Since Pierre LeBrun’s report last week that Mattias Ekholm was one of several Predators on the trade block, speculation on the defender’s destination has run rampant. According to a report by Tony Androckitis of Inside AHL Hockey, Nashville has sent scouts to a couple of Lehigh Valley Phantoms games. The Phantoms are the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers.
REPORT: I’d keep an eye on the #Flyers and #Preds if I were you.
Here’s the latest on what I’m hearing/seeing regarding a certain Swedish defenseman. https://t.co/ebjd4QG0Ol
— Tony Androckitis (@TonyAndrock) February 28, 2021
Androckitis keeps track of visiting scouts and notes that Nashville rarely sends scouts to PPL Center (the Phantoms’ home building), with only a few visits in the last two to three years.
This in no way means a deal is anywhere close to done, but shows that the Predators are doing their due diligence ahead of this season’s April 12th trade deadline. Still, this is worth keeping an eye on, as our own Eamon Smith has written about a possible trade with the franchise just last week.
Stay tuned to On The Forecheck and the twitter page (@OnTheForecheck) for any information as it develops.