After a successful 2016-17 campaign, the Nashville Predators must focus on one thing during this offseason. They need to find scoring options.
The page turned to the 2017-18 season the morning of June 11, with emotions still running high after the final game. A game that was a loss. Now, with free agency, the Expansion Draft, and the Entry Draft at hand, the Nashville Predators front office should have one focus: find points.
Granted, the team scored. They collected 238 goals combined in the 2016 season. That is the most since the 2006-07 season in which the team scored 266 goals. But, now things are different. Not only is the team a perennial playoff contender, they are a Stanley Cup caliber team.
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Build for defense
As the team stands now, the Nashville Predators are built on defense. We witnessed their ability to hit and kill penalties in the playoffs. Lead by defensemen P.K. Subban, the team performs with an edge that can intimidate opponents. But not only can they dish out hit, the combination of Subban, Ryan Ellis, and Roman Josi accounted for 20% of the Predator’s total points. Both Josi and Ellis rank in the team’s top eight in goals. Compare that to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and you will see the top defensemen in goals ranks 10th on the team.
No other team the Predators played in the playoffs had a defensemen higher than seventh in goals. Only the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks had defensemen in the top four in points.
The good news is that both Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg are 30-goal scorers. And, James Neal added 23 more. After that, the options are slim. The center position could be extremely thin should Mike Fisher retire or Calle Jarnkrok be selected by Vegas. But it is the wing positions outside of Arvidsson and Forsberg that will need addressing.
Position the puck
Now, I am not the worlds greatest offensive mind in hockey. It is hard to set plays like in basketball and soccer when you are on ice and getting hit by a 6 feet 3 inch, 225 pound man. A man that happens to be wielding a stick. But, after watching the team this year, I have one word to describe the Nashville Predators’ offense. Chaotic.
There is a lack of spacing when it comes to their possessions. And with that comes passes that lack great timing and crispness. While there is anticipation for a player to move into an opening, the puck often slides off the mark. Granted, opponents can knock the puck off course, but still the offense is not crisp. Like the Penguins were most of their offensive chances.
In order to find scoring, the Predators would do well to court a player that can create his shot. Someone that can play a game of give and go, or knows how to position themselves around the net. That could be a hard player to find.
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But, with a young team, finding the right player(s) could push the Nashville Predators in to Stanley Cup contention for many years.