Nashville Predators: Why the Predators will not win the Stanley Cup

Flag on the play

Oh, wait. Wrong sport. However, the sentiment is still true. The Nashville Predators are called for more penalties than any other team in the NHL. So far, they accumulated 127 trips to the box this season. That equates to nearly 14 minutes in penalties per game.

Here are how the Stanley Cup Champions ranked in penalties since 2010:

2017 – Pittsburgh Penguins: 23rd
2016 – Penguins: 27th
2015 – Blackhawks: 29th
2014 – Los Angeles Kings: 17th
2013 – Blackhawks: 29th
2012 – Kings: 13th
2011 – Boston Bruins: 8th
2010 – Blackhawks: 24th

The average rank for these eight champions is 21.25. That is a long way from the most called team in the NHL. You give great teams a man advantage, and the odds are in their favor to convert.

And, in last season’s playoffs, five Predators ranked in the top 15 in penalty minutes.