Predictions for the Nashville Predators in 2023: Analyzing Future Odds and NHL Expert Picks

Despite facing injuries and numerous trades, the Nashville Predators fought for a playoff spot until the end of the season. However, they fell short by 4 points in their pursuit of the final wild card position. The team’s offense was a major concern, as they were the only team with a winning record but a negative goal differential (-9). The Predators performed exceptionally well on home ice, winning 22 out of 41 games. Despite trading away several key players, including Nino Nederreiter, Mattias Ekholm, Tanner Jeannot, and Mikael Granlund, they still managed to secure 92 points.

Filip Forsberg, who missed significant time in the second half of the season, recorded 42 points in 50 games. Matt Duchene emerged as the leading goal scorer for the Predators with 22 goals. Captain Roman Josi led the team in points (59) and assists (41). Center Tommy Novak had an impressive season with 43 points in just 51 games. Goaltenders Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen formed a strong duo, keeping opponents to under 3 goals per game.

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Now, let’s take a look at what we can expect from the Nashville Predators in the upcoming 2023-24 season:

Key Additions/Losses

The Predators underwent a roster makeover, starting with numerous trades during the previous season. This continued in the offseason with the buyout of Duchene and the trade of Ryan Johansen to Colorado. Midseason acquisition Cal Foote also departed, signing with New Jersey.

The team made some significant additions during the offseason. Nashville added defenseman Luke Schenn, who tallied 22 points in 70 games for Vancouver and Toronto last season. The Predators made a splash by signing veteran forward Ryan O’Reilly, who recorded 30 points in 53 games for Toronto and St. Louis. They also acquired Gustav Nyquist (27 points, CBJ/MIN) and Denis Gurianov (17 points, MON/DAL).

X-Factors

New Management: The Predators’ front office is now led by Barry Trotz. Despite the team appearing to be in a rebuilding phase, Trotz aims to field a competitive team. He capitalized on the experience of veteran players while building around Saros, Forsberg, and promising young talents like Luke Evangelista and Jusso Parssinen. It will be intriguing to see if Nashville becomes active in the trade market and adds further pieces to the roster.

Evangelista: This young player shows great potential and was one of the reasons behind the roster changes. In limited playtime last season, he recorded 15 points in 24 games. The Predators will rely heavily on his contributions as he strives to secure a spot on the top line by the end of the season.

Goalie Outlook

Once again, Saros and Lankinen will be the goaltending duo for the Predators. Saros, an All-Star last season, has strong chances of winning the Vezina Trophy this year. In 64 games, Saros maintained an impressive 2.69 goals against average with a .919 save percentage. Lankinen also performed well, allowing just 2.75 goals per game in relief. Expect a similar performance from them this season.

Grade: A

Key Schedule Stretch

The First Half of the Season: Predicting the team’s performance is challenging at this point. Although Nashville does not appear to be a strong contender, unexpected contributions from role players could prompt them to seek reinforcements. This team could potentially find itself on the brink of a playoff berth, especially given the weaker division.

Prediction

Regardless of whether the Predators opt to make trades during the season, I anticipate them exceeding their team point total. If they do choose to make additions, they could secure a wild card spot. Don’t underestimate Trotzy and the Preds. With Forsberg’s health and Saros continuing to be one of the league’s top goaltenders, Nashville might surprise.

Over 86.5 Team Total Points