Forwards
The forwards will keep playing their two-way game.
Last year came down to the Nashville Predators not being able to score when they needed it most. They are relying on a lot of logical progressions and the hopeful avoidance of regression. That can be dangerous.
Does the top line stay where they are or can they be even better? That is something which will be answered during the second half. On the other hand, Nashville has a bit more forward depth than last season. Guys like Fiala and Gaudreau could help as they gained a huge year of experience.
Will Fiala come back from his leg injury well? The team needs him to play solid from the start. If he produces, then that will be a huge boost. This is a team that needs consistency on the power play. There is too much front-end talent to be middle of the road on special teams. Forsberg, Johansson, and Arvidsson will be expected to generate a ton.
Defense
The Nashville Predators blue line is in pretty good shape. Furthermore, the return of Ryan Ellis does not have to be rushed.
The problem is, can the unit keep it together if Ellis is out more than four months? That is a great question. The top four is expected to be mixed up a bit.
Nashville’s initial top six looks to be Josi, Emelin, Irwin, Subban, Ekholm, and Weber. Bitetto might compete for ice time. The top six is optimal here as far as defense. Not having Ellis hurts offensively.
We’ll see what happens during training camp because there could be a minor shakeup as far as Bitetto and Weber. It is not that significant, however.
With rearguard stability, expect the Predators to fare pretty well. The key will be overcoming any Ellis impact power play wise. Can Subban pick up the slack? He has to have a better season in that regard.
Goalies
After a very good season, Pekka Rinne is expected to start around 60 games again. The Nashville Predators goalie posted 31 wins, a 2.42 GAA, and .918 save percentage. He is on a big contract until 2019 and has been an anchor in his time with Nashville.
Juuse Saros is 22 and the future of the Nashville Predators in net. The goaltender is in a pretty good position, and he should see no more than 20-25 games. Nashville should expect more of the same in net. Do expect a slight uptick in shots allowed.
Questions
Looking ahead to trade deadline – if sellers who could be on the move, if buyers what area might they need to improve? The Nashville Predators will be in the market for depth at the deadline. They will be mostly content with selling their picks and prospects unless injuries should occur.
What rookies could make the team? Frederick Gaudreau would be that guy honestly. After that, there is not much else. Gaudreau is still technically a rookie and has some potential based on his playoff run.
Which player could take a step forward this season? Without a doubt, it has to be Fiala. If he can net some more offense, that will keep his ice time up. The forward was looking great until he broke his leg in the playoffs. A full recovery and a hot start will be vital.
Which players could regress? Pekka Rinne jumps to the top of any conversation. He is about to turn 35 and a down year could easily occur. This is a Nashville Predators team with some older players. For all of their youth, Rinne has to be even better than last season. Can he do that?
Are there any training camp battles expected? The bottom roles will feature some battles. Watch the Nashville Predators and how they start. Those who fare well early will have a leg up.
What sticks out about Nashville? The Predators sneaked into the playoffs as the eighth seed. They are sneaking up on no one now. How do they handle this new prosperity? They have the talent to fare well but is the mental fortitude there?