The Nashville Predators made headlines last season with a major acquisition of Peter Forsberg close to the trade deadline.

This season, however, they kept it strictly low-key, acquiring veteran winger Jan Hlavac from Tampa Bay for a seventh round pick and Brandon Bochenski from the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.

Hlavac was one a 64- point man with the NY Rangers in the 2000-01 season but he’s long removed from those lofty heights. Prior to this season he’d spent three seasons playing in Europe. 

The Lightning signed him this season hoping he might regain his offensive touch playing with Brad Richards this season but he managed only 22 points this season. Predators fans shouldn’t expect much improvement as he’ll likely be used in a depth role, perhaps on the checking lines.

For the Lightning, this was simply clearing the boards to make room for next season. 

Bochenski is now on his third team this season, bouncing from Boston to Anaheim and now Nashville. He’s struggled to stick with an NHL team and will probably spend time with the Predators farm team for the rest of this season.