The focus is on the forwards of the Nashville Predators this season. All the talk centers around a handful of players. But, there is one that is forgotten.
The names are plentiful. Ryan Johansen. Nick Bonino. Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson. The speed of Kevin Fiala, and the homecoming of Scott Hartnell. Even Craig Smith and Calle Jarnkrok are getting attention around the Nashville Predators. Most of it is well deserved, or earned because of their recovery from injuries.
But, what if I told you there was another player – one that pushed the Predators to the Stanley Cup Final – that sits, waiting for his time to shine. He is the forgotten Predator this offseason. His name?
Now is his time
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Speculation on which center will be featured on various lines continues to be the topic of discussion for the Predators’ blogosphere. We have talked about it at great length, as have other sites. Very few even mention Sissons. If they do, it is in passing or just saying he will be the fourth-line center.
But, that is not where he belongs.
Need proof? When Johansen and Mike Fisher went down in the playoffs, coach Peter Laviolette put Sissons in their place. In the final eight playoff games, he accumulated four goals and two assists. Plus one goal that was disallowed….
Sigh.
For the entire playoffs Sissons finished with six goals and six assists, good enough for fourth among Nashville Predators forwards. Only the JoFA line players had more.
Additionally, no player has jumped around the ice more than the Sission. Well, maybe Jarnkrok. Sometimes he is a center, other times a winger. He can play on the first-line, fourth-line, or any line in between.
Don’t let stats fool you.
I can hear you now. “But, Corey! Sissons’ CorsiFor is super low!” Yes, it is; however, so were his starts in the offensive zone. His whopping 28.5 percent was fourth lowest on the team. Can a player that starts play on the defensive side over 70 percent of the time expect the team to control the puck more than not? Add to that jumping from one line to the next – one position to another – and putting up consistent numbers can be challenging.
But, there are good stats. He has the highest shot-percentage of all Nashville Predators that played 50 or more games. He won 50 percent of all face-offs. There is strong potential there.
Next: Comparing the Predators' centers against the West's best
The problem lays in how the Predators decide to use him. Is he a winger or a center? His play in the playoffs suggests center. And I think the third line would be great, with Hartnell and Jarnkrok along side.