Nashville Predators Finding True Center

Mar 17, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen (92) looks on during the third period against the New York Islanders at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports — Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen (92) looks on against the New York Islanders. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Nashville Predators face intriguing decisions at the center position moving into the offseason- we break down the possibilities for the core of the roster.

The 2015-16 season marked arguably the strongest performance the Nashville Predators franchise has ever seen from its corps of centers. The four roster spots featured a 60 point scorer and a 50 point scorer- and neither of those guys even wound up centering the top line by the end of the playoffs.

This newfound success was achieved via landmark trade- the Predators sent 2013 4^th-overall draft pick Seth Jones to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for the 2010 4^th overall draft pick, Ryan Johansen. The decision to part ways with the gifted defenseman brought Nashville its first ever true number-one center, altering the course of both the season and the franchise.

But the whirlwind end of the 2015-16 season may have brought more questions than answers about the future of the position:

Next: Story Continued: First Line