Nashville Predators: A Wing and Some Prayers
The Nashville Predators were perceived to have a weakness at Left Wing last season- we take a look at how that may change during the offseason as we break down the position.
Though the Left Wing position holsters the Predator’s brightest young star in the form of 21-year-old Filip Forsberg, the four spots down the left side of the roster were often pointed to by media and fans as the weakest link of the team.
Youth is prevalent at the position- the four skaters who solidified the wing by season’s end average only 23 years of age. And with Nashville owning a pipeline of young forwards tracing down from the pros into the AHL, it remains a looming question as to whether Nashville will be content to rely on the development of rising players or choose to acquire an outside source of talent to deepen the position moving into next season.
Here we take a look at the options on the roster and beyond for the position most likely to see change during the offseason:
Next: The First Line
First Line
Filip Forsberg may have spent the majority of last season on the second line, but you can guarantee he’ll be getting paid like a top-liner in the offseason. The Swedish sniper led the team in points (64) and tied a franchise record with 33 goals.
There’s no reason why he shouldn’t get a deal done in the offseason, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t hold the goal-scoring record in Nashville. All of them, even. If Forsberg and center Ryan Johansen can each be locked into long-term deals and develop chemistry at this early stage of their career, there could be guaranteed fireworks in Smashville for years to come.
Next: The Second Line
Second Line
Alright. So. Here lies Colin Wilson and the Question Mark that could swallow Bridgestone whole. The former 7th overall draft pick seems bound and determined to remain entirely unclassifiable with his bi-polar levels of play.
He is, simply, the hinge on which the left wing position swings. If ‘Regular Season’ Colin Wilson shows up- the one who spent all of last season underperforming on the third and fourth lines- then the scoring begins and ends with Forsberg. This devastates scoring depth and is the exact scenario that led to the idea of a thin and underwhelming left side last year.
However. If the 26-year-old who dominated the postseason while averaging just under a point-per-game continues his war path into next season, the Predators may see a perceived weakness transforming into a strength before their eyes. Especially if the younger players continue to improve, and ESPECIALLY if the Nashville front office decides to onboard an established scoring threat during the offseason.
Next: The Third Line
Third Line
Calle Jarnkrok is like a roster repair man. If there’s a hole in the forward chart, he can fill it and fill it well. Able to play either wing or center, he’s shown the ability to go toe-to-toe with the league’s best, spending a good portion of this past season on the top line.
Jarnkrok plays a well-rounded and positive game, earning a +1 plus/minus rating on the season while eating solid penalty kill minutes. The 24-year-old showed marked improvement across the board in his second NHL season and will be looking to take the next step by adding a spark to his offensive game which managed 16 goals and 30 points through 81 games in 2015-16.
Next: The Fourth Line
Fourth Line
Enter the Finnish Finisher- hit machine Miikka Salomaki. The 23-year-old spent his rookie season throwing his 5’11, 209 lb. frame at anything in the building that moved and wasn’t carrying around a tray of hot dogs.
Displaying fantastic energy and grit, Salomaki found a role at the pro level which injected youth into the Predator lineup and allowed the franchise to part ways with some older, salary-heavy contracts. The winger will continue to develop his two-way game next year, as he led the Milwaukee Admirals in scoring during the 2013-14 season, marking 50 points (20 G, 30 A) in 75 games.
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The simple lineup: Forsberg, Wilson, Jarnkrok, Salomaki. Although it’s conceivable that the Nashville front office may be content with this developing group who only came a game away from the Western Conference Finals, it would not be altogether surprising to see a different list heading into the season opener next year.
As a matter of fact, this position seems the most likely on the roster to be shaken up during the offseason. But how exactly? We examine some options:
Next: The Prospects
Prospect Pool
It’s impossible to read through scouting reports on Kevin Fiala and avoid the term “game-breaking.” The 19-year-old winger is currently the Predator’s most highly touted prospect, being their 2014 first round draft pick (11th overall), and leading the Milwaukee Admirals last season with 50 points (18 goals, 32 assists) in 66 games.
Fiala is an offensively-oriented forward with elite level puck skill, agility, and creativity. Holding him back from a roster spot is a lack of development in his defensive game and below-average measurements in both size and strength. It will take time to adjust his game to the larger, faster bodies at the pro level- but when he does, his career trajectory is expected take a shape similar to Nashville’s own Filip Forsberg.
Next: The Free Agents
Free Agents
There are two heavyweight free agents whose names have been frequently floated around Smashville quarters. One of which should sound familiar to those who had their ears to the ground around the trade deadline- that being Boston Bruins winger Loui Eriksson.
There were rumors then as there are now that the Predators may seek to acquire the 30-year-old to bolster scoring depth, a feat at which he would surely succeed, fresh off a 30-goal, 63 point season. Though Eriksson seems a bit slower than he was in his 70-point days, his 2015-16 salary came in at $4.25 million- the same as Craig Smith’s, and unlikely to dip coming off such a stellar year.
The Preds have the cap room if they wish to pull the trigger, but have been mentioned as mulling over another option- 28-year-old Kyle Okposo. The winger marked 22 goals and 64 points as a top-liner for the Islanders this past season, and would serve as a wholly valid source of additional offense.
Okposo is showing every sign of being in the prime of his career and his $2.8 million salary is destined to inflate on the open market. A natural right winger, he may not end up down the left side if added to the Predator roster, but his presence would certainly shuffle the cards. Talent, at the right price, can always find a place.
Next: The Free Agents Part II
Free Agents Part II
If you want to talk natural left winger who would fit right in with Smashville’s hardnosed style, you want to talk Milan Lucic. I’ve always envisioned Lucic as a model prospect for sporting the fangs on his chest- he brings significant grit with his scoring, notching 20 goals and 55 points as an embattled two-way forward last season.
But, alas, much like the idea of Steven Stamkos in gold, Lucic carries a big name and a bigger price tag. Coming off a 6 million dollar season, the odds are far less than favorable that he finds a home in Nashville. Though, while on the topic, Stamkos himself wouldn’t be a terrible choice at left wing if the front office felt the need to mortage the franchise pipeline.
Another big name option at left wing is Andrew Ladd, who played for two different teams in the Predator’s division last year. Ladd is a natural leader with a scoring touch who marked 25 goals and 45 points while earning $4.4 million last season. He matches well with the game Nashville plays, but will be highly sought after and assuredly overpaid for his services.
Check in when we review the right wing position for some free agent prospects that could serve as valuable pieces of Nashville’s roster for a more value-conscious price. But now, we conclude the left wing options with one more huge name that has been recently linked to the Predators:
Next: The Trade Option
Trade Options
Left winger Rick Nash has been placed upon the trading block by the New York Rangers, who are looking to dump some of his $7.8 cap hit. The Predators have been mentioned around these trade circles, as touched on more in-depth in this article.
Nash is an all-around elite level winger who is coming of the worst season of his career, along with a handful of nagging injuries. He could return to 30 goal, 60 point form alongside Ryan Johansen, but the Rangers will be looking for a large return for the star player, and the Predators would be looking at losing core pieces and/or possible future impact players of their own.
Next: Preds Players With Urgency
Nashville could be perhaps better served elsewhere if they’re looking to take on a behemoth contract the size of Captain Shea Weber’s (cough.. Stamkos.. cough), not to mention the move could poke holes in what appears to be a promising youth rising. But if they choose to acquire Nash, they gain an incredible talent that will ride off into the sunset with Weber and goalie Pekka Rinne as All-Pro veterans seeking their first Stanley Cup Championship.