Predators will not bring back veterans Smith, Granlund

The Nashville Predators will not bring back veteran forwards Craig Smith and Mikael Granlund for next season, general manager David Poile told the Tennessean.

Both players are unrestricted free agents heading into the offseason. Smith, 31, has played his entire nine-year career with Nashville, while the 28-year-old Granlund joined the team via trade in February 2019.

"We're going to make changes," Poile told the newspaper. "Right off the top you've got two guys that are in our top nine in Granlund and Smith that are not ... coming back, so that's going to open up a couple spots for some other, younger guys.

"I'd like to see some promotion from within."

Nashville is looking to regroup after losing in the Western Conference qualifying round against the Arizona Coyotes. The team posted a 35-26-8 record during the regular season, which included a coaching change as John Hynes replaced Peter Laviolette.

Smith and Granlund could be attractive in free agency to other teams. Smith had 18 goals and 13 assists in 69 games this season for Nashville, and Granlund collected 17 goals and 13 assists in 63 contests.

--Field Level Media