Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Trade: Predators get Emelin, Vegas receives third-rounder

Chicago Blackhawks v Montreal Canadiens

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 14: Alexei Emelin #74 of the Montreal Canadiens prepares to take a shot during the warmup prior to the NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Bell Centre on March 14, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The Nashville Predators beefed up their defense on Free Agent Frenzy Day, grabbing Alexei Emelin while trading a third-round pick to the Vegas Golden Knights, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger. The Predators confirmed the deal a couple hours later.

Is this a sign of more to come? Perhaps, but TSN’s Bob McKenzie believes that they acquired him to “keep him in the lineup.” That doesn’t necessarily rule out the Predators moving someone else on their defense thanks to the addition of Emelin, mind you.

McKenzie reports that Nashville sent a 2019 third-rounder to Vegas:

As it stands, Nashville would see some serious competition for defensive minutes, as the Predators already possessed one of the league’s best blueline quartets in P.K. Subban, Mattias Ekholm, Roman Josi, and Ryan Ellis?

Emelin, 31, is in the final year of a contract that carries a cap hit of $4.1 million. The deal was sweetened with Vegas reportedly retaining a decent chunk of change:

The Golden Knights continue to move veterans for picks, as this is a somewhat similar move to getting assets for Marc Methot.

Does Predators GM David Poile have something more cooking? We’ll need to wait and see.