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Nashville Predators: Five Players With Most Value to Long-Term Future

By Chad Minton |
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 14: Viktor Arvidsson
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 14: Viktor Arvidsson
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It doesn’t seem like the Nashville Predators are in any danger of regressing for several years. These five players will make sure of that.

The offseason is nearly over with the preseason opening for the Nashville Predators in less than a month. It’s been a productive and fruitful offseason, leaving the Predators primed for another great season. Windows to winning Stanley Cups don’t usually stay open for long, so it’s critical that the Predators take advantage of the talented roster they currently have.

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It’s not just about this season, but if the Predators can stay relevant for many more years. A few wrong moves can easily send a team spiraling backward. This hasn’t happened to the Predators for quite some time. The priorities of the front office seem to be in line with keeping the core intact and making modest moves to bolster depth.

Every player from the top to the bottom of the depth chart are important, but these five players are the most critical to the franchise’s sustainability. These players are indispensable and in no particular order. Let’s take a look at them.

DETROIT, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg, of Sweden, (9) celebrates a goal scored by teammate Viktor Arvidsson, of Sweden, (not pictured) during the third period of a regular season NHL hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Detroit Red Wings on February 20, 2018, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Nashville defeated Detroit 3-2. (Photo by Scott Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg, of Sweden, (9) celebrates a goal scored by teammate Viktor Arvidsson, of Sweden, (not pictured) during the third period of a regular season NHL hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Detroit Red Wings on February 20, 2018, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Nashville defeated Detroit 3-2. (Photo by Scott Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Filip Forsberg

Filip Forsberg has the best chance right now to making highlight reels and attracting national attention. That’s never been easy to do playing in the Nashville market. He’s going to keep ascending, and cracking 40 goals in a season is highly likely to happen very soon. He comes in at No.15 on NHL Network’s top 20 wingers:

The Predators have never had a highly-skilled offensive player quite like Forsberg. He can take over games on his own and single-handily get two points for the standing when the team maybe didn’t play their best. There’s a huge asset to having a player like Forsberg on your top line, and you can’t discount his assist numbers rising as well. All of the great teams have a player like this leading the way on the top line.

The league is starting to take notice of Forsberg’s greatness and his high ceiling. It feels like he’s been in the league for a while, but he’s just 24 years of age. He’s signed through the 2021-22 season, which is a major relief. He’s extremely valuable to the Predators remaining a top dog in the conference. Scratching the surface of a league MVP discussion isn’t too far fetched.

NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 12: Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jonathan Bernier #45 reaches out to defend his net against a charging Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen #92 in the first period during the first game of round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena April 12, 2018. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 12: Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jonathan Bernier #45 reaches out to defend his net against a charging Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen #92 in the first period during the first game of round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena April 12, 2018. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

Ryan Johansen

He may not be as flashy as the other two guys on the JoFA line, but Ryan Johansen is a major key to the success of the other two. He’s savvy, smart and knows how to put his teammates in position to be successful. You’ll have plenty of time to appreciate what Johansen does as he’s currently signed with the team through 2024-25. He’s already been with the team for two full seasons, missing just three regular season games in that span.

The Predators have been smart with retaining key players like Johansen for the next several years. It’s ensuring that they remain in the Stanley Cup conversation each year without having to do too much in free agency. Johansen is an outstanding veteran to build around and makes younger players around him better. His assist numbers have remained steady in the mid-40’s since 2014, while his Corsi percentage sits in the upper 50’s.

It’s players like Johansen that make the Predators a team that’s going to remain a top contender for the next several years. He may not have even reached his ceiling yet. If the Predators are going to break through in the next few seasons and win a Stanley Cup, Johansen will be a major factor.

NASHVILLE, TN – MAY 5: Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Nashville Predators shoots the puck against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 5, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Viktor Arvidsson
NASHVILLE, TN – MAY 5: Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Nashville Predators shoots the puck against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 5, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Viktor Arvidsson /

Viktor Arvidsson

Sensing a trend? You can’t leave out any of three pieces of the JoFA line when discussing the long-term success of the Predators. These three have incredible chemistry and routinely bail out the rest of the team. That’s what great teams need. A small collection of players, preferably on the same line, that can win games on their own.

Luckily the Predators are a deep team and don’t necessarily need the JoFA line to carry them every night. However, Viktor Arvidsson is the game-changer that keeps defenses on their heels. His speed can flip the ice and turn virtually nothing into a breakaway scoring chance. He, along with Forsberg, should come very close to cracking 40 goals this season.

With the JoFA line kept intact, the Predators are always going to be a highly competitive team within the division. Arvidsson’s speed puts so much stress on the opposition that it creates odd-man rushes, draw penalties and piles on the scoring chances. His deal runs through 2023-24, so another smart long-term deal to keep the Predators’ top line as one of the best.

TAMPA, FL – APRIL 1: Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on April 1, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)”n
TAMPA, FL – APRIL 1: Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on April 1, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)”n /

Juuse Saros

The best is yet to come from Juuse Saros, and we’ve already seen some pretty great things from him. We can only speculate how the time will be split up between Saros and Pekka Rinne. The primary starting role still belongs to Rinne, but Saros is obviously the future. The Predators have always had solid goaltending, and Saros might have the best talent of all of them.

A new deal had to be made this offseason to ensure Saros would be around for at least the next few years. There was never much concern that the deal wouldn’t get done. However, the three-year, $4.5 million deal is a bargain for the organization. Now it’s just a matter of when Saros moves ahead of Rinne on the depth chart.

It’s a comforting position to be in knowing you have a 23-year-old goaltender that has the skill level to be just as good as Rinne has been, maybe even better. If the Predators didn’t have stability behind Rinne, they would find themselves in a precarious position to stay among the NHL’s best teams. I expect Saros to set a career-high in starts this season and move ahead of Rinne as the team’s primary goaltender. He is the future, and possibly the most important piece to this current Predators team winning a Stanley Cup anytime soon.

NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 07: Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis (4) is shown during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and the Columbus Blue Jackets, held on April 7, 2018, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 07: Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis (4) is shown during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and the Columbus Blue Jackets, held on April 7, 2018, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Ryan Ellis

The biggest agenda item for the offseason was getting Ryan Ellis into a long-term deal. That item is now accomplished as he’ll be with the Predators for several more years, officially signing for eight years and $50 million. Here is what GM David Poile had to say about Ellis getting signed:

“Ryan is a huge part of our team on and off the ice and we are happy to have his leadership remain in our locker room for the foreseeable future. We have talked about wanting to keep the core of our team together, and this is another opportunity to help us do so, while continuing to compete for a Stanley Cup.”

Poile also mentions that Ellis is entering the peak of his career at age 27. Even a season shortened by injury brought plenty of positives, including 32 points in just 44 regular season games. He would’ve shattered his career high if not for missing nearly the entire first half of the season.

Ellis offers a punch on the power play, leadership in the locker room and can do the dirty work as well. He will eventually become team captain during his time with the Predators. It probably won’t happen now with Roman Josi being the captain and another important piece to the Predators’ core part of the roster.

Next. Forsberg, Arvidsson Ranked in Top 20 Wingers. dark

It obviously takes a complete team with quality depth to win a Stanley Cup. However, Ellis and the other four players on this list are most vital to the long-term success. There are others that we don’t want to lose any time soon. These five players are most critical, and all of them should remain in Nashville long enough to give the Predators plenty more opportunities at returning to the Stanley Cup Final.

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