NASHVILLE -- The Nashville Predators are trying to make a trade and move into the top four of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
The Predators have an NHL-high 13 picks, two in the first round (Nos. 15 and 24). The Chicago Blackhawks own the No. 1 pick, followed by the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks.
The first round is Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS), and rounds 2-7 are Thursday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS). Forwards Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson and Will Smith are the first four picks of NHL.com's final mock draft.
"Well, me and [outgoing general manager David Poile] both have been working the phones trying to do that," Barry Trotz, who takes over as Predators GM on July 1, said Monday. "You have to have the right dance partner if you will. Obviously, everybody has been trying to get into that top four, and it's reasonable that all four of those teams will just stay put. It's a pretty good comfort level for them.
"I've been trying to make them uncomfortable, but at this point there haven't been any of those trades out there. But we've still got a few days here, so things could change. We've been trying. We've got lots of capital. We have to be smart about it as well. You have to use it effectively. You don't want to do one thing and then try to fix a bunch of holes if you go too far.
"I'd like to be happier, but we're actually pretty excited listening to the scouts right now."
Poile said the depth of the 2023 draft reminds him of 2003, when Nashville last hosted the event. The Predators made 13 picks, including defenseman Ryan Suter (No. 7), defenseman Kevin Klein (No. 37) and defenseman Shea Weber (No. 49). Poile on Monday called it "one of the best drafts I think in history."
"Realistically, you always cover yourselves," Poile said. "You never know what you're going to be offered. Some of these players are going to last longer, but I would expect that we would draft at 15 and 24. And if we don't, we're [trading up] for someone we really like."
The Predators traded forward Ryan Johansen to the Colorado Avalanche for forward Alex Galchenyuk on Saturday, agreeing to pay half of Johansen's remaining $8 million salary in each of the next two seasons.
Trotz said the Predators are not likely to spend lavishly after free agency begins July 1, instead focusing on younger prospects. Nashville (42-32-8) finished this season three points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
"[The free agent pool is] probably not as deep as some of the other years, but I think we're just looking for keeping discipline in our window for the most part," Trotz said. "We're looking for cultural pieces. We're looking for more short term, people that can help us win, but at the same time leaving enough room for when our young guys are ready, so I want to be flexible and not get as tied up in the long-term contracts for the number of young players we have. I've been very transparent with players and agents about that."
