The Nashville Predators want to re-sign defenseman Ryan Suter, but the reality of the situation is that it won't be easy. Suter, who is set to become a free agent on July 1, is going to draw interest from all around the league, and there's a very good chance he will leave the Predators for another team.
Perhaps realizing that they won't be able to re-sign Suter, could the Predators trade his rights away so they at least get something for him? According to Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period, the Predators might do exactly that later this month.
League exec told us last night he expects Preds to deal Suter rights around draft, 'just like they did with Hamhuis, Hartnell and Timonen'
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) June 12, 2012
Bernstein also reports that Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland plans on "going all in and big" on both Suter and Zach Parise, who are set to be the top free agents on the open market. On the one hand, news that the Predators could deal Suter's rights is a sign that Holland and the Red Wings might have a shot at making a move and signing him before July 1. Then again, would Nashville really deal Suter's rights to a division rival? To me, it seems like the Predators would try to send him elsewhere. Of course, he doesn't have to sign with the team that acquires his rights, so a trade wouldn't necessarily eliminate the Red Wings from the Suter sweepstakes.
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