2024–25 NHL team preview: Nashville Predators
LAST SEASON
The Nashville Predators had established themselves as a middling overachiever who, more seasons than not, could squeak into the playoffs for a round. The end result was the same last year, but things felt different. Filip Forsberg had a career year on the offensive end, offseason additions Ryan O’Reilly, Gustav Nyquist and Luke Schenn made an impact, and the Preds didn’t rely on goaltender Juuse Saros to bail them out as much as normal.
Paired with another Norris-caliber season out of defenseman Roman Josi, Nashville was good enough to lock in the first Wildcard spot in the Western Conference. It was touch and go during a mid-season slump, but a decision to deny the players the opportunity to watch U2 perform at Sphere in Vegas turned things around. After that punishment, Nashville went on an 18-game points streak to solidfy their playoff positioning.
Though they were underdogs against the Pacific Division-winning Vancouver Canucks, the Preds showed some fight, taking the high-powered team to six games before being ultimately eliminated.
For first-year GM Barry Trotz, it was a successful campaign, given the notion he was feeling things out in 2023-24. As we saw this past offseason, the Stanley Cup-winning coach took the gloves off and made some massive roster additions. Is it time to take Nashville seriously as a Stanley Cup contender?
KEY ADDITIONS & DEPARTURES
Additions
Steven Stamkos, C
Jonathan Marchessault, RW
Brady Skjei, D
Scott Wedgewood, G
David Edstrom, C
Magnus Chrona, G
Ozzy Wiesblatt, RW
Departures
Yaroslav Askarov, G (SJ)
Jason Zucker, LW (Buf)
Anthony Beauvillier, LW (Pit)
Ryan McDonagh, D (TB)
Kevin Lankinen, G (UFA)
Kiefer Sherwood, RW (Van)
OFFENSE
Trotz’s biggest moves in free agency came on July 1, when he brought in two incredibly gifted offensive weapons. Longtime Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos was persuaded to come to Smashville, signing a four-year contract to join the team. It goes without saying what kind of impact the Markham, Ontario native can make on the team. Along with a winning pedigree, he still has an elite shot and can be penned in for 30 to 40 goals. With it being the first time he has played with a new team in his entire career, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if things are slow-moving out of the gate.
Then there is Jonathan Marchessault. One of the last Misfits on the Vegas Golden Knights was left to go wherever he pleased, and the 2023 Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe Trophy winner elected to sign on for five years in the Music City. At 33 years old, Marchessault is coming off an exceptional 69-point campaign, including a career-best 42 goals. Watch out for both of Trotz’s big additions to be used a lot at both 5-on-5 and the power play.
Those guys only add to the core that is already there. Forsberg led Nashville with the most goals (48), assists (46) and points (94) he’s ever scored in a single season. Only Josi’s 96 points in 2021-22 stand as a higher total in franchise history. Speaking of Josi, the captain has shown no signs of slowing down, posting 85 points last season. There is no question the Swiss blueliner will be an important piece on the offensive end, as he is in his zone.
It was great to see Nyquist really come back into his own last season. When he was originally dealt by the Detroit Red Wings, he was one of the more underrated scoring threats in the league. However, with struggling San Jose Shark teams, he really had issues getting himself into a groove. If placed with the right level of talent, Nyquist will once again be a threat in all areas of his game.
DEFENSE
With his clear offensive gifts, Josi is still at the forefront of leading the blueline in Nashville. There is a reason he has been a finalist for the Norris Trophy in three of the last five seasons – taking home the award in 2019-20. Josi is a calm presence in his own zone, giving the D-corps a steady hand.
Joining Josi is another veteran blueliner, Brady Skjei. After some time with the Carolina Hurricanes, the Preds put him on the books for the next seven seasons. While that is a considerable gamble, the 30-year-old gives Nashville some needed depth and goal-scoring ability on the back end.
Along with the players on defense, there is no question O’Reilly is one of the best two-way players in the game. The 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy Winner already has a Selke Trophy under his belt, and deservedly so. The Clinton, Ontario native can help negate the opposition’s cycle game and, at times, act as a fourth defenseman.
Overall, Nashville has a solid group of defensemen who can help their goaltending. This group has some sandpaper and a ton of experience, with the average age being just a few months shy of 30. Yet, with useful assets in Luke Schenn, Jeremy Lauzon and underrated shutdown artist Alexandre Carrier at his disposal, I expect Andrew Brunette to use this crew correctly.
GOALTENDING
If there are any falters on the back end, Saros will once again be there to save the day. At least, that’s what Nashville is hoping for.
The Finnish netminder might not be the tallest, standing at five-foot-11, but there has been no more prominent player on this team over the last few years than Saros. The fact that he has only been a top-three finalist for the Vezina Trophy once is a crime—then again, that goes to show what GMs really know about the position. His play is the reason why Trotz signed the 29-year-old to an eight-year contract extension and pushed top prospect Yaroslav Askarov out the door in a trade to San Jose.
His workload has been impressive, as Saros has played 64 or more games in each of the last three seasons. The reason for the hefty number of appearances is because of the team’s lack of trust in the backup. They are trying to address that by signing former Dallas Star netminder Scott Wedgewood, who proved to be a solid No. 2 behind Jake Oettinger in the Lone Star State. Wedgewood is a calm presence as a No. 2 netminder, but can play starting minutes if something comes up with Saros.
COACHING
Brunette came to the Predators with the team seemingly in limbo after a rough 2022-23 season. Yet, the man who guided the Florida Panthers to a Presidents’ Trophy in 2021-22 was able to keep Nashville on course, and seemingly had an essential influence on players like Forsberg and Nyquist. There is no question that the former “Mr. Expansion” player is a good coach, finishing as a Jack Adams finalist two years ago. Sometimes, former players don’t necessarily make the easy transition from playing to coaching. Yet, Brunette’s ability to connect with both the young and rising talent, along with established veterans, makes him the right guy to lead the group in Nashville.
With an even better group of players to pick from, Brunette can prove that his name should be up with one of the top bench bosses in the league.
ROOKIES
This section would have been saved for Yarolav Askarov. However, the Russian netminder wanted a spot in the NHL, and he received that when he was traded to the San Jose Sharks last month.
Quietly, one of the top offensive weapons in the American Hockey League is Joakim Kemell. One of the first-round picks by the Predators in 2022 has a lot of tools in his game that make him a strong force. His skill set can translate to the NHL level, and if he can show that he can play better in his own zone, he will make a huge impact with the big club. With the Milwaukee Admirals last season, his first full year in North America, the Finnish forward notched 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points in 67 games, and was a key factor in the Admirals advancing to the Western Conference Final.
For an organization that has struggled to get top prospects to come up from the minors and flourish in the NHL, Kemell might be the guy who breaks that trend.
BURNING QUESTIONS
1. Is the “competitive rebuild” over? The easy answer is yes. You don’t go out and sign one of the best goal scorers of this generation, and a Conn Smythe Trophy winner, without thinking this is a window of opportunity. This is not rebuilding, but they are building to something special if things pan out.
2. Can Gustav Nyquist continue to produce? Nyquist had gone through a couple of down years before coming to Nashville. Yet, when he was placed on the top line with Forsberg and O’Reilly, the confidence that made him a solid scorer with the Red Wings seemingly returned. It led to a career-high 75 points last season, and showed that he is quietly an efficient offensive weapon. It is always hard to repeat that kind of season, but with the added options for Nyquist to play with, he could easily hit 60 points.
3. If the goaltending falters, what happens? Beginning with the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, the Preds have lived and died by how Saros has played. It hasn’t helped that he has had very little help from his backups over the last couple of years. Yet, Saros has been able to save the day and goes on heaters at the right times of the season to help the Predators get to the playoffs…but what if that doesn’t happen this year?
Yes, Wedgewood is expected to be solid No. 2 in Smashville, but if both netminders are average, it will be intriguing to see if the team in front of them can pick up the slack. They have the talent, no question, but with so many new pieces and a core that continues to age, it will be tough for them to carry the same burden Saros has dragged for the last few years.
PREDICTION
When the team added Stamkos and Marchessault, people started throwing the Predators into the Stanley Cup conversation. I think we need to pump the brakes on that. Yes, they have qualities similar to those of the team that made the run to the Final in 2017: great goaltending, a stout defense, and effective scoring options. However, there is a chance that it could all blow up their face. Stamkos might not be able to adjust to his new surroundings, and Marchessault’s 2023-24 may go down as his career year.
That said, I believe the Predators are a playoff team. With the Central Division seemingly status quo, Nashville has a chance to sneak into the top three.
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