Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
This is another edition of THN.com’s series in which we look at key issues facing all 32 NHL teams.
In today’s file, we’re breaking down three topics of discussion facing the Nashville Predators, which made quite the off-season splash, to say the least.
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1. With their slew of veteran additions, are the Predators the NHL’s most improved team?
The Predators went shopping in a major way this summer, adding former Lightning superstar captain Steven Stamkos, former Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei, former Vegas winger Jonathan Marchessault and former Stars goalie Scott Wedgewood via free agency.
The Predators were a playoff contender in the Central Division before the three top additions, but with Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei, they’re now virtual locks to make the playoffs and a favorite to go on a deep post-season run.
That said, is Nashville the NHL’s most improved organization? We’d say yes, with the Predators narrowly beating out the New Jersey Devils and Utah Hockey Club for that honor.
The Predators should now have one of the better first lines in the league, possibly the best first defense pairing (with Skjei and perennial Norris Trophy contender Roman Josi) in the game, and a goaltending tandem (featuring starter Juuse Saros and Wedgewood) that ranks as one of the league’s better duos.
Nashville GM Barry Trotz has splurged on the free-agent front, but he spent his money very well, and the Preds can now realistically contend for home-ice advantage in the Central and a playoff run as deep as any the franchise has ever made.
They weren’t terrible last season, but the Predators have added so much quality talent that they’re our pick as the most improved group overall.
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2. Will new Predators forward Steven Stamkos play on the wing or at center?
The only area in which the Predators don’t have admirable depth is at center, with veteran Ryan O’Reilly as the first-line pivot, followed by Tommy Novak, Colton Sissons and Michael McCarron as their next-best players down the middle.
Trotz does have about $3.09 million in salary cap space, but much of that will go to their two remaining RFAs, forwards Philip Tomasino and Juuso Parssinen. So Trotz can’t really add to the lineup at the moment.
However, don’t think for a minute that Trotz is unwilling to make more moves. And don’t think Preds coach Andrew Brunette won’t experiment with Stamkos back at center.
We’d expect Stamkos to begin the season on the wing, but if Nashville struggles out of the gate, the idea of Stamkos moving back to the center spot won’t be out of the question. Most NHL coaches are willing to try any move to jump-start a moribund squad, so the idea of Stamkos being center again can’t be discounted.
In an ideal world, one of Novak or Sissons steps up to adequately fill the second-line center spot, but Stamkos is an in-case-of-fire-break-glass type of insurance plan for Brunette to lean on if center ice is a problem area. They don’t desperately need him at center just yet, but it’s a comfort to know there’s a strong option for a different look there.
3. Should the trading of young netminder Yaroslav Askarov cause any concern?
No team likes to have unhappy players on their roster, but up-and-coming goaltender Askarov grew upset over his spot on Nashville’s goalie depth chart and requested a trade – a move that resulted in Askarov being dealt to the San Jose Sharks.
While some people might have thought the Predators have given into an angry employee and should’ve forced Askarov to return and fight for opportunities playing behind Saros, the reality is Trotz and Brunette didn’t want Askarov’s bad vibes to wash over this newly re-jigged lineup. They might not have received 100-percent equal value in the deal with San Jose, but in this case, it’s a matter of addition by subtraction.
Wedgewood knows his role as a support player for Saros, and he’s not about to upset the team’s chemistry by demanding more time. Askarov, on the other hand, was getting sourer every day he stayed on Nashville’s roster. Removing him should alleviate that issue and not raise any concerns.
If Askarov were one of numerous Predators players wanting out of town, that would be a different story altogether. But one bitter apple does not make an orchard a full-blown disaster. Preds players should be overjoyed with Trotz’s progress this summer, not concerned about the team simply because 1/23rd of it wasn’t pleased with the results.
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News Summary:
- NHL's Top Issues Facing Nashville Predators: Most Improved Team? Stamkos a Center? And Askarov Trade
- Check all news and articles from the latest NHL updates.