The Nashville Predators Are In Need of a Rebuild
Photo from John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images
The Predators dream run to the Stanley Cup Final, coupled with the President’s Trophy the year after feels like it just happened, but we are now six seasons since their lone Final appearance and the team is stuck in purgatory.
The current roster construction allows the team to be competitive, but they are no more than a fringe playoff team. They rely on stellar goaltending play from All Star Juuse Saros to overcome their poor defensive play and lack of scoring offensively. Saros leads the league in both shots faced and in saves, and is top five in minutes and save percentage. Even with Saros continuing to be a top goalie in the league, the team is not currently in a playoff spot.
The Preds currently have eight players that account for 68.7 percent of their teams cap space, this number stays the same for two more full seasons. This is a similar number to the top teams around the league, but the Preds are getting little to no production from their top guys. Career years from Matt Duchene, Filip Forsberg, and Roman Josi last season were barely enough to grab the last playoff spot in the west. With their play regressing and the likes of Ryan Johansen, Mikael Granlund, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Mcdonagh not being up to par with their contracts, this team’s future is bleak.
As a team they are sixth worst in goals scored per game, fourth worst in power play percentage, and are bottom ten in several other team offensive categories. They allow the third most shots per game, and are middle of the pack in goals allowed per game and penalty kill percentage. Juuse Saros is the only thing preventing the Preds from joining the other bottom dwellers.
The Predators are in dire need of a complete tear down, starting at the top. David Poile, the only general manger the team has known, and current Head Coach John Hynes should not return after this season. The Preds inability to play and develop young talent is a serious problem for a small market team. Eeli Tolvanen, a bright young forward for the Preds that saw consistent playing team over the previous two seasons was placed on waivers early this season. He was picked up by the Seattle Kraken and in just ten games with the Kraken he has more goals than nine current Preds forwards. While the Predators continue to play a 27-year-old zero goal-scorer in Cole Smith, 21-year-old Philip Thomasino is tearing up the AHL a year after playing 76 games for the Preds last season. These are just two examples of the extremely questionable moves from the front office in recent years.
This years Preds team is showing us who they are, a middle of the pack team that has the ability to compete but lacks the execution and talent to be a true contender. A rebuild is necessary.
