The Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins linked up for a bit of an odd trade, but did the Penguins make a sneaky good deal?

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NHL trade deadline. Penguins get: Forward Tommy Novak, defenseman Luke Schenn Predators get: Forward Michael Bunting, fourth-round pick in 2026 Sean Gentille: Tommy Novak is the best player involved in this deal.

Bunting (appendectomy) is day-to-day and is unlikely to be available for the Predators game Saturday versus Chicago, per Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site. Bunting had surgery last week and was dealt Wednesday from Pittsburgh with Luke Schenn and Thomas Novak heading the other way.

But one year and one day after investing in Novak as part of the future, the Preds said goodbye, trading him to Pittsburgh along with defenseman Luke Schenn on Wednesday as part of a deal that brought forward Michael Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick to Nashville.

But one year and one day after investing in Novak as part of the future, the Preds said goodbye, trading him to Pittsburgh along with defenseman Luke Schenn on Wednesday as part of a deal that brought forward Michael Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick to Nashville.

Tanev originally signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent after his senior season at Providence College. He played four seasons in Winnipeg and two in Pittsburgh before landing in Seattle. In 533 career games, he’s amassed 83 goals and 92 assists.

Pittsburgh president Kyle Dubas wanted to make his moves before Friday’s NHL trade deadline because his Penguins play that night in Las Vegas. He’s off to a decent start. The Penguins made a move Wednesday night by sending winger Michael Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round draft pick to the Nashville Predators,

The Nashville Predators have traded defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Tommy Novak to the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Michael Bunting and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.