Trudeau, 23, is a left-handed player who signed a one-year contract with the Rangers during the summer. Selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft byMontreal, Trudeau has played in 260 AHL games for Laval Rocket in four seasons (2022-26) before signing with the Rangers.
Trudeau is a 6-foot-1, 2025 pounder who skates well, but has yet to make his NHL debut. He might get that chance with the Predators, though he's not expected to have a starting role immediately. By claiming him, the Predators take on his $850,000 salary for the 2026-27 season.
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) falls to the ice under Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Ross Colton (79) shoots the puck past Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers (27) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators with forward Jordan Staal (11) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) and forward Steven Stamkos (91) fight for the puck with Carolina Hurricanes forward William Carrier (28) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly (90) gets in position against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators center Adam Edstrom (84) battles Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Charles Alexis Legault (62) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg (9) passes the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) shoots against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) sets up to shoot against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly (90) battles Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) skates with the puck towards Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake (53) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague (41) fights for the puck with Carolina Hurricanes forward Mark Jankowski (77) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault (81) battles Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Robinson (50) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) skates past Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) falls to the ice under Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) falls to the ice under Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Ross Colton (79) shoots the puck past Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers (27) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators with forward Jordan Staal (11) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) and forward Steven Stamkos (91) fight for the puck with Carolina Hurricanes forward William Carrier (28) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly (90) gets in position against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators center Adam Edstrom (84) battles Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Charles Alexis Legault (62) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg (9) passes the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) shoots against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
9/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) sets up to shoot against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
10/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly (90) battles Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
11/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) skates with the puck towards Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake (53) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
12/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague (41) fights for the puck with Carolina Hurricanes forward Mark Jankowski (77) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault (81) battles Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Robinson (50) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) skates past Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
The more significant move is waiving Barron, who just signed a $1.575 million, one-year contract with Nashville in July. The 24-year-old played 52 games last season, recording nine assists, and was expected to be the team's seventh defenseman heading into the season.
Now Barron will go to another NHL team if he's claimed off waivers by Sept. 27. If he goes unclaimed, he will report to the AHL Milwaukee Admirals.
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The Predatorsacquired Barron from the Montreal Canadiensin December 2024 in exchange for defenseman Alex Carrier. Since then, Barron has played in 97 games for the Predators, scoring five goals and 16 assists, and Carrier has played in 124 games for the Canadiens, with nine goals and 31 assists.
This move suggests the Predators aim to start the season with eight defensemen. Also, by swapping the right-handed Barron for the left-handed Trudeau, coach Andrew Brunette has more options when setting the lineup.
Here's the expected defensive unit for opening night on Oct. 1 against theMinnesota Wild:
