Can Predators prove this season’s flop was a fluke and return to playoffs in 2025-26?
It wasn’t supposed to be like this in 2024-25 for the Nashville Predators. After an electric offseason in free agency landing some of the biggest names on the market, the Predators’ season quickly went sideways and never fully got on the rails. Sitting second from the bottom in the Central Division and third last in the Western Conference, it truly has been a disappointing season of epic proportions for GM Barry Trotz and his team.
After a “soft” sell at the Trade Deadline – the Predators moved off of defenseman Luke Schenn and forwards Mark Jankowski and Gustav Nyquist – it doesn’t appear like the Predators are gearing up for a reset or a retool. Based on everything I’ve heard over the last number of days, the plan is for the Predators to get back into the playoffs in 2025-26.
There was a lot of roster turnover this season. Between swapping backup goaltender Scott Wedgewood for Justus Anuunen to bringing in defenseman Justin Barron for Alex Carrier from the Montreal Canadiens, the Predators’ roster overhaul only just began last summer – it continued throughout the season. Ideally new guys will settle in for next year after having a full year (and training camp for some) with the team and under head coach Andrew Brunette.
For the rest of the way this season, finding out what the younger players are made of will be the main focus for the Predators. Getting a look at how forwards Luke Evangelista, Zachary L’Heureux and Fyodor Svechkov perform in larger roles and mesh with the veterans on the roster will be an integral part of the goals for the remainder of this season. Getting younger players experience in playing tough NHL games is something that’ll (ideally) translate to next season when the Predators have a clean slate.
Down in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals, getting some players to join that group ahead of a playoff run is something I also expect to see on the docket for the Predators front office. If younger guys can get valuable experience during a playoff run in the AHL, it’ll help instill a good culture for when said players eventually get the call up to the Predators.
As for this summer’s plans, are we to see another busy offseason for Trotz and the Predators in the way of being active in the transaction department?
The short answer is no, I don’t foresee the Predators being major players this summer for big name free agents. Guys like Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos are still fresh additions who need more time to settle in up front, while defenseman Brady Skjei is in a similar situation on the back end. With so many fresh new faces who’ve arrived in Nashville over the last nine months, the last thing this group needs is more, big name fresh faces to jump on the moving train. I’d expect the Predators to nibble around the edges this summer in free agency, but the main objective will be injecting youth onto the roster and having everyone settle in.
All this being said, should we expect a major bounce back from the Predators next season?
Call me a pessimist, but I still do have major questions about the Predators’ roster construction and how it will all come together – even after a year of all the new faces having time to settle in. There is a lot of money invested on natural wingers – three of which are right shots – and there is a lot left to be desired down the middle.
Especially with the trade of Tommy Novak to the Pittsburgh Penguins, it is just about as shallow as it can get down the middle for the Predators. Top-line pivot Ryan O’Reilly – who wanted to be part of the solution moving forward, hence not being dealt ahead of the deadline – isn’t getting any younger and Colton Sissons, who at one point was playing wing on the fourth line, can’t be a long-term fixture as your second line center. Svechkov does have the potential to blossom into a top-six center, but there is no guarantee on that trajectory and how long it’ll take him to reach that potential. Stamkos can always shift to the middle if need be, but at this stage of his career and age 35, that doesn’t come off as the best option.
The defense is shallow, but whenever you have a superstar like Roman Josi leading the charge, there is reason for optimism. I do wonder about how Barron will develop with a full year and training camp under his belt; I don’t think he was ever able to realize his full season with the Canadiens and could be a diamond in the rough for the Predators. If the Predators were to target any specific position in free agency, I think a right shot defenseman is something they could desperately use – especially after the trade of Schenn.
A goaltender like Juuse Saros will give you a chance to win almost every game, which is why the Predators committed long term to him. Not having to worry about your goaltending position will always help calm the waters for a team looking to get things back on the rails, so that is one area Trotz and company won’t have to worry about…probably. Saros is enduring easily the worst season of his career, but he’s still a solid bet to bounce back if the team in front of him gets its act together.
Do we see the Predators back in the playoffs in a year’s time? If all things remain equal, it may continue to be tough sledding for the Predators even next season. Brunette (whom I imagine will have a short leash next season) will have his work cut out for him trying to reign in his team. The nature of the Central division doesn’t seem like it’ll be changing anytime soon, and it could prove to be too strong for the Predators when all is said and done. In any event, expect an injection of youth in Nashville this summer; something that’ll be expedited with their three first-round and two second-round picks for the 2025 Draft. Coupled with the new guys (hopefully) settling in, the goal is to return to springtime hockey in 2026.
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