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Nashville Predators: Ranking the Central Division’s Top Lines for 2019-20

By Chad Minton

WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 7: Ryan Johansen #92, Filip Forsberg #9, P.K. Subban #76, Roman Josi #59 and Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Nashville Predators celebrate a third period goal against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 7, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 7: Ryan Johansen #92, Filip Forsberg #9, P.K. Subban #76, Roman Josi #59 and Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Nashville Predators celebrate a third period goal against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 7, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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A big reason to the recent success of the Nashville Predators is the consistency of their top line. How do they rank against the rest of the division?

The top line of the Nashville Predators, widely known as the JoFA line, has carried the team to high finishes in the standings recently. A Presidents Trophy and two-straight division titles. Unfortunately, it hasn’t translated to deep runs in the playoffs over the last two seasons.

Last season the Predators took a dip in offensive production, mainly because the top line was broken up with lengthy injuries.  It forced the lines to be shifted around with Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg both missing considerable amounts of time. Ryan Johansen did what he could to keep the Predators in the win column, finishing with a career-high 50 assists. The team dropped from 7th to 19th in goal production in the NHL.

The Predators head into 2019-20 with everyone healthy, and having their top two lines looking formidable. Assuming Matt Duchene stays on the second line, the top line should remain the same with Johansen, Forsberg and Arvidsson. Most of the Central Division is getting better around them, so how does the Predators top line rank against the rest of the division?

All projected line combinations take into account current contract holdouts and are courtesy of Daily Faceoff  and The Morning Puck.

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