Landing Gustav Nyqvist early before the 2025 NHL trade deadline

The The Nashville Predators are one of the worst teams in the NHL this season. Nashville spent big in NHL Free Agency after being in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. Unfortunately, things did not go according to plan for this team. The Predators will likely make some trades before 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. I veteran forward Gustav Nyquist is the top trade candidate.

Nyquist spent each of the last two seasons in Nashville. In the 2023-24 season, he had one of the best seasons of his career. He scored 23 goals and a career-high 75 points to help the Predators make the playoffs. He also scored four points in six playoff games. This year is a much different case, as Nyqvist has seven goals and 17 points in 41 games.

Offensive production was down from last season, but that was to be expected. Either way, the Predators will likely trade Nyquist this spring. He is a free agent at the end of this season, and Nashville will not compete for the Stanley Cup as they originally planned.

Playoff teams could trade Gustav Nyquist in an attempt to bolster their lineup. He has shown the ability to provide secondary offense at the NHL level. And he has over 75 games of postseason experience behind him. With that in mind, here are two early landing spots for Nyquist ahead of the 2025 NHL trade deadline.

Resurgent Blue Jackets could be reunited with Gustav Nyqvist

Gustav Nyqvist spent the first seven and a half seasons of his career with the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings drafted him in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Draft, and he proved to be a solid winger for them throughout the 2010s. In the last six and a half seasons, he skated for four different teams.

One of those teams is i Columbus Blue Jackets. The current Predators forward joined the Blue Jackets in NHL Free Agency back in 2019. Nyquist played well for Columbus during his time in Central Ohio. In 200 games with the team, he scored 43 goals and 117 points. In 2025, he could rejoin the franchise.

Columbus had a rough start to the season. However, they have turned things around in a big way. in fact The Blue Jackets are in possession of the last Wild Card spot in the east. It’s a shocking turnaround for a supposedly rebuilding team.

Columbus faces competition from a number of teams in the Eastern Conference. Adding Gustav Nyqvist to the lineup could be a smart addition at the NHL Trade deadline. Especially since it shouldn’t cost too much in any potential business.

Heck, the Predators could make a deal

The New Jersey Devils are looking to add depth to their composition. Jack Hughes and Jesper Brat have emerged as an elite duo in the NHL. However, their attack is quite difficult. A trade with the Predators for Gustav Nyqvist could be beneficial for the Devils down the stretch.

New Jersey found some secondary offense from its middle six. Having said that, there is room for further offensive punch. Especially on the wings. Nyquist primarily played as a winger in the NHL. The Predators have him on the wing right now, actually.

Nyquist may not be the 75-point player he was a season ago. And they may not finish with 50 points like in previous years. Either way, he could find a new rig with a much better supporting cast. Furthermore, he could help the Devils in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.