Nashville Predators: Recapping the Biggest Storylines of the Offseason

We’re already nearly to August as the Nashville Predators continue through their busy offseason. They’re getting primed for another Stanley Cup run.

An offseason can make or break a franchise. Teams like the Nashville Predators who are on the cusp of winning a Stanley Cup can see all of that crushed if the offseason is full of mishaps. The Predators exited the 2019 playoffs with a shocking defeat at the hands of the Dallas Stars in the first round. It forced some people even into questions of the dreaded word of rebuild.

After an overall productive offseason, the Predators are right back into the league’s hierarchy of contenders. They didn’t regress back any further with questionable decisions from the front office. They have suffered some losses of personnel, as most teams do. However, they’ve added some major upgrades that many can argue makes them a deeper and more balanced roster.

There are other offseason agenda items that still need to be taken care of. After this hectic offseason, let’s dive back into everything that’s happened up until now. The regular season is just a little over two months away when the Predators open up at home against Minnesota.

P.K. Subban traded to New Jersey

It’s always hard to let go, especially when it’s a larger-than-life personality like P.K. Subban. A great ambassador to the game and a guy that elevates the brand of whatever hockey team he’s playing for. Truth be told it had to happen, as hard as it was. The Predators couldn’t make the offseason moves necessary to make this team better if they held onto him.

Subban had a $9 million cap hit, the highest on the team. The return from the Devils for Subban looks bleak and bare bones when you initially look at it. However, you always have to look at the broader picture. The Predators get projects in defenseman Steven Santini, Jeremy Davies and a couple of second-round draft picks. Nothing to get you too excited, but this freed up space for an even bigger move that was the prize of the offseason.

Just focusing on this trade, we have to choose to remember all of the great that Subban did for this franchise in his short time here. Subban came to Nashville and made an impact immediately. He embraced the city, the culture and delivered by getting the Predators within two wins of a Stanley Cup. Tough to see him go, but it’s the nature of the business. At least he went to the Eastern Conference.

Predators get their guy

A lot of teams wanted Matt Duchene, and he chose the Predators back on July 1st. Perhaps the biggest free agent to ever choose the Predators. It’s a monumental step and illustration that the Predators have become a desired destination for top free agents. We couldn’t say that just a few years ago.

With this blockbuster addition, the Predators are a much deeper team and should have a great second line backing up their top line, which was already one of the best. Figuring out who will line up with Duchene on the second line remains up for debate. The deal of $56 million over seven years looks like a team-friendly deal.

The prospects of this addition of Duchene was years in the making. It was to the point where I thought it would never actually happen and the Predators were going to have to settle for a consolation prize of some sort. I was gladly wrong, and now the Predators have the roster on paper to be considered one of the top contenders going into the 2019-20 season.

Sissons is sticking around

We expected this deal to happen, but it’s still reassuring to know Colton Sissons will be sticking around for the foreseeable future. He’s been steadily progressing in the right direction, and set career highs in points, goals and plus/minus. What he does to impact the game can’t be measured by just those statistics. He makes his linemates better as well.

Sissons gets a seven-year deal worth $20 million that will hopefully keep him here to the 2025-26 season.. Keeping him in Nashville for several years to come keeps the bottom six strong, and will allow us to see him on this team as he goes through the peak part of his career. I believe the best is yet to come.

The versatility of Sissons is another valuable part of his game. He primarily plays center,  but he can be moved around and play on the wing as well. He did that last season throughout the rash of injuries the team dealt with. Great work getting him locked up so we can witness him continue to progress into a solid player.

Roman Josi’s new contract in the works

This Josi deal really needs to get done soon. The longer it goes without an agreement being reached, the more my heart rate is going to rise. The captain is going to get in the neighborhood of $9 million per year I’d expect, and he’s earned that based on what the market is doing.  For comparison, Erik Karlsson of the Sharks got an eight-year deal that’s got a cap hit of $11.5 million. Josi isn’t going to get that most likely, but he’ll get close to it.

GM David Poile has had his hands full this offseason. Josi is now his biggest priority. After losing Subban, the Predators defensive core can’t take another hit. It’s still strong as of now, but Josi is a big reason why. And he provides so much of an offensive jolt to what the Predators like to do. This deal will get done eventually, and maybe it’s a pretty big gamble committing so much to  him. You have to commit to your captain who has put up some of the NHL’s top numbers among defensemen for a while now. This deal needs to get done ASAP.