Nashville Predators a year in review

[yave1964]

  PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

 

 With the drafting of Seth Jones and the signing of a bushel full of 2nd and 3rd line forwards it was hopes that the club would compete for a playoff spot.

 

  FINAL RECORD 38-32-12 88 points only 3 points behind the Stars for 8th place in the West

 

STRANGE STAT OF THE YEAR

Eric Nystrom had a Cy Young Season with 15 goals and only 6 assists.

 

HIGH POINT OF THE SEASON

 On October 19th Pekka Rinne defeated Carey Price and the Predators sat at 4-3-1.

 

LOW POINT OF THE SEASON

 Rinne did not play again until March 23rd too late to salvage the season though they did get tantalizingly close.

 

WHAT WENT RIGHT

 Roman Josi (13-27-40) established himself nicely along the blue line. Weber led the team in scoring again (23-33-56) and had 12 PPG. Craig Smith established himself as a solid top six forward (24-28-52). Patric Hornquist (22-31-53) was solid. Calle Jarnkrok, acquired from the Wings in a deadline deal for original Predator David Legwand showed flashes down the stretch. Mike Fisher stil gets to go home and sleep with Carey Underwood at night.

 

WHAT WENT WRONG

Rinne being lost for mist of the season with a hip infection devastated the club. Throwing guys like Hutton, Dubnyk, Mazanek and Hellberg none of whom did much to make you think they were NHLers ruined the season. Victor Stallberg with 8 goals was a poor signing. Michael Del Zotto, acquired from the Rangers had a lost season. Filip Forsberg looked lost.

 

MVP Shea Weber. He did his best and had one hell of a year.

 

UFAS

none of any significance.

 

OFFSEASON OUTLOOK

Original Predator Legwand is gone, so is the only coach in franchise history, Barry Trotz. Hope is a new coach will open up the offense. Rinne back for a full year is certainly capable of making up the 3 points that they missed the playoffs by. They have money to spend on Free Agents and could be aggressive this offseason.