The Tampa Bay Lightning have stumbled out of the Olympic break, but remain the highest team within the Atlantic Division. As they give the impression of being to get back to the Stanley Cup Final, this week looms large. The Lightning have interest in Nashville Predators forward Cole Smith ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline, per NHL insider Frank Seravalli.
“Appears like [Lightning] have been circling around [Predators] Cole Smith in trade talks,” Seravalli reported. “Smith was faraway from tonight’s game after a three-second shift – and the pending UFA winger is awaiting word on a possible trade destination.”
Cole Smith is on the #Smashville bench. Parked next to Juuse Saros. He hasn’t played a shift within the second. Just three seconds in the primary. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/ue2qPmPNBm
— Mark Scheig (@mark_scheig) March 4, 2026
The Predators were on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday when Smith was pulled. He sat next to goalie Juuse Saros on the tip of the bench, waiting for the official word to drop. If he gets traded to the Lightning throughout the game, he’ll leave the bench and head to Tampa.
Smith is a bottom-six forward with limited offensive upside. He has never scored greater than nine goals in a season, and has just six goals and ten points this season. However the Lightning have loads of elite scorers, so that they won’t need Smith to search out that skill. With Pontus Holmberg and Curtis Douglas currently making up Tampa’s bottom-six right wingers, Smith can provide an upgrade.
The Predators already made one trade on Tuesday, sending Michael McCarron to the Minnesota Wild for a 2028 second-round pick. With general manager Barry Trotz stepping aside at the tip of this season, Nashville is seeking to construct for the longer term. Trading away players on expiring contracts, like Smith, for a draft pick is step one in that process.
The Predators could have larger moves coming, namely involving Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos. But for now, it appears they’re dealing depth pieces for picks.