On The Prowl 

By: Mike Rifkin

Last season the Nashville Predators went 45-30-7 which was good for fifth in the highly competitive Central Division and the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. The reward for that was a first round matchup with the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche. The Predators were without Vezina finalist Juuse Saros who was out with a lower body injury. Last season Jusse Saros went 38-25-3 with a 2.64 GAA, .918 save percentage and four shutouts. Maybe the Preds win a game with Saros but they don’t win the series especially while being outscored 21 – 9. The Avs also went 7-16 on the power play while the Preds went 3-13. During the regular season the Predators averaged 3.20 goals per game and gave up 3,05 goals per game. Power Play converted 24.4 percent and their penalty kill was 79.2 percent. 

Last offseason the Predators traded long time defenseman Ryan Ellis to the Philadelphia Flyers as part of a three team trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. This offseason the Predators replaced one Ryan with another, as they traded for Lightning defenseman and two time Stanley Cup Champion Ryan McDonagh. Mcdonagh last season had four goals and 26 points in 71 games played. McDonagh has also played in185 career playoff games and has 12 goals and 64 points in those 185 games. McDonagh has always been known as a shutdown top four defenseman. One of the things Head Coach John Hynes could do with McDonagh is pair him with either Dante Fabbro or Alexandere Carrier. But getting McDonagh gives the Nashville defense a great left side with McDonagh, Norris Trophy Finalist and Captain Roman Josi, and Mattias Ekholm. 

The Predators also re-signed their franchise leader in goals when Filip Forsberg (who was traded for Martin Erat, sorry Caps fan) to a eight year 68 million dollar contract. Forsberg is currently fourth in Predators history with 469 points. Last season Forsberg broke 40 goals for the first time in his career, but prior to that was always near the high 20’s and 30s. Forsberg has also contributed in the playoffs with 29 goals and 53 points in 75 games. They also brought in another top six winger when they signed Nino Niederreiter to a two year eight million dollar contract. Niederreiter had 24 goals and 44 points in 75 games played for the Hurricanes last season. He gives the Preds top six some size and net front presence. Niederreiter also has 30 points in 82 career playoff games. Hynes could play Forsberg with either Matt Duchene or Ryan Johansen and Niederreiter with the other. 

Now do I think the Preds can overtake the Central from the Avs? No but I could see the Predators challenge the Minnesota Wild or St. Louis Blues for second or third place  in a very competitive Central Division. But I really like what David Poile and the Preds have done this offseason.  Don’t sleep on the Preds this season.