NHL Season Preview 2016-17: Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators won’t be taking anyone by surprise in 2016-17. Can they make their Stanley Cup dream come true?
Before the 2015-16 playoffs, few gave the Nashville Predators any chance of beating the Pacific Division champion Anaheim Ducks. Nashville never got that memo as they upset the Ducks in seven games in the first round. They eventually took the eventual Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks to seven games in the second round before losing.
The Predators took a lot of teams by surprise in 2015-16. Thanks to a significant offseason change, Nashville will not be surprising anyone in 2016-17. For the first time in their history, the Predators are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
Here’s a quick review of what the Predators have done this offseason.
Key Additions: D P.K. Subban (Canadiens), D Matt Carle (Lightning), D Matt Irwin (Bruins), D Yannick Weber (Canucks)
Key Losses: D Shea Weber (Canadiens), G Carter Hutton (Blues), F Eric Nystrom, D Barret Jackman, C Cody Hodgson
Retained: F Filip Forsberg, C Calle Jarnkrok
The biggest addition that the Predators made this offseason was acquiring P.K. Subban from the Canadiens for captain Shea Weber. Weber is arguably the best player in franchise history. Replacing him on the ice will be easy, as Subban is a flawless fit in Nashville. However, replacing him off it could be difficult, though Mike Fisher is replacing Weber as their captain.
Subban should thrive in head coach Peter Laviolette’s uptempo style. He is an extremely mobile defenseman who can make plays that many defensemen can’t. Weber became a slight liability in Laviolette’s mobile system with his lack of speed. He is terrific at shooting the puck and clearing the crease, but his inability to move the puck up the ice hurt the Predators.
Barret Jackman had a solid season, but he simply wasn’t a fit with the Predators due to his lack of speed. The Predators are capably replacing him with a combination of Yannick Weber, Matt Carle, and Matt Irwin. Weber has experience playing with Roman Josi and is a NHL caliber defenseman. Irwin is a solid puck mover. Carle is a shadow of his former self, but it’s worth noting his best years came with Laviolette in Philadelphia.
Carter Hutton must be replaced. He was a lovable and decent backup goaltender for Pekka Rinne. Rinne is quietly getting older and the Predators would be wise to have a backup plan in case Rinne suffers an injury. Hutton was not spectacular, but he was sufficient. Signing Filip Forsberg and Calle Jarnkrok long-term were both necessities. General Manager David Poile got excellent value for both players.
Player Spotlight: Ryan Johansen
The Nashville Predators started playing their best hockey after Jan. 6, with a 22-13-7 record after that date. It’s not a coincidence that is the same day that they traded for center Ryan Johansen. In order to survive in the brutal Western Conference, you need a true number one center. They paid a hefty price for him, giving up promising young defenseman Seth Jones. But it is a price that the Predators would happily pay again because Johansen gives Nashville the number once center that many teams covet.
Johansen did a solid job dominating puck possession with Nashville, getting a 1.96 percent relative shot attempt for percentage. He had 36 points in 42 games with the Predators during the regular season. Johansen added four goals and four assists in 14 playoff games as the Predators’ number one center.
Perhaps Johansen got a bit complacent with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Considering John Tortorella’s history, he likely played a part in it as well. Whatever the reason was for the Johansen trade from the Blue Jackets’ perspective, the Predators are the beneficiaries.
Franchise centers are a currency in the NHL. Teams are always trying to acquire as many as they can. If you want to trade one, you’ll have roughly 29 other teams interested in trading for that center. For their first 16 seasons, the Predators didn’t know what it was like to have a franchise center. And then Jan. 6 happened.
2016-17 Outlook
The Predators are arguably the best team in the Western Conference. Their offense will likely be roughly as good as the Dallas Stars’. Nashville, however, has the advantage on defense and even in goal. Even coming off an off year, Pekka Rinne is a better option than Lehtonen or Niemi.
Rinne will have to bounce back for the Predators to make it to the Stanley Cup. While they don’t need him to be Carey Price, they need him to be good enough to turn away the shots that he does face. Assuming all goes to plan, he won’t have to turn away that many.
It should be fun to see how the Predators utilize their blue line depth. They have a lot of options for different situations. About their only flaw is their goaltending and that is a relatively easy problem to fix compared to needing to add a forward or a defenseman.