The Nashville Predators Should Re-Unite Ryan Dzingel and Matt Duchene

With the NHL Free Agency Period in full swing, Ryan Dzingel is still without a team. The Nashville Predators should be that team to  offer him a contract.

The Nashville Predators currently have $5.1 million in cap space, which they should definitely use to add Ryan Dzingel to their roster.

Dzingel would be a perfect fit on the second line next to Matt Duchene, who has been a linemate of his in both Ottawa and Columbus over the past two seasons, and we saw him flourish there.

In his two seasons with Duchene, dating back to November 5th, 2017 when the Ottawa Senators acquired him in their three team trade with the Colorado Avalanche and the Nashville Predators, Dzingel has posted 44 goals, 47 assists and 91 points in 147 total games as his teammate.

His 44 goals in that span are the 19th most out of any American born player in the NHL in that span, just trailing names like Tyler Johnson and Dylan Larkin.

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He also had his best full season this year next to Duchene, scoring 26 goals and 56 points. He would’ve been the Nashville Predators second leading point getter and third leading goal scorer, so his production would be very welcome to next year’s squad.

He could also be a spark plug for Mikael Granlund, who saw his production dip upon arrival to Nashville. Granlund could benefit by plugging himself in right next to the two players who worked well off of each other for two years and pick up his production that way.

His play style also fits with the two of them, as he can both set up the two goal scorers up with his playmaking ability and also will be able to get his own goals from their good playmaking ability.

He might be the perfect fit for the Predators second line, and honestly I think he won’t cost as much as you think. On a two year deal worth $4-4.5 million per year, I think he will fit right in to the fold in Nashville.

This is what I would expect the Nashville Predators lineup to look like with Ryan Dzingel in the fold.

Forsberg – Johansen – Arvidsson

Dzingel – Duchene – Granlund

Tolvanen – Turris – Smith

Watson – Bonino – Grimaldi

This would turn the Nashville Predators forward core into one of the best in the league with three lines that could compete with almost any line in the NHL and they would be able to do this without trading a single asset.

This would also allow the Predators to play Eeli Tolvanen on the third line in his first full season, allowing him to grow while playing against the opponent’s bottom lines and also playing alongside two very quality players in Kyle Turris and Craig Smith.

This move could also solve the Nashville Predators ongoing power play problem, as this gives them a sniper for the second unit, giving them two capable units assuming Matt Duchene does the same for the first unit.

With Dzingel in the fold, the Nashville Predators would become one of the best teams in the NHL, both offensively and defensively. This could ultimately put them in a prime position to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.