7 Biggest Trades in Nashville Predators History, Ranked

A blockbuster trade can change everything for a franchise. It can alter the direction of a team, reignite a fan base, and cause the NHL odds to shift dramatically. 

The Nashville Predators have been involved in a handful of massive trades since the Preds joined the NHL for the 1998-1999 season.

Some of the deals – like the Filip Forsberg trade – were massive coups by the Predators. Others, like the Kyle Turris deal, did not go according to plan. 

All that and more in my countdown of the seven biggest trades in the history of the Preds.

7 Biggest Nashville Predators Trades in Team History

1. Martin Erat and Michael Latta for Filip Forsberg 

Known as one of the most lopsided deals of the salary cap era, the Predators scored a massive coup by acquiring Filip Forsberg for Martin Erat.

Forsberg was selected 11th overall in the 2012 draft, but the Capitals were in win-now mode and thought that Erat would help them get over the hump.

Not only did that not happen, but the Caps had to watch Forsberg grow into one of the best scorers in the NHL.

The Swedish sniper holds the franchise record for goals and is second to only Roman Josi in points. 

2. Shea Weber for P.K. Subban

One of the most shocking trades of the modern era, both Shea Weber and P.K. Subban were fan favourites at the time of the deal.

They were also very different players.

Weber was the captain of Nashville and was known for his physicality and his willingness to do anything to win. Subban, meanwhile, was a dynamic offensive defenceman who exhilarated hockey fans with his skill, speed, and creativity.

At the time of the deal, it was seen as a coup for Nashville, and their hockey odds to win the Stanley Cup reflected that, but both clubs benefited from the trade. It was a win-win.

Subban helped the Preds reach the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, while Weber was named captain in Montreal and led them to the finals in 2021. 

3. Seth Jones for Ryan Johansen

This one-for-one trade is tough to judge, but there’s no doubt that it was seen as a blockbuster when it was made official in January 2016.

Seth Jones was one of the best young defencemen in the NHL in 2016, but the Predators had an abundance of high-end blue-liners and felt they needed more offensive punch to take the next step.

The Columbus Blue Jackets felt the opposite way.

Jones and Johansen were both viewed as cornerstone pieces for their new teams at the time of the deal, but neither had as big of an impact as predicted. 

4. Ryan Parent, Scottie Upshall, First-Round Pick, and a Third-Round Pick for Peter Forsberg

The Philadelphia Flyers were struggling in the 2006-2007 season and wanted to begin a rebuild. That meant they needed to find a suitor for Peter Forsberg, one of the best players of his generation.

They found a willing partner in the Predators, who were still searching for the first playoff series victory in franchise history at that time.

Forsberg’s move to Nashville generated a ton of excitement in the market and he was almost a point-per-game player in his short stint in Nashville, but the Preds once again came up short in the postseason.

5. Future Considerations for Kimmo Timonen

It isn’t every day you can trade future considerations for one of the best players in franchise history, but that’s exactly what happened when general manager David Poile acquired Kimmo Timonen.

A 10th-round draft pick in 1993 by the Los Angeles Kings, Timonen was hardly a household name when Poile brought him to Nashville. He certainly became one in Tennessee.

Timonen was a rock for the Preds during some dark years but helped lead them out of the doldrums in the mid-2000s. 

He was named captain of the Predators ahead of the 2006-2007 campaign.

6. Timo Helbling for Pekka Rinne

The Predators have made some blockbusters, but this under-the-radar deal in 2003 was a massive moment for the franchise. Nobody knew it at the time, but the Preds traded a minor leaguer for the best goaltender in franchise history.

Pekka Rinne, who was honoured with a statue outside Bridgestone Arena after he retired, spent his entire career in Nashville. He won a Vezina Trophy, led the Predators to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, and was given the King Clancy Trophy in 2021. 

7. Samuel Girard, Vladislav Kamenev, and a Second-Round Pick for Kyle Turris

Viewed as a blockbuster at the time, this deal (which involved three teams) was meant to solve an ongoing issue for Nashville. The Preds were seemingly always searching for a second-line centre, and Kyle Turris was meant to plug that hole.

It didn’t work out that way. Turris had some decent seasons, but he never developed into the No. 2 pivot the Preds desperately needed.