It was widely anticipated that the Nashville Predators would execute a trade or two before the trade deadline on Friday, and they indeed did so on Wednesday night. The first trade they made last Saturday was quite sensible, but the latest one is much less clear.
The Predators swapped Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn for Michael Bunting and a fourth-round pick in 2026, and frankly, this move is quite puzzling.
The puzzling aspect of the trade isn’t necessarily the two players the Predators moved—Luke Schenn was a prime trade candidate, and Tommy Novak was underperforming this season. The real question is what Nashville received in return from Pittsburgh, not just in terms of value on paper but also considering the team’s current and future direction.
Michael Bunting Trade Doesn’t Move the Needle for Predators
At its core, this trade boils down to two separate moves: Schenn for a fourth-round pick and Novak for Bunting. The former is a clear win for Nashville.
Schenn was a valuable locker-room presence and well-respected across the NHL, but his on-ice limitations were hard to overlook. His lack of speed and offensive contribution made him a poor fit in Andrew Brunette’s system. Additionally, his contract was a burden for the Predators, so moving him—without retaining salary—in exchange for a fourth-round pick is a significant win.
On the other hand, swapping Novak for Bunting feels underwhelming. Despite his struggles this season, Novak had shown promise in his first two NHL campaigns. While not an untouchable asset, he was a player the team could have held onto unless an overpaying offer emerged. Even in a down year, his underlying numbers suggested he had the potential to bounce back.
Bunting’s Fit in Nashville
Acquiring Bunting doesn’t seem to significantly improve the Predators’ forward group in the short or long term. At 29, he is a borderline second-liner who thrives around the net—an area where Nashville doesn’t necessarily need reinforcement. His playing style and contract situation don’t align well with the team’s current trajectory.
Bunting is signed through next season before hitting unrestricted free agency, leaving the possibility that Nashville could flip him at next year’s deadline. However, there’s no guarantee they will—or that his trade value will be high enough to justify the move. Complicating matters further, Bunting is currently sidelined indefinitely after undergoing an appendectomy, adding another layer of uncertainty to the deal.
While the Predators did clear nearly $2 million in cap space and the Schenn trade alone makes the overall deal more palatable, they likely should have prioritized acquiring more draft capital for Novak. It’s difficult to see how adding Bunting ultimately benefits the team in the long run.
I understand 2M more Cap. but Novak for Bunting wasn’t a good move.