Nashville Predators: Top 5 Teams In Way of Return to Stanley Cup
Now that the Nashville Predators have seen the mountain top, they want to conquer it. There’s five teams in particular that will pose a major challenge.
If you’re thinking last season was a monumental task for the Nashville Predators to reach unexpected heights, prepare yourself for what’s in store for the upcoming season.
The Predators aren’t going anywhere with the offseason they’re having. Their odds to remain a top contender is high thanks to their offseason moves. With that said, the Western Conference remains stacked, with an emphasis on the Central Division.
After reaching the mountain top, we as fans want to focus on winning the division and getting a top seed. That’s all great, but it will be a grind to survive the regular season. The division the Predators reside in has gotten better as well. Even with an immensely talented roster, the Predators have difficult road ahead next season.
Let’s take a look at the top five teams standing in the way of the Predators repeating as Western Conference champs.
Dallas Stars
A divisional opponent who figures to wake up from their slumber next season is the Stars. It’s puzzling to understand how they’re a bottom dweller right now. Their offseason has been a productive one, and it all starts with bring back Ken Hitchcock as head coach.
With Hitchcock at the helm, the Stars are going to be much better than their 86 points last season that left them out of the playoff picture. The addition o goaltender Ben Bishop will give them stability in that area, and they still have a potent offensive scoring attack.
The Stars are another obstacle the Predators will have to prepare for to battle for playoff positioning.
Anaheim Ducks
That pesky team that never seems to go away, the Ducks. Their core talent keeps getting older, yet they keep remaining a top contender. They’re going to stay in the conversation at least through next year.
All of their top dogs like Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler and Corey Perry are sticking around. They also will retain Patrick Eaves, so the core of their team that squared up with Nashville in the conference finals remains intact.
Even with all of that, I see them regressing a bit. Age will catch up with them to certain degree. They’re still a playoff team, but more of a potential first-round victim for the Predators in the playoffs. As we have come to know, the Ducks are never an easy out, so get ready to see them again.
Chicago Blackhawks
It’s still hard to believe that the Stanley Cup journey started by sweeping the Blackhawks. Hate to say it, but an embarrassing sweep isn’t going to fade them away.
The Blackhawks will remain one of the better teams in the league next year. Don’t even be surprised if they once again win the division and take another top seed to the playoffs. Their roster is stacked from top to bottom with talent. The Vegas oddsmakers have them as having the second-best odds to win it all, only behind the Penguins:
2018 Stanley Cup Updated Odds#Pens 9/1#Blackhawks 12/1#Oilers 12/1#Lightning 12/1#Caps 12/1#NHLDucks 14/1https://t.co/9xAZ0oxNRw
— Las Vegas Sports Betting (@lasvegasbetting) July 24, 2017
You can’t discount their roster that looks more like that of an all-star team than an average roster. When we saw the Predators sweep that ridiculously talented roster, we knew they were legit.
Instead of a first-round meeting, the Preds will have to probably take them out later in the playoff bracket. That’s not to mention battling for a division crown. Expect that race to be much closer this season.
St. Louis Blues
As grueling as the Ducks series was, the Blues series was that much more taxing. They both ended in six games, but the Blues put up the bigger fight and were a bigger threat.
They’re mostly the same team heading into next season. That means Vladimir Tarasenko will keep terrorizing goaltenders and Jake Allen is still a rising star protecting the net. Their defense is also grossly underrated and kept intact. They’re flying too much under the radar for some reason, and worry me more than any other division opponent.
You have two teams that are desperately trying to win their first Stanley Cup. They’re the most complete team within the division that the Predators will face. Last season’s second-round meeting could be the start to an epic rivalry for Wetern Conference supremacy for years to come.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers are in the fast lane to overtaking the throne as the next dynasty in the NHL. They’re that loaded with young talent, even more than what the Predators can say.
Even with a quiet offseason, the Oilers are just waiting to explode. They were probably a little ahead of schedule last season, but I expect them to be one of the representatives in the Western Conference Finals.
If the Predators are going to return to the Stanley Cup Final, their top foe will be the Oilers. Even though they’re not divisional opponents, these two teams are on a collision course for being in the conference finals conversation for the long term future. Their current lineup is already locked and loaded to win a Stanley Cup now, per Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News.
Even if you leave out the electrifying Connor McDavid, the Oilers are still stacked with talent that will keep maturing. Other teams within the conference are getting older and their windows are closing, but not the Oilers. As a Predators fan, you should be most worried about the Oilers in a seven-game playoff series.
Next: Burning Preds Questions From Fans
A conference finals clash in 2018 between the Predators and Oilers will be a lot of fun if it ends up happening. Stopping the game’s most talented scorer while also keeping the Stanley Cup drought alive for Canada will be a sweet victory for Predators fans.