Matt Duchene Opens Up About Life After Nashville
Plus: Maple Leafs, Kings, and Predators Should Pull Off 3-Team Trade & More
Welcome to the THW Nashville Predators Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Predators writers.
In today's edition, we look at what the Predators gave up when they bought out Matt Duchene’s contract, another potential trade scenario for Juuse Saros and more.
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Checking In with Matt Duchene: Predators’ Loss is Stars’ Gain
February 17, 2024 by Emma Lingan
It’s been nearly eight months since general manager Barry Trotz and the Nashville Predators abruptly and unexpectedly bought out Matt Duchene’s contract. But for the 33-year-old forward, the feelings are still raw – especially when he returns to Bridgestone Arena as a member of the visiting Dallas Stars.
Ahead of the Stars’ game against the Predators on Thursday, Duchene reflected on the fateful day when he learned that he had been bought out, saying he “never cried so much in my life.” The move left him scrambling for a new team, which turned out to be Dallas.
Duchene described the last several months as a “roller coaster” as he and his family had their lives turned upside down. He has had no choice but to move on from the Predators and take things one day at a time
Maple Leafs, Kings, and Predators Should Pull Off 3-Team Trade
February 18, 2024 by Michael Ostrower
The 2023-24 season has been a tale of two halves for the Los Angeles Kings. After starting 16-4-3, the team has just nine wins in their past 28 games, pushing them back into the wild card race. For the Nashville Predators, they have found struggles in all aspects of their lineup and sit considerably back in that same wild card race. The Toronto Maple Leafs are well positioned to make a playoff run but still seek help defensively, especially with John Klingberg being on the long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and out for the season. With the three teams all in different mindsets approaching the trade deadline, they could become great trade partners to help each side.
Predators ‘Weren’t Ready to Play’ in Loss to Stars
February 16, 2024 by Emma Lingan
It took nearly 14 minutes for the Nashville Predators to register a shot on goal against the visiting Dallas Stars on Thursday.
It would end up being their lone shot on goal in a period in which they were outshot 18-1 en route to an embarrassing 9-2 loss. The Stars possessed the puck more than twice the time Nashville did in the opening period and took a 4-0 lead into the first intermission.
“We could have been down 6-0,” Predators captain Roman Josi said. “We left [Juuse Saros] out to dry the whole period, and that’s definitely concerning. I’ve got to be way better first; it starts with us leaders. We’ve got to find a way to get the team going and to just play better. And as a team, we’ve got to find a way. After a game like Tuesday [a 4-2 loss to New Jersey], nobody is happy. You’ve got to find a way to respond.”