Nashville Predators: 5 burning questions for 2018-19 season

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 29: Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) and Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) talk during Game Two of Round Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators, held on April 29, 2018, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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There is only one goal left for the Nashville Predators to accomplish. Is this the year things fall into place?

The Nashville Predators are built to win now. Two years ago, they went six games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final. They entered the postseason last year as the best team during the regular season.

This team has a window. While the window shows no sign of closing, sometimes windows get broken.

Nashville enters the 2018-19 season with one goal in mind: Hoist the Stanley Cup. Sure, that’s the goal of 30 out of 31 teams — Ottawa not included — but few are built to truly contend like the Predators. On paper, they don’t have many weaknesses. However, there are still plenty of questions.

5. What will Dave Poile do?

He’s going to do something. This is Dave Poile we’re talking about. In the last two seasons, he’s traded for Ryan Johansen, P.K. Subban, Kyle Turris, and Ryan Hartman. Three of those guys were franchise players for their respective teams. Now they are franchise players in Nashville.

He’s like me playing EA NHL franchise mode. Yeah, things are going well. We’re winning a bunch of games because I’m lame and play on a lesser difficulty than my current skill level. Virtual Nathan MacKinnon is tearing it up, just like real life Nathan MacKinnon. I like all of the players and would not change a thing. Why mess with what’s working? You never mess with what’s working.

On the other hand, I wonder what would happen if I offered Gabriel Landeskog and a draft pick or two for Taylor Hall?

Poile never stops looking for ways to improve the team. No one thought trading Seth Jones and Shea Weber were possibilities at the time. All of a sudden, Bob McKenzie is Tweeting, “the trade is one-for-one” and Nashville has a No. 1 center and a younger superstar defenseman.

The Nashville general manager will do something. It’s what he does. As good as the Predators roster looks right now, it can always be better. Ryan Ellis’ name has popped up in trade rumors this offseason. The Predators have also reportedly inquired about Max Pacioretty.

He’ll make some type of move just before or during the season. It’s the Poile way.

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