Report: Predators Searching Rigorously for Centers on Trade Market

The Nashville Predators really need to get the offense going and their latest win was a good start. The team has a long way to go to turn their season around and get back in the playoff picture.

Barry Trotz has already mentioned a rebuild plan that likely entails adding more to get the Predators working right. It was reported that the Predators have examined the trade market for centers extensively according to Frank Seravalli.

Nashville currently has Ryan O'Reilly as the top line center and that isn't changing this season. Beyond that, Colton Sissons, Tommy Novak, and Michael McCarron are the primary options down the middle for the other three lines. For a team with playoff and Stanley Cup aspirations this season, that has to be upgraded.

The Predators didn't have enough money to do so in the off-season as Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei ate up $20.5 million AAV while Alexandre Carrier got a $3.75 million AAV extension and Juuse Saros' eight-year, $7.74 million AAV deal kicks in next season.

The cap is going up and the Predators have cleared some space since the start of the season with Dante Fabbro being claimed off of waivers. It is all leading to something that is going to happen in Nashville that will shake things up.

Related: Stamkos Scores Twice on Power Play to Lift Predators to 5-3 Win Over Canucks

It is difficult to find centers to trade for in general, but this early in the season is an even tougher task. There are always players that are in need of a change in scenery and it doesn't appear as though any prospect or young player is ready to step into the second line center role and eliminate the need to go out and find a center.

The Predators have been at the wrong end of letting a player go and seeing them play a lot better, so it could be time that this team got that same luck in a deal. Veteran or less experienced player, the Predators do need to make a move and shake things up. It was a big shift bringing in the new top-end players and there is an adjustment period, but acquiring another solid player could improve things immediately.

Trotz has to try as he is at the helm and he built this new-look team. This is something we should be keeping a close eye on as there could be a deal done well before the trade deadline.

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