The Nashville Predators might lose Filip Forsberg this off season. Matt Duchene is coming off a career saving season. Most top 6 forwards in free agency will require a long term commitment, which Nashville may not want to make, given they are potentially letting Forsberg walk over term and money. This isn't to say Hoffman directly replaces Forsberg, he clearly does not. What he does is gives Nashville a top 6 scorer to help alleviate depth issues that come with losing Forsberg, without Nashville having to make a major money/term commitment to a comparable top 6 scorer through free agency.

Anybody who watched Mike Hoffman and Matt Duchene in Ottawa knows that the two of them have ridiculous chemistry. Hoffman was the trigger man on Duchene's line in Ottawa. He always knew where to be. Hoffman isn't a possession guy, and Duchene is a borderline selfish player with how much he likes to hold the puck in the offensive zone. Hoffman plays a style where Duchene can hold the puck all he wants, and Hoffman always ends up in the right place to support or be set up for a dangerous shot.

Hoffman is coming off some down seasons, so he shouldn't have a lot of value. Still, I don't think Montreal has much incentive to move him for anything short of a 2nd round pick. Hoffman was signed by Montreal's previous management group, so the current group might not be attached to him. He will also be 33 years old at the start of next season, so he won't figure in for Montreal's rebuild long term. A 2nd and a future 3rd would be a reasonably generous offer, but that overpayment is predicated on Hoffman's previous run with Matt Duchene. When you adjust against the higher league scoring this season, Duchene's 17-18 season in Ottawa was arguably his most impressive of his career production wise. He played at a 95 point pace before being traded to Columbus.

Hoffman is a very skilled and talented player, but he is a complimentary guy, in that at this point in his career he needs a center who can get him the puck and do the dirty work. Reunited with Matt Duchene, he could hit 30 goals again. In which case, he is a better option than any free agent, who will require significant term to sign. Hoffman is only signed for 2 more years. Additionally, if Nashville is out of the playoffs in 2024, there is a reasonable chance they will be able to recoup some of these picks by flipping a (possible) 30 goal scoring Mike Hoffman at the deadline for draft picks.

Montreal kicks Nashville a 5th round pick in order to even out the amount of picks Nashville will have at the 2023 draft. The 3rd round pick Nashville gives up will be 2 years in the future, so it has less value than a current 3rd round pick. In practicality, it might be worth a current 4th rounder.

Makes sense for both teams, it would be something pretty similar... maybe Nashville gives a 2nd and a 4th instead. Overall good trade tho

Same as you say, could be a good trade for both teams and also think adding a third is to much to ask for Hoffman. More asking about a fourth round pick like you say in 2023 or 2024. Even if Hoffman is not the best defensive player Nashville have a better defenseman group them Montreal so they could repair Hoffman error more easily.

I appreciate the input.

I agree, 2nd+2025 3rd is on the higher end for Hoffman with where his play is. With that said, whether it's a 2nd alone, or a 2nd+3rd, or a 2nd+4th, conceptually the trade still works.