With 4 Nations Face-Off looming, Predators’ Gustav Nyquist isn’t worried about trade rumors

This story originally appeared on hockeysverige.se and has been translated from Swedish to English.

As the 4 Nations Face-Off draws closer, Gustav Nyquist finds himself in an uncertain situation.

The 35-year-old, who will be the oldest player on Team Sweden, is currently on an expiring contract with the Nashville Predators and could become an unrestricted free agent this summer. 

At the same time, there is just over a month left until the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7, and many expect the Swede to be on the move by then.

“I don’t know if it changes my mindset going into a tournament like this with the Trade Deadline approaching,” Nyquist said. “Of course, I’m on an expiring contract, but it’s a situation I’ve been in before. I’ve been traded twice before, so I know it’s part of the business.”

He had spent almost eight seasons with the Detroit Red Wings when he was dealt to the San Jose Sharks in 2019. The same summer, he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets as a free agent and lived in Ohio for almost four years before being dealt to the Minnesota Wild in 2023. Now, he can very well be in line for another trade deadline move.

Nashville has been one of the biggest disappointments in the NHL this season and sits 18 points from a playoff spot.

Nyquist hasn’t been able to produce as he would have liked after his massive success in the 2023-24 season. However, as he proved last year, he still has a lot of hockey left in him. This, combined with his cap hit of $3.185 million, makes him an attractive option for other teams looking to add a veteran depth player who can contribute with secondary scoring.

“Of course, it’s something that’s on my mind (being traded), but at the same time… we have a fantastic life in Nashville and really enjoy it here. I still strongly believe in this team. We’ll see what happens after the 4 Nations,” Nyquist said

If the Swedish forward maintains his current pace, he is projected to reach 31 points this NHL season—far from the 75 he recorded in 81 games last year. But over his career, Gustav Nyquist has produced 523 points in 836 NHL games.

If Nyquist is indeed on the block, there should be at least a few teams interested.