The Nashville Predators could be ready to start dealing their most coveted veteran pieces amid another terrible start. One such piece could be former Stanley Cup winner Ryan O’Reilly. The 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has garnered plenty of attention this season. Given the bone-dry center market, O’Reilly has been a name frequently dropped in trade discussions.But getting the veteran center won’t come cheap. As insider Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN’s Insider Trading on November 25, it will take a first-round pick and a top prospect to pry Ryan O’Reilly away from the Predators.With several teams desperate for help, the Predators could make that price stick. So, let’s take a look at which teams could be in a situation that could lead them to cave to the Predators’ demands.5 desperate NHL teams that could cave to Predators’ demands for Ryan O’Reilly#5 Florida PanthersThe Florida Panthers sustained a massive loss this season when Aleksander Barkov went down with a knee injury. The back-to-back Stanley Cup champs have managed to weather the storm, but could be looking for more help.The talk is that Barkov could be back for the playoffs. But if he can’t, GM Bill Zito could pivot to Ryan O’Reilly. The Panthers don’t have a first-round pick till 2028. But that’s all right, as that pick could be a high one, as the Panthers may be done as contenders by then.As for the prospects, the Predators may want to get Mackie Samoskevich, who’s already in the NHL. Other targets could be Anton Lundmark, Sandis Vilmanis, or Marek Hovorka.#4 New York RangersThe New York Rangers are another playoff contender in the middle of a tough season. The Blueshirts have been unable to string consistent outings this season. The scoring just hasn’t been there, while the defense has been somewhat suspect.The Rangers have gotten a Vezina Trophy season out of Igor Shesterkin. So, it would make sense to go for it. New York has two first-round picks this season. So, that could be a major boost. Plus, prospect Brennan Othmann has been rumored to be on the block.However, the Predators may want someone like Brett Berard or Gabe Perreault for Ryan O’Reilly instead. So, it might take multiple prospects to get a deal done in New York.#3 Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are another team that’s been battered by injuries. The losses of Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach have put the club in a bind down the middle. The Canadiens have not been secretive about their search for a top-six center.While the Habs have been most recently linked to Jordan Kyrou, the fact is that Ryan O’Reilly would be a solid fit. The Canadiens have their first-rounder this season and two second-rounders. So, that could be a fantastic position.It remains to be seen if the Canadiens are willing to part with defensive prospect David Reinbacher or a current roster player like Oliver Kapanen and Jared Davidson. The Habs have been adamant about moving futures, mainly draft picks, instead of roster players or prospects.Still, the situation could be so dire in Montreal that GM Kent Hughes could give up a crucial piece to get someone like Ryan O’Reilly at a highly palatable $4.5 million cap hit.#2 Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks have hit the desperation button. They are floundering at the bottom of the Pacific Division standings and are treading water. So, adding a veteran piece like O’Reilly could make the most sense at this point.The Canucks added a stopgap in David Kampf. But the team really needs a top-six center to offset the injury losses, plus the inconsistency of Elias Pettersson.Vancouver has its first-rounders for the next three drafts. While that’s a good start, the Canucks may need to part with a high-end prospect like Tom Willander. Braeden Cootes and Jonathan Lekkerimaki could also be enticing names for the Predators, especially if they head into a rebuild.#1 Edmonton OilersThe most desperate team on this list is the Edmonton Oilers. The Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues are not included, as O’Reilly already played for them. So, there may be reluctance for the veteran forward to rejoin these teams.The Oilers, however, are in panic mode. They will need to do everything they can to salvage their season and potentially get back to the Stanley Cup Final. So, adding Ryan O’Reilly could be a good move.The price tag, notwithstanding, could be too high for Edmonton. The Oilers don’t have a 2026 first-round pick, but they do have one for 2027. Plus, top prospect Isaac Howard could be the name heading to the Predators. Beyond that, the prospect cupboard is pretty barren.So, Nashville could fleece Edmonton by getting other pieces. Since the Oilers don’t have cap space to fit O’Reilly, such a deal could also cost them Matthew Savoie.It’s worth noting that the Oilers have given just about everyone no-trade protection on their club. That’s why moving a non-roster player would be nearly impossible. That’s why multiple pieces like Vasily Podkolzin, David Tomasek, and Ty Emberson could leave just to make the math work.Such a deal would seem ludicrous, but the Oilers may have no choice amid their alarming situation at the moment.