's Darren Dreger reported that Nicolas Hague's name is also out there, and that both defensemen are names in play that other general managers are watching.
Dreger described it as more of a long-term goal for MacFarland. Nashville has been getting younger on the back end, adding Jayden Struble by trade and Daemon Hunt off waivers.
Hague is 27 and stands 6-foot-6, with a $5.5 million cap hit through 2028-29. He has no goals and one assist through 13 games this season, with a -7 rating.
There's a timing factor too. Hague gets a six-team no-trade list next year, which narrows the Predators' options if they plan to move him. Nashville has to decide whether to sell him before that list takes effect.
Should the Predators eat part of Brady Skjei's contract to get a deal done?
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