Nashville Predators First Quarter Grades

Oct 20, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators left winger James Neal (18) celebrates after a goal during the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 5-4 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

First Line

Filip Forsberg – B

Young Prince Filip started of the season with a flurry putting the dreaded Sophomore Slump worries to rest but has now gone a month and a half without a goal. He is certainly putting forth the effort and the numbers to be successful and it looks like he could break out at any time.  I expect he will improve his grade next semester.

Mike Fisher – C+

This is kind of a tough one.  First of all, you sure didn’t expect to see Fisher in this spot at the beginning of the season. And he is doing just what he does, going into the corners and doing the tough things he needs to do. But 2 goals, five points and -1 just aren’t enough from your first line center.  Are you listening Mr. Poile?

James Neal – A

One of the worries this season was if Neal could bounce back from last season’s sub-par numbers.  He has answered that in spades. In the first quarter of the season, he has almost half as many goals and points as last season.  His nine goals and 15 points both lead the team. If he didn’t take so many silly slashing penalties at inopportune times we might even offer up an A+.

Next: A Bit of Frustration

Oct 22, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators center Mike Ribeiro (63) celebrates with center Colin Wilson (33) during the third period against the Anaheim Ducks at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Second Line

Colin Wilson – C-

Fresh off a new contract and a 20-goal season, hopes were high going into this year for Wilson.  This grade was teetering between the c- and a D+.  ONE goal, Mr. Wilson. Only Paul Gaustad has less. Potential is thy name, please can we see thee.  As usual, he shows flashes. Flash a couple into the net.

Mike Ribiero – C

When Ribs was re-signed in the offseason, it was hoped that he could duplicate his numbers from a year ago.  He has fallen off significantly from those.  With two goals and nine points in 21 games he would have to double that point production in the second quarter to get back on track.  He has been floating between the first and second lines and needs to chip in a few more goals.

Craig Smith – C+

Smith is actually third on the team with five goals and is on track for another 20 goal season but has only scored two helpers. Seven points won’t justify his new four year contract and he and the second line in general really need to step it up immediately if not sooner.  He has had a lot of chances, but those don’t count on the scoreboard,

Next: How is Our Improved Third Line Doing?

Oct 22, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok (19) skates with the puck during the first period against the Anaheim Ducks at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Third Line

Cody Hodgson – C-

Hodgson was brought in on a one-year contract to increase the scoring on the third line.  I’m sure there were even hopes that he could possibly move up to second line if successful enough.  So far he has a grand total of two goals and three assists, a 5.4% shot percentage, a 45% FaceOff Percentage and has been moved to wing.  Not exactly what I would call a successful experiment. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a definite step up from Olli Jokinen from last year’s start. This is where Fisher probably needs to be.

Calle Jarnkrok -B

Coming into the season, Jarnkrok was supposed to chip in on scoring, play solid defense on the wing, help on the penalty kill and plug in where needed.  He did all of that and moved to center, leads the team in FaceOff Percentage with a 57.9% dragging the team from the worst in the league and has the second most goals among our forwards. He’s a feisty little dude and shows his intelligence on the ice, always seeming to be in the right spot. A valuable piece of the team

2nd Winger – C

Viktor Arvidsson, Austin Watson, Mikka Salomaki, Colin Wilson, and even James Neal for a few shifts.  Nothing seems to really get this line going.  It is probably going to take that trade for a 1C to push the Mikes down a line to get this one going and spread out the scoring.  It is important.  We get scoring from the defense that other teams don’t but come playoff time we need three lines to throw out there.

Fourth Line

Everyone – B-

Let’s face it, we can’t even go through everyone who has played on this line.  It started with Paul Gaustad, Eric Nystrom and Gabriel Bourque.  We’ve seen Watson, Salomaki, Arvidsson and some wonderful play from Colton Sissons on this line.  They’ve scored more goals than expected, and some were big goals.  When someone went out, someone else stepped up and did the job they were supposed to.  A part of the Predators success this year is the play of the fourth line.

Can they continue?  That’s hard to say.  Eric Nystrom has three goals already this season. Colton Sissons came in and in six games scored a goal, was plus five and won nearly 70% of his faceoffs. The youngsters seemed to inject an energy into the team when they were out there.  The vets can really play defense and kill penalties.  It’s a nice mix and a kind of changing of the guard for next year as contracts come up.  Let’s enjoy the ride while we can.

Next: The Best Defense in the League

Mar 24, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) attempts a slap shot during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Defense

First Pairing- A+

Roman Josi and Shea Weber are the best first pairing in the NHL, bar none.  Josi has improved to the point that he is arguably Weber’s equal. They do everything well, score, move the puck, play defense, power play, kill penalties, you name it. And they average a little over 24 minutes a game. It is unbelievable that the Predators could lose a player like Ryan Suter and replace him from within with a player like Josi.  There are teams that have been looking for a first line defenseman for years and years and the Predators have several that qualify. We could write an entire article just about these two but that’s for another day.

Second and Third Pairings – A-

They are kind of 2 and 2A anyway.  Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm or Seth Jones and Barret Jackman.  Both pairings have been wonderful this season.  Ellis, Jones, and Ekholm all have at least nine points on the year. Jackman has been blocking shots, providing toughness and hits as well as stay at home defense that has been beautiful to behold.  They are all part of the number one scoring defense in the entire NHL.

They are so good that there are questions that one of them may be moved for that true number one elite center that the Preds need so desperately.  The best thing is that they have several serviceable defenseman that could step in and take the place of one of the others.  Certainly not at the same level, but probably not to where it would cause a big hole. It may be what this team needs.

Next: The Backstops

Nov 23, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35) defends his net against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Goaltenders

Pekka Rinne -B-

Pekka at times has at times has been fantastic and at times has seemed mere human this season.  He currently has a 2.34 Goals Against which is high for him and ranks him 16th in the league among netminders with 10 or more starts.  He has a .911 Save Percentage which ranks 17th.

Teams and goaltenders tend to ebb and flow and Rinne is no exception. There have been games where he didn’t look “Rinne-like” but never to the point where you would worry about the Predators goaltending.

Carter Hutton – B-

One of the worries going into this season for many was the state of the Predators back up goaltending.  Hutton was sub-par in that regard last season and there were cries for a replacement.  In many ways he has answered those critics. In his three starts this year he has sandwiched one less than sterling game against the Ducks with two really nice outings against the Sabres and Ottawa. Just about anyone would take two of three really good games from their backup.

The goaltending has been a little less than expected this season. That being said, the Predators rank 10th in the league in Goals Against and it certainly hasn’t hurt their place in the standings much.  We think there is a good chance that it will bounce back. It would be nice to see Hutton play a few more games and give Pekka some rest for later in the season. There have only been two netminders with more games than Rinne this season.

Next: Overall Team Grade

Nov 25, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Team Grade – B

You can’t complain too much about seventh overall in the league.  That would get you a playoff spot although it start out with a series against the St. Louis Blues.  There are no easy draws in the Central Division.

There are two things we can ask for the balance of the season.  More scoring and more consistency.  The scoring will have to come from an increase from the first line and a huge bump from the second and third lines.  The defense can’t carry this team with scoring all season.  It may have to come from a trade for a first line center that has a trickle down effect on the other lines.

As for the consistency, this team has been Jekyl and Hyde all season.  They started off with great special teams, then went the other way.  They have been streaky with wins and losses.  They had two of three games with seven goals, then set a franchise record in futility with three straight shut out losses.  Even the goaltending has been streaky.

Next: Predators Trade Rumors

Both of these things are the kind of problems that can kill you in the playoffs. If you can’t score and suddenly everything goes cold for a few games you will find yourself playing golf during the days and watching the other teams at night.  Hopefully at the half way point, Coach Laviolette and David Poile have it all figured out and the teams have all “A’s” on their Mid Terms.  See you then!