The Nashville Predators made a push in the latter half of the season, winning 20 of their last 28 games. That allowed them to pass the Dallas Stars and make it into the postseason. However, an early exit shows there’s still a lot of work to be done in Smashville. Nevertheless, they have given fans a dose of optimism for what’s to come, and the Predators will have to work during the offseason to deliver.
By the Numbers
Record: 31-23-2 (64 points)
Power Play: 17.61% (23rd)
Penalty Kill: 75.58% (29th)
Goals For: 156 (20th)
Goals Against: 154 (9th)
Best Player
Filip Forsberg‘s play this season was good. Was it his best? Probably not. He finished third in goals and second in overall points for the season. For the first part of the campaign, he was averaging nearly a point per game. Unfortunately, he had a slight derailment late in the season due to injury and his production level in the playoffs was less than ideal. However, Forsberg appeared to be the bright light on an otherwise dark Predators team.
Behind the Bench Analysis
In his second season, head coach John Hynes showed potential but a few things will need to be addressed in the offseason. First, he needs to figure out how to get his players to play a full 60-minute game. Their inability to play a complete game resulted in having to come back from deficits, some of which they were not always able to overcome. Hynes will also need to determine how to use players better and not favor some over others. Finally, though he’s not in charge of the power play, he will need to find a way to help or inspire a more creative plan.
Front Office Analysis
Through all the moves Predators general manager David Poile has made, there’s never any doubt that his goal is to make the team better. He has sometimes been accused of being too loyal to players, which can be a double-edged sword he might not want to fall on. Poile needs to do more to make the Predators better than they were for their Stanley Cup Final run in 2017. He attempted to do so this season with free agent signings, but the Nashville still looked like a team on a mini-rebuild; not ready to contend for the Stanley Cup.
2021 NHL Entry Draft Picks
The Predators have eight picks going into the draft. Two of them are from trades with the Los Angeles Kings (Viktor Arvidsson) and the Ottawa Senators (Austin Watson). They could have had nine, but their Round 7 pick was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Connor Ingram. Poile will need to use these picks either as trade bait or for getting players who are a good fit for the vision he and Hynes have for the team.
Offseason Checklist & Prognosis for 2021-2022
The Predators should be aggressive in remaking the team into a version of itself that is prepared to win games and take names. First, Poile will need to see about moving or getting rid of a few contracts. He’ll also need to consider Forsburg’s contract and what he could be resigned for. Then, like any of the other teams, they’ll need to focus on getting younger. They have a good start, but there can always be an improvement.
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Embed from Getty Images
