Nashville Predators: Top 5 Differences from Last Season
The Nashville Predators dealt with many changes during the offseason. But what are the top five most impactful differences to start the 2017 season?
Once again it is another Friday, meaning another rendition of the Friday Five. This week will start off by quoting country music great Tracy Lawrence, “The only thing that stays the same is everything changes.” This fits perfectly considering we are looking at the major differences between last season’s Nashville Predators’ team, and this years team.
Teams of all sports go through changes during the offseason, but the only thing that matters is whether or not those changes made them better or worse. The Nashville Predators have made some changes that are still in the wind. We don’t truly know if the Bonino signing is a good one. But we’re not focusing on that in this article. This Friday Five will only focus on what the biggest changes actually are, good and bad.
#5. Broadcast Team
One of the most notable differences from last season to this one is the change in the broadcast booth. While this will have virtually no impact on how well the Nashville Predators perform, it still is a significant difference and deserves attention. The television and radio broadcasts will both experience changes to start the 2017-18 season. These changes were announced a few weeks ago, and are pretty interesting.
First off, the biggest difference to the broadcast will be on television. Stu Grimson will not be returning as the color analyst. Taking his spot alongside Willy Daunic will be former Predators’ goalie, Chris Mason. Prior to taking this role, Mason worked as the color analyst part-time on the radio broadcast. Also changing to the television broadcast will be the rink-side reporter. New-comer Kara Hammer will take over this position for home games. But Lyndsay Rowley will still cover that job for all away games. During home games, Rowley is expected to host a pre- and post-game show with Predators’ former color analyst, Terry Crisp.
There is also a change to the radio broadcast, a new color analyst has taken the job. Former analyst, Brent Peterson has stepped down from the position. He will not be leaving the broadcast team completely, though. Peterson will remain a part of the pre- and post-game shows. Taking his spot in the booth will be former Predators’ defenseman Hal Gill. This will be Gill’s professional debut as an NHL color analyst.
#4. National Attention
Coming off of their incredible Stanley Cup Playoff run the Nashville Predators now have more national attention than ever before. As a small market team, the Predators have always been one of those teams that seemed to fly under the radar. That will not be the case anymore. The Predators have grabbed the national attention, and I fully expect them to run with it.
It can definitely be argued that Nashville already had the attention to start last season, and that is a fair argument. All eyes were on the Predators, mainly because of the trade that brought P.K. Subban to Nashville. The Predators were also a popular pick to win the Stanley Cup in the preseason. Regardless of all this, it is completely different this season.
Plenty of people were picking Nashville to be a legit contender to win the Stanley Cup last season. However, I do not think these people truly believed Nashville could really do it. Once again, it will be different this season. Seeing is believing, and now everyone has seen Nashville make it to the Finals, and people who pick Nashville to make it back will have a legitimate argument for their pick.
Secondly, if you still don’t believe Nashville has garnered the national attention, just look at how many times they play on national television. Nashville is geared to play the NBC nationally televised game a team-record seven times this year. The first of which will be on November 1st when Nashville travels to San Jose. Out of this seven game schedule, five of them are at home, allowing the rabid fan base of Nashville to prove they don’t just show out in the playoffs.
#3. Secondary Scoring
A major difference starting in 2017 that has the chance to hurt the Nashville Predators is their secondary scoring. Everyone knows how well the first line will be, but what about after that? Two of Nashville’s top six scorers from last season will not be returning, James Neal and Mike Fisher. This will definitely take a huge toll on the team and they will need to find scorers to fill that void.
Nashville did sign two new forwards through free agency, Nick Bonino and Scott Hartnell. Still, it is unlikely that either of them will be able to fill Neal’s and Fisher’s shoes. Fisher and Neal both scored more than 40 points last season, and Nick Bonino has only done that once in his entire career, and that was four years ago. Hartnell, on the other hand, has the skill set to score 40 or more points, it is just a matter of how much playing time he will get. Last season was his lowest since his rookie season where he averaged 10.
If the two free agent signings will not be able to replicate the scoring from Fisher and Neal. Then the Nashville Predators will need some younger guys to step up in a major way. Kevin Fiala is the most likely candidate to rise to the ranks. He was having a great run in the playoffs last season before injuring his leg. If he is able to return to form, look for him to contribute in a major way. After Fiala it is a bit of a mystery though. Craig Smith has the ability and Pontus Aberg has the potential, but at this point, all we can do is wait and see how things play out.
#2. Ryan Ellis Injury
Probably the most impactful difference for 2017 is that Nashville will start their season without key defenseman, Ryan Ellis. Ellis will miss around four months, but be ready by the turn of 2018. This will be a huge blow to the Predators’ defensive corps and something Nashville did not have to deal with in 2016. P.K. Subban did miss 14 games last season due to injury, but that does not compare to losing Ellis for half the season.
Luckily for the Predators they do have one of the most talented defensive rotations in the NHL. Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, and Mattias Ekholm will round out the top half during Ellis’ absence. Nashville also acquired Alexei Emelin in the offseason, which will take some of the load off of the top three. Nashville will definitely be able to overcome missing one of their best defenseman, but regardless, this is something the team will have to deal with that they did not in 2016.
#1. The JOFA Line
The last major difference heading into the 2017 season is the JOFA line. Now I know what you’re thinking, the JOFA line was a major part of the offense last season. Yes, this is true, but they did not really form or come together as the top line until about midway through the season. No one really expected Arvidsson to come out and have the success the way that he did, and if you say that you did you are lying.
A lot has happened since the start of last season so it is difficult to look back at what the Predators looked like on opening day, but the JOFA line was nowhere in sight. Forsberg and Johansen spent plenty of time together, but their linemate was constantly changing. That likely will not be the case this season. The JOFA line has tons of experience and chemistry together, and if they get a full season to play together, they will have a tremendous impact on how well the Predators play.