Nashville Predators Finding True Center

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

First Line

Ryan Johansen’s presence sparked to life the offensive motor of the club, and his combination of size, talent, and youth puts a crown that reads “Franchise Material” on top of his head. Moving into next season and hopefully the foreseeable future, there is little question that the 23-year-old will helm the center position on the top line.

Though he has had his efforts and composure questioned at times, his results have been unambiguous- pocketing two 60-point seasons and a 70-point season in the past three campaigns of his short five-year career. With a season in the Predator system under his belt and highly skilled wingers at his flanks, it will be Smashville’s pleasure to watch the star center grow towards his ceiling.

Next: Story Continued: Second Line

Second Line

Behind Johansen, where things this past season once looked so solid, the water starts to get a little murky. Center Mike Fisher, who spent most of this past year on the third line, now appears as the most solid option for gaining the second line role. 

Fisher looked born again in the playoff series against the San Jose Sharks, notching six points in seven games and ascending to the top-line center role while performing like a bonafide stallion. But at 35 going on 36-years-old, extra-juice playoff performances begin to feel like heroics railing against the ever-closing career window. And while being married to Carrie Underwood can certainly help to keep a man young, one has to wonder if the grinding of a full season at the second line wouldn’t slow down any vet not named Jaromir Jagr.

Next: Story Continued: Third Line

Third Line

Enter here the curious case of Mike Ribeiro. Ribeiro has generally been a full-fledged success since donning the gold jersey on a trial basis two seasons ago. He manned the second line after the Johansen acquisition and flourished, gathering together a 50-point season as an assist specialist. But then- the playoffs began.

The 36-year-old playmaker seemed to suffer the effects of the aforementioned second line grind- he looked slow, became a liability, and was eventually sat as a healthy scratch for two games. He transformed into the bane of Nashville social media and with one year left on his contract, GM David Poile and Coach Peter Laviolette had this to say about his offseason:

So Ribeiro’s position on the Nashville roster next season? Arguably handling second/third line duties with Fisher, with an outside chance of sitting and watching.

Next: Story Continued: Fourth Line

Fourth Line

The fourth line center position doesn’t offer nearly as many questions marks. Out is veteran faceoff guru Paul Gaustad. In is heir apparent Colton Sissons. Sissons, fresh out of his rookie season, looked more than serviceable in the role during stretches this past season- and breaking the trend with most of Nashville’s center core, his arrow is only pointing up.

Johansen, Fisher, Ribeiro, Sissons- this covers the most obvious look for the center position moving into next season, and David Poile has suggested that the franchise is not looking for wholesale change, being happy with the team’s level of play. Still, though, with eyebrows being raised about Ribeiro’s situation and the NHL being the roughhouse that it is- it’s worth discussing further possibilities.

But what exactly are those possibilities?

Next: Story Continued: In House Options

In House Options

The Predators roster is chock full of players listed as natural centers. Calle Jarnkrok probably headlines this option, but Colin Wilson and Craig Smith both have “C’s” stamped in their natural position column.

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The problem with this idea is that Nashville comes close to struggling with depth at the wings, and can ill-afford losing talent at those positions. However, if prospects like Kevin Fiala and Pontus Aberg can prove themselves capable NHL wingers next year, it may help to loosen labels in an injury-provoked situation. 

The Nashville front office also seems dedicated to resigning depth forward and grinder Cody Bass, who gained favor after logging some hard earned minutes during this past postseason. He has displayed solid ability on the dot and could, in a pinch, step into the fourth line role, moving Sissons up the chart.

Next: Story Continued: Prospects

Free Agency 

In a thin, aging, and overpaid free agency center market, the New York Islander’s Frans Nielsen looks like the shining name that may be worth the cap space it takes to sign him. The mysteriously underrated 32-year-old forward topped the 50-point mark while centering the Isles second line to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past season.

If a contract is drawn up based upon name recognition rather than statistical production, Nielson would be a fantastic addition to help ease any lingering doubts about the second and third line situation in Nashville.

It’s worth noting that Sam Gagner will be looking for a new home and is due a dramatic pay decrease after a disastrous pseudo-season situation in Philadelphia. The former perennial 40-point getter still holsters some offensive prowess, though shouldn’t be worth too much more to the Predators offseason strategy than the type of trial-offer given to Olli Jokinen and Derek Roy a few years back, adjusted per his youth. He will likely be overpaid elsewhere.

And then there’s Steven Stamkos. Because it’s fun to dream, right? But really. The Predators must focus their cap space on retaining the core of their success- including resigning Filip Forsberg, James Neal, and Ryan Johansen within the new few years. Chasing the type of player who graces the cover of video games isn’t really in the ballpark that small market franchises like Nashville can afford to be playing in.

Next: Story Continued: Overview

Overview

With a young core of rising talent on the Predator roster and perceivably the best years of the franchise’s hockey laid out directly ahead, the center position offers reasons for both hope and anxiety. With the current climate of things, it’s hard to imagine Mike Ribeiro outlasts the coming season, and yet it’s difficult to imagine Nashville sustaining success without production from whoever mans the second line center position.

Next: Preds Postseason Pros and Cons

Perhaps this offseason is not the offseason to address the issue, with players still under contract and the left wing position being noticeably thin- but sooner or a year from sooner, the center position will require attention, and Nashville will have to pay it.