The Predators have gone from sellers to buyers in the past few weeks, adding forwards Jason Zucker of Arizona, pictured here, and Anthony Beauvillier from Chicago at the trade deadline.

-- Photo By Chris O’Meara | Ap

With the NHL’s trade deadline behind them, the Predators are looking ahead to what should be a return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.

New general manager Barry Trotz made several deals at the deadline. With his team playing its best hockey of the season and well-positioned for a wild card berth, Trotz was more of a buyer than a seller this year.

Many had low expectations for the Predators this season and until their recent hot streak, and it was logical to think they would be deadline sellers for the second-consecutive year.

Trotz did send forward Yakov Trenin to the Colorado Avalanche in a trade. Trenin is in the last year of his contract and is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

Nashville defenseman Dante Fabbro has been rewarded with a new contract.

-- Photo By George Walker Iv | Ap

Trenin’s asking price for a new deal is likely higher than the Predators were willing to pay, and Trotz says there are others within the organization who can fill his role. Colorado is one of the teams the Predators could face in the first round of the playoffs, so dealing a player to a potential first-round opponent is something to watch should that occur.

Nashville added forwards Jason Zucker and Anthony Beauvillier at the deadline. Zucker, who played nine seasons with the Minnesota Wild, is no stranger to the Predators as an opponent. He has also spent time with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Arizona Coyotes. Trotz characterizes Zucker as a pain-in-the-backside type of player for opponents and one who can fill different roles in the lineup.

Beauvillier played for Trotz when both were with the Islanders. The Islanders made the playoffs three of the four seasons Trotz was the team’s head coach.

In 49 playoff games in those three seasons, Beauvillier scored 15 goals and added 14 assists. Trotz hopes Beauvillier can have that same postseason scoring touch in Nashville this year.

On deadline day, Trotz also announced new contracts for defenseman Dante Fabbro and forward Mark Jankowski. Fabbro’s contract is for one year and Jankowski’s two. Fabbro is expected to miss the next two to three weeks with an upper-body injury.

While the additions Trotz made were notable, the moves he didn’t make speak largely to his fondness for his current roster. When the team was struggling for most of the season, goaltender Juuse Saros’ name was being thrown around as a trade target of teams needing help between the pipes. Trotz said he would only move Saros if someone blew his socks off with an offer, but his team’s success during the last month rendered Trotz’s socks and Saros’ services basically untouchable.

Saros has one more season at $5 million remaining on his contract and could become an unrestricted free agent after next season. The Predators can sign Saros to a new deal after July 1. If a new contract for Saros doesn’t materialize before the start of next season, the trade rumors will really begin to swirl once again and build as the season continues.

Backup goaltender Kevin Lankinen also was not traded. He’s played well this season, and having two good goaltenders at the end of the regular season and in the playoffs is imperative.

Also not dealt were defensemen Tyson Barrie and Alexandre Carrier. Barrie has been largely out of the lineup for most of the second half of the season. Despite his best efforts, Trotz was unable to find a landing spot for Barrie.

Carrier is another one to watch. He’s in the final year of his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. But unlike Fabbro, no new contract for Carrier was announced, so the Predators could lose him for nothing at season’s end. Carrier has played the right side on the team’s second defensive pairing with Jeremy Lauzon. Right-handed shooting defenseman are at a premium in the NHL.

Looking ahead to next season, Trotz has enough salary cap space to add players, either through free agent signings or trades. So while his first trade deadline as general manager wasn’t a huge splash, he’s tasked with playing both the short- and long-range games with the roster and is well-positioned to do so.