Trading Roman Josi to a Stanley Cup contender could be the ultimate dilemma for Nashville Predators fans.
Josi has established himself as the greatest skater in Predators history for countless reasons. This fall, he is set to begin his 16th consecutive season in Nashville, making him the longest-tenured player in franchise history and surpassing Pekka Rinne’s previous mark of 15 seasons.
The Swiss defenseman has also rewritten the Predators’ record book. He leads the franchise in points with 779, games played with 1,030, shots with 3,021 and single-season points with 96. At this stage of his career, there is seemingly only one major accomplishment missing from his résumé.
Despite being one of the NHL’s elite defensemen for nearly a decade, Josi has never won a Stanley Cup. His long-standing commitment to Nashville has kept him from reaching the ultimate prize. The Predators came closest in 2017, when they reached the Stanley Cup Final, but ultimately fell short against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If any Predators player deserves the opportunity to win a championship, it is Josi. Now 36 years old, his window is becoming increasingly limited. Given Nashville’s current trajectory, the chances of him lifting the Stanley Cup in a Predators uniform appear slim.
For many Nashville fans, watching their captain raise the Cup would be a dream scenario. But if that is unlikely to happen in Nashville, perhaps the organization should consider giving Josi an opportunity to chase the championship elsewhere.
Last month, Predators beat reporter Alex Daugherty suggested trading Josi, a proposal that generated plenty of debate among fans on X. While there are currently no serious indications that Nashville is preparing to move him, the idea could eventually become a realistic option for President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Chris MacFarland.
If Josi were to be traded, sending him to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender would make the most sense. He would have a better chance of winning the championship he has spent his career chasing, while Nashville could potentially receive a significant package of assets in return for a former Norris Trophy winner.
Personally, the idea is difficult to embrace. On one hand, there is obvious value in acquiring high-end prospects, draft picks or other assets for an aging star. On the other, it feels strange to imagine trading away one of the players who helped build the Predators into what they are today.
The only scenario in which moving Josi would feel acceptable would be if he were sent to an elite contender such as the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche or Carolina Hurricanes. Ideally, Nashville would move him outside the Central Division—and perhaps even outside the Western Conference—so fans would not have to watch their longtime captain face the Predators on a regular basis.
As Daugherty noted, there are currently no active trade rumors surrounding Josi or any other Predators defenseman. A deal also appears unlikely right now, especially because Josi owns a full no-movement clause.
His contract runs through the summer of 2028. If that happens to be around the time Josi decides to retire, MacFarland could eventually face a difficult decision: keep the franchise icon in Nashville through the remainder of his career or give him the opportunity to pursue the one accomplishment that has eluded him.
Josi is undoubtedly past his prime, but that does not mean contenders would have no interest in acquiring him. If both Josi and Nashville agreed that a trade was the right move, salary retention would likely be necessary. Fortunately for the Predators, that could be manageable given how much of his contract has already been completed.
Predators fans may understandably hate the idea of trading Roman Josi. He is the franchise’s captain, all-time leading scorer and one of the most important players in its history.
But if moving him gives Josi a legitimate opportunity to finally win the Stanley Cup while allowing Nashville to add valuable assets for the future, it may be a painful decision worth considering.
Leave a Reply