The Nashville Predators have traded defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Tommy Novak to the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Michael Bunting and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Schenn, a former first-round pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs and a veteran of 17 NHL seasons, has one goal and five points this season and is under contract through 2025-26 at a $2.75 million cap hit.
Novak has 13 goals and 22 points in 52 games this season. He is in the first season of a three-year, $10.5 million contract that he signed last March during a career year that saw him reach new single-season highs in goals (18), assists (27) and points (45).
Bunting has 14 goals and 29 points in 58 games this season for Pittsburgh. He is in the second of a three-year deal with a $4.5 million cap hit. Nine of of his goals and 15 of his points have come on the power play, and he has contributed 59 hits and 13 blocked shots in 15:15 of average ice time.
The trade is an interesting move between two teams who sit outside of the playoff picture and were expected to be sellers at the deadline. The Predators net $1.75 million in immediate cap space in the deal, and they now have eight total picks in the 2026 NHL Draft.
