Predators trade Sutter Muzzatti to Red Wings for future considerations

The trade that all Detroit Red Wings fans have been waiting for.

On Thursday, Nashville Predators general manager Chris MacFarland announced that the team has traded the signing rights of forward Sutter Muzzatti to the Red Wings, in exchange for future considerations.

Muzzatti was moved after refusing to sign with the Predators following the conclusion of his four-year NCAA career. While he didn’t sign by the Aug. 15 deadline, he was kept on Nashville’s “reserve list,” instead of becoming an unrestricted free agent like former Red Wings prospect Kienan Draper.

Muzzatti, a native of Okemos, Mich., returns to his home state after posting the best season of his collegiate tenure. After spending three seasons at RPI, he entered the transfer portal, landing in South Bend at the University of Notre Dame. While the team struggled, finishing last in the Big Ten, the 23-year-old set career highs in goals (13), assists (19) and points (32) in his senior campaign, finishing second on the team in scoring behind Evan Werner and ahead of the likes of Philadelphia Flyers forward Cole Knuble and New York Islanders prospect Danny Nelson.

In his days with the Engineers, Muzzatti proved to be the solid offensive weapon that led the Predators to take him in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. After landing on the All-ECAC Rookie Team following the 2022-23 season, he was RPI’s Hobey Baker nominee in his sophomore season, which saw him register 25 points in 33 contests.

In 115 career games in the NCAA ranks, Muzzatti scored 32 goals and 50 assists for 82 points.

This is the first trade by Detroit interim general manager Shawn Horcoff. While it was reported that the former NHLer wouldn’t be allowed to make such deals following Steve Yzerman stepping down as GM, those parameters must’ve only included trading away players – such as captain Dylan Larkin.