Paul Skrbina of the Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators forward Kyle Turris has been a healthy scratch for the past six games.
Predators GM David Poile confirms that Turris hasn’t asked for a trade, and Turris has said that he wants to play for the Predators.
Turris carries a $6 million salary cap hit. He has nine points in 19 games and when playing had been moved down to the fourth line.
Poile definitely had been looking this past offseason for any trade partners for Turris.
It’s now not easy to trade someone at that salary who isn’t playing.The Predators called up two AHL players when Viktor Arvidsson was injured instead of playing Turris.
Poile is not a fan of salary retention/buyouts. Turris has four years left on his deal at $24 million after this season. A buyout would cost them $16 million total – $2 million a year through 2027-28.
Adam Vingan of The Atheltic: When Kyle Turris was playing this season, his ice-time had dropped by two minutes compared to last season – 13:26 per game down to 11:26. Last year Turris battle injuries and confidence, this year he hasn’t.
“Last year was a bunch of different things,” Turris said last week. “This year, I’ve kept my confidence. I feel good. I’m just focused on playing my game. I think I’ve been trying to create a lot and do what I’ve done my whole career.”
The Predators had tried Turris on the wing in the preseason, but ended that idea without explanation to start the season.
“Kyle’s been really good,” Poile said of Turris’ attitude. “Kyle just wants to get into the lineup. He wants to be here. He’s not asking to get out of here. He’ll play first line, fourth line, left wing. He’ll play wherever. He just wants a chance to play.”