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Nashville Predators: Three Big Surprises Early in the Season

By Chad Minton

BROOKYN, NY - OCTOBER 06: Zan Rinaldo (36) of the Nashville Predators lines up against New York Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck (15) during the New York Islanders game versus the Nashville Predators on October 6, 2018, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BROOKYN, NY - OCTOBER 06: Zan Rinaldo (36) of the Nashville Predators lines up against New York Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck (15) during the New York Islanders game versus the Nashville Predators on October 6, 2018, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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EDMONTON, AB – OCTOBER 20: Nashville Predators Left Wing Zac Rinaldo (36) takes a warm up skate during the Edmonton Oilers game versus the Nashville Predators on October 20, 2018, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB – OCTOBER 20: Nashville Predators Left Wing Zac Rinaldo (36) takes a warm up skate during the Edmonton Oilers game versus the Nashville Predators on October 20, 2018, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Rinaldo proving critics wrong

Many, including myself, questioned this signing in the offseason, but, Zac Rinaldo is earning his keep in his first few games with the Nashville Predators

At first glance, Rinaldo didn’t seem to fit a need that the Predators were looking for. His tendency to take too many penalties and play bottom-line minutes seemed to pose little value to Nashville, yet, after eight games, his play has been surprisingly helpful.

To elaborate, Rinaldo isn’t out there to score goals and light up the scoreboard. His role is to bring energy on the fourth line and walk the line of playing aggressively while avoiding unnecessary penalties; something he’s accomplished so far.

His 13 penalty minutes so far are manageable, especially given his style of play. Now, let’s just hope he can continue to avoid taking any major penalties that will force our penalty kill to come up big with the game on the line.

Lastly, there was a high likelihood that Rinaldo might end up in the minors before the first game, but he worked his tail off in the preseason to make the roster. Now he’s appeared in every game and is fresh off of a game-winning goal over the Calgary Flames; the one team that has beaten the Predators this season.

I’m sure we’ll see some blunders from Rinaldo at some point, but he’s been a nice surprise up to this point. Let’s see if he can put together the best year of his seven-year career.

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