Predators Acquire Defenseman Jayden Struble From Canadiens for 2027 Draft Pick

The Nashville Predators added depth to their blue line on Friday night, acquiring 25-year-old defenseman Jayden Struble from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Vegas' second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Predators general manager Chris MacFarland praised the move, describing Struble as a physical defender who brings mobility and a hard-to-play-against quality that should help the back end. The timing is no coincidence: defenseman William Trudeau was placed on injured reserve on Friday and is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury, while forward Mavrik Bourque also left Thursday's game with an upper-body issue. Struble gives Nashville a ready option on the backend as the roster deals with early-season attrition. The trade came one day after the Predators rallied from a 2-0 deficit in Montreal to beat the Canadiens for their first road win of the season, with Alex Kerfoot, Matthew Wood and Ryan O'Reilly finding the net before Adam Edstrom sealed it with a pair of empty-netters and Juuse Saros made 32 saves. Struble, who has carved out a reputation as a tough, physical presence on the blue line, now heads to a Nashville club looking to build momentum early in the campaign.