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Nashville Predators Re-Acquire Forward from New Jersey

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The Nashville Predators announced today that forward Erik Haula has been re-acquired by the organization for a 2025 fourth-round pick and Jeremy Hanzel. This marks Erik Haula’s second tour of duty with the Predators. He spent a year in Tennessee during the 2021 shortened season. A trade that makes a lot of sense for both sides, Barry Trotz has another addition to his squad in his second full season as Predators general manager.

Erik Haula’s Return

Haula’s return makes sense. Nashville needs a centre. Haula helps that. With the current group being thin, a warm body to play in the middle of the middle six is a good addition. Haula’s $3.15 million contract expires at the end of next season, meaning there’s no long-term risk. The acquisition cost isn’t expensive, and they can try to inflate his production to meet the deadline. Haula had just 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in 69 games last season, which is a down year for the Finn.

His career average of 17 goals and 20 assists over 82 games is more in line with what the Predators will be hoping for. In his last stint, he only played 51 games due to the shortened season, but he scored 9 goals and 12 assists for 21 points. That was a 33-point pace. Nashville will be hoping to get more of that out of the Pori, Finland native. If he can, the potential value of flipping him is more than a fourth-round pick. Nashville are buying low with Erik Haula.

New Jersey Side

The Devils needed cap space. With eight pending free agents, one of them being Luke Hughes, and just $11 million, New Jersey needed to free up room. Considering the Devils want to rework their bottom six in addition to getting their star defenceman signed, this makes sense. The pick in the upcoming draft is a magic bean, but they also get a prospect back. Haula wasn’t making a difference anyway.

Jeremy Hanzel isn’t the most flashy prospect. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, Hanzel isn’t likely to become anything as an NHLer. In 63 games last year with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL, Hanzel tallied three goals and 19 assists for 22 points. The left-shot defenseman has played a lot of AHL hockey with the Milwaukee Admirals since being drafted out of the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, but he hasn’t managed to take that next step to break into the AHL.

New Jersey likely took on this player to allow Nashville to stay under the contract limit until free agency starts.  That doesn’t mean he will never impact the Devils’ organization. What he does in Utica next year may affect some of the other Devil’s prospects on the brink of breaking into the NHL. It’s another magic bean, and the Devils get to try to grow him.

Cap Implications

Nashville took on all of Haula’s contract, meaning New Jersey frees up $3.15 million in cap space to spend in free agency or on extensions. They will have holes to address after getting bounced in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes. Haula’s return to Nashville will provide some stability to the Predators’ center core for the next season. It’s a logical trade by both general managers.

Haula has a six-team no-trade list, which might be of importance come the 2026 trade deadline. The Predators are still unsure of where they will place in the standings, meaning this could be a moveable asset. Nashville still has money to spend if they want to when July 1 comes around. The Predators spent big last year, and Haula could be the start. If he is just the first of many, it may be another fun summer in Smashville.

Main Photo: John Jones- Imagn Images

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