Nashville Predators: Central Division primed to be NHL’s toughest
The NHL is filled with tough teams, but the Central Division may be the toughest in 2017. The Nashville Predators look for a chance to win it.
The tumultuous offseason is winding down, and we are ever closer to opening training camps. News of transactions cool off from their fiery flurry and fans sit back waiting for the ice to form. Many of the Nashville Predators’ fans bask in the glow of calling their team Conference Champions. It was a fun offseason for most.
But, now we brace ourselves. The anxiety and pressure that comes from success starts to weigh on our minds. Hockey is coming. And the Predators play in one of the toughest divisions in all of the NHL.
Last year, four teams slid into the playoffs. The year before saw five from the Central Division hunting for Lord Stanley’s Cup. Could that happen in 2017?
Yes. And, dare I say, it will happen. The question remains what five teams will be in the mix, but six hold serious interest in the coveted spots.
How does the Central Division shake out? Let’s take a very early look into the season, and predict the final standings.
Chicago Blackhawks
The traditional powerhouse. The one that won the conference championship 13 times. And won the Cup six times. They appeared in the playoffs 62 times in their 91 year history.
Of course, you already know that. They are quick to remind everyone about that. Always reminded me of the St. Louis Cardinals in terms of how their fans respond to discussion.
But, this season just feels different already. And it is not because the up-and-coming rival Nashville Predators swept them in the opening round of the playoffs. And held them scoreless at home during the sweep.
It is the rest of the offseason that is drawing the ire of fans across the NHL. First, Marian Hossa is out for the season due to a severe skin disorder. It is a strange way to possibly end a 19-year career, and we wish him well. But, while not the 80 point scoring threat like he was early in his career, his role was valuable.
There is some room for hope. The team does have Brandon Saad, who will try to fill the shoes of Hossa, as our friends at Blackhawk Up wrote. Saad spent the last two seasons with Columbus after being traded away from the Blackhawks. Still, his scoring remains consistent, averaging 51.25 points in four full seasons. That should help fill the void.
Yet, the other additions this offseason left fans scratching their heads. The offense appears to be the same or better than last year, as long as Patrick Sharp is healthy. But, the defense is a concern. Will they have enough to stop high-scoring teams in the division?
Colorado Avalanche
What can you say? Things are interesting over in the Mile High City. To say they were awful in 2016, like ESPN.com stated, may be harsh. But, winning only 22 games all season is not a good look.
The offseason for the Colorado Avalanche has – and still is – centered around Matt Duchene. Well, him a Joe Sakic. Rumors stormed about early on in the offseason. It was full of sound and fury. Yet, it signified nothing except that Sakic thinks highly of his young star.
However, he is still on the team. At least last I check……
Yep, still there.
So, if you are the worst team in the NHL, what do you do in the offseason? You find a way to get better, right? Right?
Nope. They added two goalies, one as a backup to Semyon Varlamov and the other as a prospect. They also added Neil Yakupov at right wing. The largest addition came via trade when they acquired Colin Wilson from the Nashville Predators. While the potential to score is there, friction caused problems. Still, alongside Duchene (yep, still there), he will be valuable.
Dallas Stars
Is there a team more excited for the season than the Dallas Stars?
Okay, yes. I see you Nashville and Winnipeg. Calm down.
Of all the teams in the Central Division, the Stars may have improved the most this offseason. A top line that already enjoyed Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, added the fearsome threat. That would be Alexander Radulov.
Yes, Nashville. THAT Radulov. The one that scored 95 points in over two seasons with the Predators from 2006-2008. Then he left to play in Russia, came back, went home, and then played in Montreal last season. All during that time one thing remained constant: he can score.
Add to the mix a top-line goalie in Ben Bishop, and strong defense from Marc Methot, and you have a very improved team.
Can they score enough outside of the top-line? That is the main questions. Last year, the Stars scored 223 goals. It was better than two playoff teams (Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks), but still sixth best in the division.
Minnesota Wild
After floating around in mediocrity, the Minnesota Wild are coming off their best season in team history. Their highest win total previous to last year was back in 2006-07, notching 48 victories.
The franchise’s main years for success came in the last five seasons, making the playoffs each year. And, while they never made it to the Conference finals, they won a few first rounds. Yet, the finished second in the conference, just behind the Blackhawks.
A strength of the Wild is their goaltending. Devan Dubnyk stood on his head preventing teams from scoring, leading him to another All-Star appearance, and in the running for the Hart and Vezina Trophies. It was good enough for the fourth best goals allowed ranking in the Western Conference.
But, the power of the team is their scoring ability. The 266 pucks they nailed to the back of the net was tops in the conference and second in the NHL. However, it was a 50 goal jump from the previous season. Most of the scoring game from the center position in 2016-17.
This offseason was largely quiet, but what needs to be done when you perform so well? The Wild re-signed their top scorer, Mikael Granlund, along with Nino Niederreiter. After that, a couple of defenseman were added, and the team is where it is.
So, will the real Minnesota Wild please stand up? Are you 216 goals and 38 wins? Or will 266 goals with 49 wins become the norm?
Nashville Predators
Man! That was fun. The 2016-17 season for the Nashville Predators was the best in team history. Okay. So, it is tied for seventh in wins, and eighth in points. However, it was the first appearance in the Conference Finals. And it brought the Stanley Cup Final to Nashville. The party was unreal.
Yes, Blackhawk fans! We know. You won six cups. You still lost seven!! Let us enjoy our moment. Now, get back under the rug where we swept you.
Okay. All humor aside, beating your rival and making to the Final are pinnacle moments for the Predators. At least for now.
The power of the team is in their balance. All players on the ice contribute. The defensemen score and the forwards are block pucks. And, Pekka Rinne can be a great wall in front of the net.
Still, there are holes. The Predators rely on two-time Cup winner Nick Bonino to bring influence and maturity to a young offense. And, they must rely on their youth to fill the void left by James Neal and Colin Wilson’s departures.
But, opponents know there is a new attitude with the Predators. The line of Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, and Viktor Arvidsson are one of the best in the game. It is not longer defense, it is balance.
It is not longer the prey. They are the Predators.
St. Louis Blues
Is there a perennial playoff team in the NHL that gets talked about less than the St. Louis Blues? It seems they are part of the playoff picture every years. They have been in six years in a row, and seven of the last ten years. Most impressive is the fact they have NOT been in the playoffs in eight of their 50 years of existence. Five of those seasons are in the last 12, however.
Yet, unless you live in Central Illinois or Missouri, you do not hear much about the Blues. Maybe it is because out of all those trips, they have the same amount of Stanley Cups as the Nashville Predators.
All they do is win hockey games and make the playoffs.
Everything they do is solid. Vladimir Tarasenko is a bright, young star who has scored more than 70 points in each of the last three seasons. And yet, few would pick the kids out of a group of people hanging at the mall. There is not thing flashy about the Blues.
Sorry…..They ain’t nuffin flashy bout dem Blues.
The problem is the current roster is filled with big contracts, leaving little to no room for additions in the offseason. Sixteen players each cost at least $1 million in salary cap. And, only one contract came off the books this offseason.
So, in a time when most teams were active, St. Louis was largely inactive.
Can you expect the a team that is largely the same to do just as well when others improved? St. Louis is hoping for that.
Winnipeg Jets
You hear that sound? That is the sound of Winnipeg Jets fans shouting because they think their team has a chance to win in 2017. They may be right.
The 2016-17 season ended with the Jets just one win behind the Predators. Turn a few loses into ties, and the Jets just may be in the playoffs. But, hope springs forth from the hearts of Jets fans. Their time is coming.
And it is coming soon.
Their biggest addition was re-signing Mark Scheifele. His season with 82 points earned him enough money to sing selections from West Side Story all the way to the bank. He is a Jet all the way.
The Jets can score, as they were second in the Western Conference is goals scored. But, their goals allowed was fourth worst. They will attempt to fix that posting Steve Mason in the net. After a few solid seasons in Philadelphia, Mason passed the border for a 2 year/$8.2 million contract. It is the step in the right direction, but he needs to win the job from Connor Hellebuyck.
The Jets will need some defense in front of their net-minders. Adding Dmitry Kulikov helps, as long as he can play. Typically a 20 point scorer with hit and block totals between 110 and 120, he spent most of last year off ice with a back injury. And. with a contract worth $4.3 million next year for a second or third line defensemen, the Jets need him to be on the playing surface.
If the defense and goal-keeping improve, watch out for the Jets.
Final Standings
Okay. I won’t get into how many points and wins. At least not yet. Wait for the end of camp for that to happen. Injuries can alway move a team from contender to pretender really quick. However, here is how I see the standing shaking down
- *Chicago Blackhawks. Until someone knocks them off, they are here.
- *Nashville Predators. There is a ton of confidence on this team now.
- *Minnesota Wild. The 266 goals was great, but repeating that will be difficult.
- *Dallas Stars. Major improvements will spark the offense. And better goaltending
- *St. Louis Blues. Their lack of movement is going to hurt them.
- Winnipeg Jets. You got spirit, kid. Tonight just ain’t your night. But it will be close.
- Colorado Avalanche. Improvement possible? Yes.
There you have it. The “way-to-early-but-always-fun-to-talk-about” predictions sure to change.
Next: Five Most Anticipated Home Games of 17-18 Season
All in the name of fun sports banter.