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Nashville Predators: Who Will Lead the 2019-20 Team in Points?

By Chad Minton |
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 23: Viktor Arvidsson #33 celebrates his goal with Filip Forsberg #9 and Mattias Ekholm #14 of the Nashville Predators against the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena on October 23, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 23: Viktor Arvidsson #33 celebrates his goal with Filip Forsberg #9 and Mattias Ekholm #14 of the Nashville Predators against the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena on October 23, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
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There’s no argument to be had about how deep the Nashville Predators roster is. There are a few different players who could lead the team in points.

This is going to be a fun season to watch for the Nashville Predators thanks to the new pieces coming in, and how much different the line combinations will look. It also means we can expect balanced scoring from the top players.

The Predators are in an extremely tough division and some teams around them have also gotten better. With that said, the Predators are remain in the mix of defending their division crown. Obviously we want the Predators to achieve more than just a third-straight division title. This team needs a deep playoff run, and they absolutely have the depth to do just that.

We’ve already predicted who will lead the 2019-20 Nashville Predators in assists, and who will lead them in goals. Now let’s speculate who will pile up the points, and maybe even push for Paul Kariya‘s franchise record of 85 points set in the 2005-06 season.

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Ryan Johansen

Let’s start with the player who led the Predators in points last season, and that’s Ryan Johansen. He put up 64 points last season, tied for the ninth-most in franchise history with Filip Forsberg. It’s not a monumental amount of points when you look at the league leaders, but it’s also a testament to how spread out the Predators scoring really is.

Johansen does’t really pile up the goals. He’s masterful at controlling possession and setting up teammates. He tallied just 14 goals last season despite playing on the top line and appearing in 80 games. He hasn’t put up more than 15 goals in a season since 2014-15 with Columbus.

If Johansen can increase his goal output then he would be a clear-cut favorite to lead the team in points again. Possibly even push for the franchise record. He has to start burying more quality looks at the goal.

I can remember many instances when he missed out on great looks at the net. He barely cracked the top-300 in shooting percentage last season at 10.3. Maybe we’ll see improvement in this area. We do know for sure that he’ll keep piling up the assists.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 13: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators plays against the Dallas Stars in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 13: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators plays against the Dallas Stars in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Filip Forsberg

The only thing really holding Forsberg back in recent memory is falling well-short of an 82-game season. He’s missed 33 regular season games over the past two seasons. An upper-body injury held him back last season while he was currently the team leader in points. He had 22 points in 26 games up to that point.

Two seasons ago Forsberg averaged a point per game, finishing with 64 points in 64 games. We have to hope that he can get much closer to playing the full 82 games this upcoming season. He is that dominant force on the top line that the Predators can’t afford to lose again for lengthy amounts of time.

An improved power play from the Predators will mean good things for Forsberg. He will have his fingerprints all over a new-look power play, and that should translate into a big increase in power play production. He had just ten points on the man advantage last season, with seven goals and three assists. Both of those totals should dramatically improve, helping him come very close to breaking his personal career high of 64 points in a season. Will that be enough to lead the team?

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Viktor Arvidsson

The season the Nashville Predators went to the Stanley Cup was the same season Arvidsson tied with Ryan Johansen for the team lead in points with 61. Significantly short of the franchise record of 85, but was a solid season nonetheless for the 23-year-old at the time.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Arvidsson would’ve led the team in points and came very close to the franchise record last season if he doesn’t miss so many games. He played in just 58 games and still managed 48 points and 34 goals. His assists numbers were way down at just 14, and I believe that total will go up considerably in 2019-20.

I also expect Arvidsson to be in the running with Matt Duchene and Forsberg to set a new franchise record for goals in a season at 34. That record will not stand very much longer, and it’s hard to believe it’s still that low of a total. It shows that the Predators have been a balanced team for a long time. They’ve never had to rely on one or two superstars to carry them to successful seasons.

However, this season the Predators offense will come alive and be one of the most productive in the NHL. Arvdisson is going to be one of the top scorers, barring any lengthy injuries, and will set a new career high in points in a season. That still might not be enough to lead the team.

(Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Matt Duchene

Duchene is going to be the popular pick because he’s the superstar acquisition who has already previously put up 70-plus point seasons in the past. Collectively with Ottawa and Columbus last season he tallied 70 points, nearly an average of one point per game. That’s including the fact that he started off slow with Columbus at the end of the season with just 12 points in 23 games.

Everything is going to come together for Duchene in Nashville. This is the perfect spot for him. He’s going to make everyone around him so much better, and he’s going to thrive on the power play. He’s one of the most dynamic and complete players the Predators have ever had.

Duchene looked really sharp, albeit in the preseason, in his team debut. He scored the game-tying goal with less than four seconds remaining, and was all over the offensive zone the entire game. I think that’s just a small taste of what we’re going to see in his first season with Nashville.

The Predators haven’t had a 70-plus point scorer in over a decade, with the last time being when J.P. Dumont and Jason Arnott tied with 72 points in the 2007-08 season. And yet the Predators have still been a perennial playoff team. This changes this season. I think we’re in store for one, or even two, 70-plus point scorers. Duchene will be one of them. Mark it down.

DALLAS, TX – APRIL 15: Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) waits for play to begin during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators on April 15, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – APRIL 15: Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) waits for play to begin during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators on April 15, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Roman Josi

We can’t predict offensive numbers without including Josi. He’s arguably the best offensive defenseman in the NHL, and I think a Norris Trophy is still in his near future. He puts some much pressure on opposing defenses with his skating ability, puck handling and speed. He’s instant offense, and sometimes gets criticized for giving up counter attacks.

Josi is fourth on the franchise’s all-time points list with 348, and is the current leader among current Predators players. Forsberg is just behind him with 305. Josi will most likely move past Shea Weber in career assists in Predators history. He needs just 23 assists.

Despite playing in 70 or more games in six-straight seasons, Josi has still never scored more than 15 goals in a season. That’s right around the top of the NHL among defenseman, with Morgan Rielly leading all defensemen last season with 20 goals. Josi absolutely has the skill set to accomplish this same feat and surpass 20 goals for a season. That probably won’t be enough to lead the Predators in points.

Who will lead the team?

After looking through these five possibilities to lead the Predators in points, I have to go with Forsberg to lead the team. Assuming he finally plays upwards of 75-80 games this season, he’s going to pile up the goals and maybe set a new franchise record. He’s also going to be more productive on a Predators power play that has nowhere to go but up. Duchene and Arvidsson will be close behind him, but I’m going with a prediction of 70 points for Forsberg (32 goals, 38 assists).

Next. Predators Look to Continue Successful Preseason Against Carolina. dark

This is really a tough call to make this prediction. It shows how balanced the Predators are that they have four or five players that you can make arguments for to lead the team. None of them are going to be near the top of the NHL leaders, but having four 60-point scorers seems very conceivable this upcoming season.

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