Barron was drafted 25th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. While he hasn't lived up to his first-round billing, Barron has become a serviceable bottom-pair defenseman in the NHL. The 24-year-old scored nine points (0G / 9A) in a career-high 52 games last season with the Nashville Predators.
The Dallas Stars, facing salary-cap issues, feared an offer sheet they couldn't match and ultimately dealt Bourque to the Nashville Predators moments before free agency opened on July 1st. The 24-year-old Bourque, the 30th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, has quickly committed to his new team, signing a lucrative six-year contract worth $33 million ($5.5M AAV). In the 2025-26 season, Bourque averaged 15:29 time-on-ice and scored a career-high 41 points (20G / 21A) in 82 games.
Skinner made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with the Blues, but has otherwise exclusively played in the AHL. The 25-year-old defenseman, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, scored 19 points (7G / 12A) last season with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL).
Ahcan is an undrafted defenseman who played a career-high 11 NHL games with Colorado last season, but has primarily served as an organizational depth player in the AHL. The 29-year-old spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 50 points (11G / 39A) in 61 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).
After spending the past three seasons with the Utah Mammoth organization, Kerfoot will have a change of scenery in 2026-27 after signing a two-year contract worth $7 million ($3.5M AAV) with the Nashville Predators. The 31-year-old scored 13 points (7G / 6A) last season in 34 games with the Mammoth.
The Dallas Stars have addressed some salary cap issues by trading Ilya Lyubushkin, who will join the Nashville Predators. Lyubushkin has one year left on a three-year contract worth $3.25 million AAV. The 32-year-old Lyubushkin recorded nine points (1G / 8A) in 53 games last season.
The Dallas Stars faced salary-cap issues and the fear of a looming offer sheet for Bourque, whom they ultimately traded to the Nashville Predators. The 24-year-old Bourque was the 30th-overall pick by Dallas in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He scored a career-high 41 points (20G / 21A) last season in 82 games.
Hoglander had an impressive 2023-24 season in a bottom-six role with the Vancouver Canucks, scoring 36 points (24G / 12A) in 80 games, but has struggled to build off of that momentum and hopes a change of scenery can help him rediscover his scoring touch. The 25-year-old forward, the 40th-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, battled injuries last season, playing only 38 games and scoring just 5 points (2G / 3A).
Nashville acquired Jack Drury along with Chase Bradley and a 2029 3rd round pick from Colorado for Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux last week. They quickly rewarded Drury with a five-year contract extension worth $22.5 million ($4.5 million AAV). Drury has established himself as one of the NHL's most effective bottom-six forwards in recent seasons and hopes to further establish that reputation with his new team in Nashville. The 25-year-old forward averaged a career-high 14:29 time-on-ice and scored 27 points (10G / 17A) last season in 82 games with the Colorado Avalanche.
Edstrom will join his second team in his fourth NHL season after it was announced mid draft on Saturday that Nashville had acquired the towering forward from New York for Massimo Rizzo and the no.148 pick in the 2026 draft. Edstrom will likely be grateful for a new start in Nashville after struggling to stay healthy in 2025-26, resulting in just three goals and five points in 35 games played.
Bradley's only NHL exposure came during a two-game stint with the Colorado Avalanche in the 2024-25 season. The 24-year-old forward will hope to establish himself and earn a larger trial run at the NHL level in the 2025-26 season with the Nashville Predators. He scored 12 points (9G / 3A) in 42 games with the Colorado Eagles last season.
Drury has established himself as one of the NHL's most effective bottom-six forwards in recent seasons and hopes to further establish that reputation with his new team in Nashville. The 25-year-old forward averaged a career-high 14:29 time-on-ice and scored 27 points (10G / 17A) last season in 82 games with the Colorado Avalanche.
Chris MacFarland's first move as Nashville's GM was to bring in familiar face Ross Colton from Colordo alongside Isak Posch for Magnus Chrona, a 2026 3rd-round pick, and a 2027 3rd-round pick. Colton is 29-years-old and will be joining his third NHL franchise after failing to crack the 30+ point mark in each of the last two seasons in Colorado.
Nilsson was Nashville's 2023 2nd round pick (43rd overall) and has earned himself a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. The 20-year-old Swedish forward spent 2025-26 with Rogle BK (SHL) and had 14 goals, 40 points and a +18 plus/minus in 52 games played.
Ahcan will take a seat on Friday after dressing in each of Colorado's last three games. The 29-year-old blue-liner is a -3 rating with zero points across three games this post-season. Nick Blankenburg will draw back into the lineup in his place.
Sam Malinski is unavailable due to an upper-body injury and Nick Blankenburg is a healthy scratch, giving Ahcan the opportunity to draw in. He’ll skate with Josh Manson on the Avs’ third pair.
With Nils Lundkvist (upper body) out for Game 5, Lyubushkin will draw into the lineup for his postseason debut. The 32-year-old Lyubushkin spent portions of the season playing alongside Thomas Harley and will likely suit up next to him when he enters the lineup. In 53 games this season, Lyubushkin averaged 15:44 time-on-ice and scored nine points (1G / 8A).
Pinchuk is an undrafted 24-year-old forward that has spent the previous five seasons in the KHL. In 2025-26, Pinchuk scored 66 points (31G / 35A) in 65 games with Minsk Dynamo (KHL).
