Three ways the Nashville Predators can improve their weak center depth for 2025-26
General manager Barry Trotz has explained how much he improved the Nashville Predators' defense by adding Nick Perbix and Nic Hague, part of his plan to get "younger and bigger" on defense.
But then he also explained how unhappy he was with the team's current depth at forward, especially at center.
"If you look at it on paper, it's not a deep center group," Trotz said July 1.
Most of last season's forward group, largely responsible for the second-worst offense in the NHL, will be returning. Veterans with large, unmovable contracts will be back in the lineup, holding spots until the team's forward prospects are ready to make the jump. That does not bode well for goal scoring in 2025-26, especially from the center position.
Ryan O'Reilly, who will turn 35 in February, led the group with 53 points last season. Fedor Svechkov, 22, had a decent rookie season, but doesn't have the skill to create offense consistently. Erik Haula and Michael McCarron are adequate options defensively, but offer little else.
Here are three ways Trotz could improve the Predators' weak center group for the upcoming season.
Sign an inexpensive free agent center like Jack Roslovic
This summer's free agent class was weak — top centers included Mikael Granlund, Andrew Mangiapane, and Pius Suter — so you can't blame Trotz for not shopping around.
But Jack Roslovic is one option still on the market who Trotz should look into.
A 28-year-old, right-handed center, Roslovic had 22 goals and 17 assists with the Carolina Hurricanes last season. Since being drafted in the first round by Winnipeg in 2015, he has scored 102 goals and 158 assists as mostly a bottom-six center.
Roslovic is a better offensive option right now than Svechkov, Haula and McCarron. He probably isn't a second-line center, but could play the position while the team awaits prospects like Brady Martin and David Edstrom.
It would take between $3 million to $3.5 million to sign Roslovic, but the Predators have more than $10 million to spend, according to Puck Pedia.
Submit an offer sheet to a young center like Minnesota's Marco Rossi
Offer sheets provide an avenue for teams to lure away restricted free agents, signing them to lucrative deals, but giving up precious draft commodities to do so. Every summer, rumors of offer sheets float around, but rarely do they materialize. Last summer, the St. Louis Blues snatched Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from Edmonton via offer sheets, taking advantage of the Oilers' cap situation.
Trotz could do the same by sending an offer sheet to Minnesota's Marco Rossi.
The Wild have been unable to find a contract number that satisfies Rossi. Some speculate he wants north of $7 million — a hefty price, but not a bad one for a center coming off a 60-point season as a 23-year-old.
Rossi would be a perfect fit for the Predators. The 2020 first-round pick (No. 9 overall) drives offense, plays with speed in transition, and scores goals.
But getting him to Nashville would be costly. An offer sheet of more than $7 million would require sending first-, second- and third-round picks to the Wild. And anyways, they could just match the offer sheet, leaving the Predators out in the cold.
Commit to playing No. 5 overall pick Brady Martin in 2025-26
The easiest solution to improving Nashville's center depth is signing and playing Brady Martin immediately.
Unless anything changes, the No. 5 overall pick of the 2025 draft will return to Sault Ste. Marie for his third OHL season. As an 18-year-old, his only options are to return to his junior team or play on the Predators this season. He cannot play in the American Hockey League until he's 20.
The Predators first would have to sign Martin to his entry-level contract, and then he would have to win a spot in training camp. The 6-foot, 187-pound center is physical and skilled, something that could catch coach Andrew Brunette's eye.
If Martin were to make the team, he'd likely handle third-line minutes while getting up to NHL speed. That would improve the Predators' center depth by pushing Haula to the wing and keeping McCarron as the fourth-line anchor.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.