The National Hockey League has been seeing plenty of Nashville Predators alumni move around the NHL this week, and the newest one has been announced this evening by the clubs in unison. From the Columbus press release:

TRADE: #CBJ have acquired RW Mathieu Olivier from Nashville in exchange for a 2022 4th round pick previously acquired from Toronto (122nd overall).

The 25-year-old has totaled 3-4-7 with 88 PIM in 48 career games with the Predators since 2019-20.https://t.co/80ok6ooSyB

— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) July 1, 2022

And from the Nashville Predators account:

The #Preds have acquired the Toronto Maple Leafs’ fourth-round pick (122nd overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Mathieu Olivier.

--> https://t.co/6wofIBv3QE pic.twitter.com/EETYvnC6lH

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 1, 2022

This further expands the trade tree from the Nick Foligno at the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline. The fourth round pick that was used to acquire winger Mathieu Oliver was the second pick of two acquired from Toronto Maple Leafs in this deal. The other pick, a 2021 1st round pick (25th overall), was used on right defenseman Corson Ceulemans. Thus, this is the newly looming outcome of the deal:

To Toronto:

LW Nick Foligno

To Columbus:

RD Corson Ceulemans
RW Mathieu Oliver

To Nashville

2022 4th round draft pick (122nd overall)

Oliver, 25, is in the second year of a two-year, two-way contract paying him $750K against the salary cap, having a minimal effect on the Columbus salary structure. The Mississippi native has 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points in 48 games, and no points in 5 playoff appearances has a member of the Nashville Predators roster. With the Milwaukee Admirals of American Hockey League (AHL), the power forward 11 points in 46 regular season games (5 goals, 6 assists), and no points in 7 playoff games.

With his time in the QMJHL, his most notable teammates were F Anthony Beauvillier (NYI), F Connor Garland (VAN), F Ivan Barbashev (STL) F Zach MacEwen (PHI), and D Samuel Girard (COL).

With the Predators development system and strong relationship in trade history between the teams, the three former Blue Jackets Oliver met were Matt Duchene, Ryan Johansen, and Kole Sherwood.

This is now the third trade in their history, and all three were between Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and Nashville general manager David Poile, including Johansen, Seth Jones, Mark Letestu, and Oliver in their previous dealings.

What does this trade mean for Nashville?

The Predators now return to 7 draft picks at the draft floor in Montreal for my birthday weekend (July 7-8) with two picks in the third and fourth round, with no picks in rounds 2 and 6. There must be someone they’re liking to pick around here that Columbus did not see fit. This also opens more depth roster positions in the bottom 6 of the roster and the top 9 in the farm system, assuming to flex the most out of Cody Glass, the acquisition from the Vegas Golden Knights.


What does this trade mean for Columbus?

The Jackets get a seasoned body to join a middle aging roster, with a chance to crack the lineup, and push the Columbus crew at the same time. This will cause competition for youngsters in Kirill Marchenko and Yegor Chinakov, while keeping veterans like Justin Danforth and Brendan Gaunce on their toes. Otherwise, it could help Trent Vogelhuber in his first season as the Cleveland Monsters head coach. It also signifies they aren’t looking to spend much money and trust the developmental process of their prospects in the state of Ohio.


Who won this trade short term and long term? More to come…

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