The Nashville Predators had a busy month of November. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest happenings around the team.
To say that November was a good month for the Nashville Predators would be an understatement. The Predators collected 21 of a possible 28 points & spring-boarded their way into the top three of the Central Division. There were games where Nashville showed the form that makes people consider them Stanley Cup contenders.
There were games where the flaws were on full display.
Here’s some of the many highlights and a few lowlights of the month of November.
Most Shocking Moment: Trading For Kyle Turris
We knew something was coming. It always is with David Poile & Nashville Predators management. If they feel like there’s a move to be made that’ll improve the team, they’ll do it. Most NHL front offices hide behind excuses & keep their heads firmly planted in the sand to avoid doing anything. Not David Poile. He isn’t batting 1.000, but he’s got more at-bats than anybody else.
Matt Duchene was rumored to be heading to Nashville for a couple of years. Although the Predators & the Colorado Avalanche made some deals, that one never got done. Joe Sakic always wanted more than the Predators were willing to give up for Duchene. Sakic finally got what he wanted, and the Predators were involved, but Duchene didn’t go to Nashville.
Kyle Turris did. A center for the Ottawa Senators in the final season of his contract, Turris was having a tough time getting a deal done. He immediately got a long-term deal done with Nashville shortly after the trade. So far, it seems like a perfect fit. Turris has already formed a quality line with Craig Smith & Kevin Fiala, taking some of the pressure off of Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg & Viktor Arvidsson. The spark he provided to the team was a large part of the Predators’ successful November.
For the longest time, the knock on the Nashville Predators was that they were lacking at center. People can’t say that now.