Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have acquired Andrei Kostitsyn from the Montreal Canadiens for their second round pick in 2013 and the conditional fifth round pick received from Montreal in the Hal Gill trade.

Andrei Kostitsyn will join his younger brother, Sergei, in the Nashville Predators attack and will try to lift their offense.  Being with his brother and moving to a Stanley Cup contending team, AK-46 could re-spark his season and flow with the Predators' organization.

Nashville is in a solid spot and continue to surge, but the Predators were in need of another experienced threat on offense to contend with the heavyweights.

Speaking of the playoffs, the Predators picked up much-needed playoff experience in Andrei Kostitsyn, who has appeared in 41 playoff games in the past four seasons. The Canadiens have made the playoffs for the past four seasons with AK-46, and reached the conference finals in 2010. AK-46 has 11 career playoff goals.

Andrei Kostitsyn has 24 points so far with 12 goals and 12 assists in 53 games. In six seasons with the Habs, he scored 20 goals or more in three of them.

As we approach the trade deadline, this is the third trade for the Predators in the past few weeks, picking up Hal Gill to solidify the defense and now strengthening the offense by adding Sergei's older brother.

Having two brothers on the same attack proves to be effective, as we've seen with the Sedin twins in Vancouver.

The Predators are in action tonight against the L.A. Kings at home.

Preds GM David Poile hasn't executed the blockbuster Rick Nash trade that was being whispered just prior to the trade deadline, but he still got one of his long-time targets in a deal with the Montreal Canadiens.

"(Andrei) Kostitsyn to the #preds for a 2nd round pick in 2013 and the Hal Gill conditional 5th" via Predators beat writer for The Tennessean Joshua Cooper 

ESPN's Pierre LeBrun is also reporting the trade. 

The Predators reunite Andrei Kostitsyn with his brother Sergei, who led the Predators in goals last season. The siblings previously played together in Montreal for three seasons before Sergei was traded to the Preds in 2010. 

Kostitsyn has 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) on the season and is averaging about 15 minutes of ice time per game. His $3.25 million contract is set to expire at the end of this season. 

This move for Nashville helps to solidify their chances at making a Stanley Cup run this season. With Kostitsyn at the end of his contract, they are able to avoid a huge salary cap hit that would have come with a trade for superstar forward, Nash. 

Kostitsyn is also more of a balanced, team-oriented player that fits Nashville's system quite well. He should gel well in Music City, while announcers pound their heads wondering what to do when both Kostitsyns are on the ice.  

Don't get me wrong, Nash would have been a big addition, but in this deal the Preds were able to bolster their roster with a much-needed forward while keeping their team intact. 

With only three hours left in this year's trade window—set to end at 3 p.m. ET Monday—this could be the last deal for Nashville before their postseason run.

One question remains for Poile as the clock ticks on: Will it be enough? 

The first trade of the NHL Trade Deadline is one that came from nowhere.

The Nashville Predators and Montreal Canadiens were pretty quiet in talks, but when the deadline hit, they finalized the first trade on Deadline Day.

Nashville receives Andrei Kostitsyn, whose younger brother Sergei already plays for the Predators. The Kostitysn brothers will bolster the Predators' offense.

Playing in the Central division, Nashville is looking to move out of the five spot in the Western Conference and get the home ice advantage against Central division rival St. Louis Blues. Kostitsyn will instantly add some scoring punch to a line-up that can be stagnant at times.

Montreal, in return, receives a 2013 second-round pick, and the pick that the Predators received in the trade for Hal Gill.

Montreal is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, and are looking to rebuild so they can be a contender in a few years. The Canadiens knew that the playoffs were out of the question this year, and thus wanted to get the most bang for their buck with the players they have now. 

The NHL Trade Deadline is always an exciting time. The first trade of a day started out absolutely nowhere, and now the Predators are making moves to make a final push into the top of the Western Conference.

It will be interesting to see how the rest of the NHL reacts, and who else is dealt at the deadline.

The Nashville Predators find themselves in an interesting position as the trade deadline approaches.

On one hand, they should be looking to improve their team. And, not only for this season, but to keep elite defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter in town this offseason.

On the other hand, if they truly are in the Rick Nash sweepstakes as has been rumored, his huge cap hit moving forward would make it more difficult to retain the two, or at the very least, alter their negotiations.

Having a player on the roster with a $7.8 million cap hit will do that.

Choices, so many choices. We get our Nash to Nashville rumor from Bruce Garrioch via Twitter:

Keep an eye on the Nashville Predators today. They are hungry to make a deal. As I said before they even called CBJ about Nash. #NHL

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) February 27, 2012

Nash would certainly make a big splash for the Predators, though they might be better served looking to make improvements on a smaller scale. Nash would cost a bevy of young talent and would be a huge salary cap hit, something this team doesn't need to sustain to remain competitive.

The name "Rick Nash" has recently caused fans to jump for joy and to try to justify why paying a huge cost for him would be worthwhile, but Nashville has a strong team as constructed—they are fourth in the Western Conference with 79 points—and Nash could actually hamper their long-term plans, i.e. retaining both Weber and Suter.

I wouldn't expect this trade to happen because there are too many questions.

Why would the Columbus Blue Jackets trade Nash to a rival?

Would Nash waive his no-trade clause for the Preds?

But, if Nashville is eager to get this done, I think that desire is misplaced.

Let someone else overpay for Nash. The Predators' best bet is to find a smaller, more affordable trade that will indicate they are constantly trying to improve their team while not tying up much-needed cap space this offseason.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets are more entertaining than the Slam Dunk Contest.

Just a day before the Feb. 27 trade deadline, the Columbus Blue Jackets may have finally been wowed by an offer for their soon-to-leave Rick Nash by the Nashville Predators, as they try to swoop in and nab one of the league's most prolific scorers.

Nashville City Paper writer David Boclair reported that the Preds have an offer on the table for Nash. 

"Source believes the Nashville Predators have made the greatest offer for Rick Nash. Ultimately, it is up to Nash if he will waive his NMC." via (@HockeyBreak)

The Preds have reportedly offered the likes of Colin Wilson, Ryan Ellis, Teemu Laakso and a first-round pick for Nash. 

While Nashville has rarely been publicly in the sweepstakes for the Blue Jackets captain, it may be the best offer they receive before the trade deadline. Wilson is a budding offensive weapon and would help replace Nash, while Ellis is one of the league's premier young defenders.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers have been rumored to be the only teams left in the hunt for Nash before reports that Preds GM David Poile is trying to pull undeniably the biggest deal in franchise history.

The Rangers have offered up one of their two highest-scoring defensemen in Michael Del Zotto and Ryan McDonagh, as well as a prospect and first-round pick. Ellis' potential could trump the two Rangers while New York doesn't offer any offensive explosiveness to replace Nash. 

The Predators are unlikely on Nash's wishlist, but he has to consider them given the playoff atmosphere and direction the program is heading. Plus, such a move could nearly seal star blue-liners Shea Weber and Ryan Suter's future with the team as they look for goal scoring to help them get a Stanley Cup.

Plus, giving up Wilson does little to cripple their offense, as he's only seventh on the team in points with 33. 

The San Jose Sharks have also been looking to add Nash, but their 6-2 beating at the hands of Nashville on Saturday night could do them harm and the Preds good. 

The Predators would give Nash the ability to be the option on a balanced offensive attack that doesn't feature any stars. He could go out and get his 65 to 70 points per season while making Nashville a four-headed monster with himself, Suter, Weber, and Vezina trophy finalist Pekka Rinne.  

This deal would be big for both Nash and the Predators while setting up a perennial Cup contender in Music City for years to come.

Now it's time for the Blue Jackets to decide if it's big enough for them. 

News surfaced last week that Montreal Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill was traded to the Nashville Predators. While the move has turned heads across the NHL in the hopes that Preds star blue liner Ryan Suter will be moved before the Feb. 27 deadline, it will only have the opposite effect in Nashville. 

Despite Nashville having the most feared defensive pairing in the league, 21-year-olds Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi have both emerged onto the second and third lines this year and it's unclear how reliable they will be down the stretch. 

A Stanley Cup winner and a seasoned vet, Gill gives the Preds stability and force defensively after the Suter and Weber line. GM David Poile addressed a key need on his team's roster, even if it isn't an apparent one to the rest of the league. 

Gill is a shot-blocking machine, averaging the most blocks per 60 minutes played this season. His expertise is on the penalty kill, where the Preds are in the bottom-half of the league. 

At 6'7", Gill injects force and a stay-at-home mentality into a Nashville defense that is mobile and sometimes sporadic when their top line isn't on the ice. Alongside young Josi, who likes to roam on the offensive end, Gill would be a good fit.  

It also cannot be ignored what the Preds gave up for the 36-year-old blue liner. They traded Blake Geoffrion and a conditional second-round pick, while receiving a fifth-round pick and Gill.

Geoffrion, a young talent at center, emerged on the Preds' fourth-line late last season in their run to the Western Conference semifinals. So far this season, he had disappointed to say the least, and found his way back to AHL affiliate Milwaukee prior to the trade.

If the Preds were looking to rebuild and replace Suter, they would've been more likely to go after a young guy with big potential such as Luke Schenn.

Picking up a 36-year-old with a Stanley Cup already on file is a move that says, "we're going all in, right now," not, "we're rebuilding for the future". And Poile knows part of going all in includes his Norris Trophy candidates Weber and Suter.   

Trading young talent and valuable draft picks isn't very characteristic of Poile and Nashville. And while it isn't a big splash just yet, it was a move that makes Nashville seemingly more consistent and reliable from top to bottom.

In a perfect world, the Preds aren't done in the market and would still be looking to get after a big scorer such as Jeff Carter or Ales Hemsky. They could also add a solid forward with top-six potential such as Andrei Kostitsyn (who would join his brother, Sergei) or Mikhail Grabovski. But whether they make such a move or not, they're in a position to compete in the playoffs.

Fans from across the NHL hoping to add Suter to their roster before the Feb. 27 trade deadline will have to look elsewhere to bolster their blue line before the playoffs. The Preds are heading in a direction to make some noise in this year's playoffs, and are a decent forward away from convincing him to stay long term.  

As the NHL Trade Deadline draws closer, the Nashville Predators have made pretty big waves as far as trades are concerned by picking up Hal Gill and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2013 in exchange for Blake Geoffrion, a second-round pick, and a prospect.

With the two-thirds of the Predators "Big Three" of Pekka Rinne, Shea Weber and Ryan Suter remaining unsigned (save for Rinne, who signed a seven year, $49 million extension) and the possibility of a reduced salary cap, signing Weber and Suter to contract extensions could prove to be unwise financially, both in terms of the salary cap and in terms of the Predators' actual finances.

With the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement scheduled to end during this offseason, many questions remain about monetary issues.

One such issue is the salary cap.

In the 2010-11 season, 18 out of the 30 NHL teams lost money in their operating income.

The Nashville Predators were one of those teams, losing $7.5 million, according to Forbes Magazine.

Now, even though Nashville's fanbase is growing, their operating losses might prevent them from signing Shea Weber and Ryan Suter to contracts next year.

The focus for the Nashville Predators right now should be re-signing franchise defenseman, Shea Weber, to a long-term contract.

Weber is going to be a restricted free agent once again this summer, so the Predators will have negotiation rights, but he currently makes $7.5 million (per CapGeek.com) and will likely have to receive a substantial raise for Nashville to sign him to a long-term deal.

But Suter (per CapGeek.com) makes $3.5 million this year, and Weber makes $7.5 million, meaning that Suter's raise on his new contract could end up being a bigger raise than Shea Weber would get on his potential contract.

So with both Suter and Weber scheduled to be free agents this year and Suter's contract value likely to rise closer to the $5 million to $6 million dollar range (and as I stated previously, a higher raise than Weber), Suter could be on his way out the door following this season.

Suter's impending exit following this season as been made more bearable with the Predators picking up Hal Gill from the Montreal Canadians last week.

Hal Gill carries a much more reasonable cap hit this season of $2.25 million. If Gill were to get a raise, as Gill's contract expires this free agency period as well, it would still be equal or less than the $3.5 million cap hit that Ryan Suter carries.

So does Nashville keep its pending unrestricted free agent in Ryan Suter, or do they trade him before the July 1 free agency deadline?

After Suter's comments at the NHL All-Star Game this season, I would have to believe that they will trade him before the start of the free agency period if they have not reached a deal with him by then.

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The hockey world beating to death the possibility of Nashville Predators' star blue-liners Shea Weber and Ryan Suter being on the trading block has shifted focus away from the more realistic potential deals in Smashville.

It isn't all about the money to these two faces of the franchise. It's about being on a team capable of winning the Stanley Cup.

Both players obviously love being Predators and want to bring Nashville its first Cup. But they are both in the prime of their careers and are being enticed by the possibility of playing for perennial contenders like Detroit and Philadelphia.

Nashville arguably has its best team ever this year, as they have one of the top goalies in the universe and are among the NHL elite. However, it's still uncertain whether their sputtery offense can outscore the league's top teams. 

Although, it's safe to say either Suter or Weber would love to see an elite scoring forward added to the roster rather than compromising in order to free up cap space. 

Making a move for a player like Carolina's Tuomo Ruutu, Edmonton's Ales Hemsky or Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski would be an immense boost to both Nashville's Cup chances and their shot at re-signing Suter and Weber through the foreseeable future.

Ruutuis would bring experience and is also coming off his most productive season, so he would answer two questions for Nashville. Hemsky is undoubtedly a great scorer, but is in the wake of an ugly contract situation with the Oilers that will most likely lead to his departure. 

Maple Leafs' alternate captain Grabovski would be a great get and his point totals for 2011-12 would be just three points out of the team lead if he were a Predator.

The Predators lost Alexander Radulov in 2008 by way of the Russian hockey league (KHL), and hopes have always been high among Nashville fans that his scoring firepower will find its way back.

Radulov has won a championship and MVP in his role with Salavat Yulayev, already cementing his place as one of the best in KHL history. He's still under contract with the Predators should he take his talents back to the world's premier hockey league.

He had the third-most points (58) for the Predators in 2007-08, his last year with the team.   

The price wouldn't be cheap, though. Nashville would have to give up some of their young defensive talent and budding stars to make a big deal happen. But it would all be worth it if they were able to retain two future Norris Trophy winners for the rest of their careers. 

Time to roll the dice, David Poile.