Josh Cooper

jcooper2@tennessean.com

Ottawa's Jason Spezza will not be joining the Predators. Per a report by TSN's Darren Dreger earlier in the week, the playmaking center submitted his list of teams he would prefer to not be traded to. The Predators are on the list.

It also includes all Canadian teams, as well as the Islanders, Blue Jackets and Panthers.

While this is the opinion of one player, this just doesn't look good for the Predators. Spezza has played in Ottawa his entire career, so all of Canada makes sense. It's such a fishbowl mentality up there, though the fan passion is pretty unrivaled.

But lumping Nashville in with the Islanders, Blue Jackets and Panthers puts Nashville in undesirable company.

Though the Blue Jackets have made great strides recently, and the Islanders are destined for Brooklyn after next season, those teams in some ways represent the holy trinity of American teams players don't want to play for.

Adding Nashville to that mix is not exactly aesthetically pleasing for the Predators.

Granted, there are lots of reasons to want to play here. There's no state income tax. The fan base is passionate, but not overbearing, and the Predators play in a close-to-capacity situation most nights.

Also, for an offensive player like Spezza, new coach Peter Laviolette should add some pizzazz to the market.

Could it be the ongoing Shea Weber contract saga? The fact Nashville hasn't made the playoffs two straight years? Lack of depth in prospects? Who knows. But players talk, and this isn't exactly a good situation for Nashville.

I do think general manager David Poile will land a top-six forward this summer. He simply has to. And there are plenty of guys who want to play here. Just not Spezza.