Nashville Predators: Time to press the accelerator on Predators machine

After five preseason games, the roster of the Nashville Predators is nearing completion. It is time they take the team for a real test drive.

I get it. It is only the preseason and the games do not matter in the long run. The season, itself, is long and grueling. However, the Nashville Predators do not look like a team ready to make another Stanley Cup run.

But, again, it is the preseason and it is obvious that the team is still going through experiments to see who works well with others. They are finding their optimal performance levels. Just like any other machine, it takes time and patience to get it right. Still, I am concerned.

Why? Because I have yet to see the team go all out. Sure, there are some players that are really showing up to play and prove their worth. Kevin Fiala and Roman Josi look to be carrying the Predators banner so far. Samuel Girard is making a case to be a valuable piece to the system.

The parts are being tested. Now it is time to put the whole machine together and test it out.

Full throttle.

Under the hood

Looking at the pieces, the Nashville Predators look amazing. A high scoring front line. One of – if not the – best defenses in the league to provide stability. Solid goaltending that will help keep the Predators in the game.

It is an amazing thing to behold. But, now it needs to perform.

Before the team hits ice next Thursday, Peter Laviolette must allow lines to build chemistry. Let Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg do what they do best – possess the puck and make plays. Allow P.K. Subban to push the puck into the offensive zone, setting up Viktor Arvidsson or Colton Sissons for shots.

The Predators look on paper to be one of the best teams in all of the NHL. The defense is still giving out hits and blocking shots. Even last night, the tallied 17 blocks and 27 hits. Yet, they also allowed eight giveaways. And, they were outshot. Again. It was refreshing to see Scott Hartnell find the back of the net, and for Matt Irwin to score two more points. Still, the Predators do not appear comfortable or aggressive on the offensive end.

Push the pedal

To this point, the team appears sluggish, unsteady. There is a level of hesitation I did not expect to see. The hype train blew through Nashville, but the team’s play is starting to make me wonder if they heard too much of how good they will be and are just expecting to win.

Last season, they started off extremely slow. If it were not for a second-half push, the Predators would miss the playoffs. That cannot happen this season.

Do you expect teams like the St. Louis Blues or Chicago Blackhawks to fall back to the pack? Or the Dallas Stars to be content with how they finished last season? The teams in the Central Division are going to come out swinging. So are any team the Predators face.

Right now, the Predators sit on top of the mountain. They are the leader of the pack. Winning the Western Conference put them there. It also put a target on them.

Next: Three Unlikely Potential Breakout Players

If they are going to make a run, it must start now.

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