Around the League is a report on major happenings around the National Hockey League, focusing on non-Leafs related teams and players. Updates on the standings, individual player achievements, and dramatic stories are all covered in depth here! This week, guest contributor Marshall Chapman covers the Nashville Predators’ disastrous start to the season. — SB
Around the League: Nashville Predators by Marshall Chapman
This past July 1st, I sat on my couch before Canada Day festivities began and watched TSN’s “Free Agent Frenzy.” I distinctly remember feeling glum throughout the signing announcements:
“Oh, Stamkos to Nashville. That’s too bad, he’d look awesome with Suzuki and Caufield. Oh well, I bet the Habs will take a run at Marchessault.”
“Oh, wow. Marchessault to Nashville too. The Preds are really doubling down on point producing wingers.”
“Holy! The Preds signed Brady Skjei too? Carolina’s looking rough.”
“Saros signs an 8 year extension? Guess he’s not getting moved – what a deal!”
In one day, Nashville signed two Stanley Cup champs and lethal goal scorers, a top four left-handed defenceman to munch minutes behind Roman Josi, and re-upped one of the top goalies in the league to a mega extension.
The talk of the summer was how bold Barry Trotz was, to walk back into Nashville as a rookie GM and lock up three of the most attractive free agents on the market, and then sign his star goalie as well. The latter move alienated one of the top goaltending prospects in the game, Yaroslav Askarov, who demanded a trade out of Nashville, allowing the Preds to recoup both a first round pick in 2025 and David Edstrom, a former first round pick.
To so many people, the Predators looked like a team ready to take the next step. These additions, on top of a strong prospect pool, insulated a solid core of Josi, Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Rielly and Gustav Nyquist, and made the Predators seem like a Stanley Cup contender.
Still, although I am wrong on so many occasions, I remember sitting on that couch on July 1st and thinking: “It’s too much. Too much change – too aggressive of a ‘speed burst’ on a short rebuild.” Just over a month into the season, I believe I’m correct.
Nashville still does not have a number one centerman, and they haven’t since they bought out Matt Duchene two summers ago. Ryan O’Rielly, who is playing the role now, has been a stud since he entered the league in the fall of 2009, but his days of being an elite 1C are over at the ripe age of 33.
Further, despite Josi and Skjei on the left side, the Preds don’t have a legit top pair right shot defenceman, meaning that as of November 12th, Josi is playing his off side on the top pair. All this while Alex Carrier and Jeremy Lauzon make up a very average second pair. The team just waived Dante Fabbro on November 10th, where he was claimed by Columbus. There are significant holes in this cap strapped roster.
The Preds are off to a 5-9-2 start, good for last in the Central Division and tied with Anaheim, Montreal and Columbus for last place in the league. On November 7th, Trotz told the media, “I’m trying to do some things right now. We will be limited a little bit because of some of the contracts that we do have. If we don’t get it going, then I’m going to start our rebuild plan.”
Whether this is Trotz trying to jumpstart his team or genuinely considering a rebuild – it seems crazy to consider where expectations were only a few short months ago.