Winners, Losers and the Toronto Maple Leafs: Evaluating the NHL Off-Season

The Most Misguided

The Nashville Predators have gotten a lot of press for the moves they made this summer, but I am here to tell you that they are wasting their time.

They want to remain competitive while Roman Josi finishes his career, which is respectable, but it's the kind of sentimental error that destroys teams for a decade.

They have the NHL's top goalie prospect, could have recouped a huge package of prospects for Jusse Saros, and Roman Josi, then weaponized their cap space for a year or two while trying to draft a franchise player.

They haven't drafted in the top ten in years and are going to have a hard time retooling through free-agency with veterans.

The Predators had a good season but mostly because Ryan O'Reilly found the fountain of youth. He's not going to maintain as a number-one centre, however, no matter how much they wish.

Josi is ancient, he could go any time.

Steve Stamkos is a fun signing, but he's not who he once was. Jonathan Marchesseault is a nice player, but he's also aging rapidly.

Brady Skjei is 30 and giving him a $7 x 7 is going to prove to be a horrible error.

Everyone loves what the Predators did, and I guess, more power to them for going against the grain and trying to win while Josi is still around, but I guarantee that this was misguided hubris that will haunt them forever.

They aren't within five miles of the Oilers, Leafs or Avalanche and will need to get extremely lucky for their off-season spending to pay off.