The Nashville Predators traded winger Cole Smith to the Vegas Golden Knights for defenseman Christoffer Sedoff and a 2028 third-round pick, just hours after trading center Michael McCarron to the Minnesota Wild for a 2028 second-round pick. This move gives the Predators five picks in the first three rounds of the 2028 draft. Smith, 30, is having a strong season, averaging a career-high 14:27 ice time and scoring six goals and 10 points in 41 games. He'll become a free agent at the end of the season, as he's in the second year of a two-year contract worth $1 million annually. The Golden Knights, who are currently atop the Pacific Division, are expected to use Smith in a bottom-six role on the wing, joining Keegan Kolesar, Brandon Saad, and Cole Reinhardt. With four forwards on the injured reserve or day-to-day, the Knights could benefit from Smith's depth. The Predators, on the other hand, are on a three-game losing streak and four points behind the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference wild-card spot. With the NHL trade deadline approaching on Friday at 3 p.m. E.T., this could be just the beginning of a busy week for the Predators.
