Nashville Predators GM, David Poile and AGM Paul Fenton have issued a statement to the rest of their NHL frat buddies, like the Buffalo Sabres, who are committed to the idea of moving up into the Rodeo Drive (top five) district:
If you want to play, you've got to pay.
Earlier this week at the NHL prospects combine in Toronto, the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers both floated the notion that they are in the mood to discuss trading away their numbers one and two overall draft choices, respectively.
The Nashville Predators currently hold onto the fourth overall pick in the draft and they too are open to keeping all of their options open as the June 30th draft gets closer.
Fenton told The Tennessean:
“We’ll entertain offers. We’ve already had people inquire with us about it and vice-versa,” assistant general manager Paul Fenton said. “We’ll talk about whatever position that can improve us for the whole big picture of things.”
Fenton and Poile don't have to trade the fourth overall pick, however, if a team like the Sabres wants to move up badly enough, they better back up the Brinks truck.
“In order to move up to that position (4th overall), you’re going to have to make an offer that you can’t refuse.
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Preds GM David Poile and Darcy Regier have trade history together, which could bode well for Buffalo in their desire to pole vault up into the top five where the will have a legitimate shot at drafting Darnell Nurse, Sasha Barkov, Valery Nichuskin, Elias or Lindholm.
You'll recall that the Sabres and Preds collaborated on the Paul Gaustad trade at the 2012 trade deadline. The Preds were gearing up for their playoff push and needed a veteran defensive centre who could kill penalties and win draws. Paul Gaustad was traded to Smashville in exchange for their 14th overall pick in the 2012 entry draft, which the Sabres used to draft centre Zemgus Girgensons from the USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints.
The Preds are not saying they will trade their 4th overall pick. However, they are saying that they are opened-minded to the idea. Why not listen to all offers before June 30? It makes perfect sense. If Buffalo is passionate enough to want to play in the rarified air of the top 5, they will have to pay handsomely for the opportunity to move up. In the event Regier want the 4th overall pick badly enough, he will have to give up a ton of trade value in the form of their own 8th overall pick, a second rounder, a roster player, and a prospect in order to do a deal with the Preds. The Preds are said to be looking to upgrade their top 6 forward ranks, as well as their top 4 D. The Sabres have Stafford, Leino and Sekera to use to sweeten a deal.
The Preds have 7 RFAs to be to make decisions on in forwards Nick Spaling, Daniel Bang, Matt Halischuk, and Bobby Butler. Roman Josi, he of the heroics at the Worlds for Switzerland, Jonathon Blum, and Victor Bartley are all RFAs on the Preds' blue line.
Nashville UFAs to be iclude: Brandon Yip, Chris Mason (G), Kevin Henderson and Chris Mueller.
In the event that the Predators are not wowed and impressed by a trade offer for their 4th overall pick, they will keep their pick and use it on the following manner.
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