Still waiting on Tolvanen’s first NHL point
Eeli Tolvanen is a big storyline for this preseason, but he hasn’t provided much to go off of. He’s still waiting on his first point with the Predators after three regular season games last season and four preseason appearances. It’s a matter of time before he hits a hot streak, but we’re patiently waiting for that to happen.
Tolvanen does have eight shots on goal over four preseason games, and he’s also contributing somewhat in other areas. His development is a tricky situation. If he doesn’t come along as quickly as the Predators would like, is he worth taking up a roster spot? Furthermore, can the Predators afford to wait for him to find his footing in the NHL? Windows don’t stay open very long in the NHL, and the Predators have to take advantage of what they have right now.
The biggest disappointment from this preseason is not seeing more from Tolvanen. No points in four games of action is a little discomforting. The Predators have a solid top two lines that make them contenders, but they’re really in search of more contributions from the third and fourth lines. Tolvanen can be the that spark, or maybe someone else. There’s one more preseason game remaining to see if Tolvanen can give us reason to believe he’s ready for the regular season.