What happened: Nashville acquired pending restricted free agent forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from Dallas ahead of the free-agent market opening. The Predators sent a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick to the Stars in return. General manager Chris MacFarland framed Bourque, 24, as a quality two-way player who fits the profile Nashville is building around.

Why it matters: With a thin free-agent pool pushing teams toward the trade market, the Predators moved early to add a controllable young forward and a physical, minutes-eating veteran defenseman. For Dallas, shedding salary opens room to re-sign restricted free agent Jason Robertson, who is in line for a long-term, lucrative deal. The swap reshapes the middle of both rosters heading into the 2026-27 season.

What to watch: Watch whether the cleared cap space lets Dallas lock up Robertson long-term, and how Bourque and Lyubushkin slot into Nashville's lineup once free agency opens.