With the Predators hanging around the playoff race, it’s unlikely they’ll be significant buyers or sellers by Friday’s trade deadline. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t be active on the trade front. Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reports that the team has made it known that they’re open to weaponizing their cap space – more than $37MM available on deadline day, per CapFriendly – to add assets. That could come in the form of being a third-party retainer although they only have one retention slot left. Alternatively, they could take on an undesirable contract or two while adding future assets in return for taking those on. If they’re willing to do so, GM Barry Trotz will undoubtedly have some teams calling him to see what the price of that might be.