Yes, we know it’s still very early in the 2019-20 season, but the Nashville Predators might have the best offensive roster they’ve ever had.
Before I start, let me say that this thought is not just based off the first three games from the Nashville Predators. That sample size is way too small. This is a thought I’ve had since the acquisition of Matt Duchene over the offseason. With him in the mix, the Predators are a potent offensive machine.
We know the Predators aren’t without some weaknesses. Every team has them, even the best ones. For the Predators, they have some questions in their defensive depth, in their bottom six and if their power play is truly fixed. Most teams have those same questions. Outside of that, the Predators check most of the boxes to being a legit Stanley Cup contender.
As for the offense, it may end up going down as the highest-scoring in franchise history. Some personal scoring records may be set to. It’s going to be a fun and exciting season to watch for Predators fans, regardless of where they finish in the standings. They’re going to be a very efficient team offensively.
Looking at some records
Let’s start with the big one which is the most goals scored in a season by the Nashville Predators franchise. That record sits at 272 goals scored in 2006-07 season. A season when the Predators had 110 points in the standings, came up just short of winning the division over the Red Wings and lost in the first round to the Sharks.
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The Predators have never really came close to breaking that record since then, with the exception of two seasons ago when they scored 261, which was seventh in the NHL. For years the Predators were considered a defensive-minded team that wasn’t going to pile up the goals. That has all changed gradually since Peter Laviolette took over as head coach, and now they could have their best offensive team yet.
Even if it’s just three games, the Predators already have 13 goals scored and that number could easily be higher. They’ve had plenty of opportunities and near misses. As the new power play continues to build more chemistry, the goal numbers are going to keep rising. They should be a lock to finish in the top-ten of the league in scoring.
Another franchise record that could easily fall this season is goals in a season by a player. It’s hard to fathom that the current record is just 34 goals, set just last season by Viktor Arvidsson. That record would probably be Filip Forsberg‘s if he hadn’t missed so many games himself last season. He still managed 28 goals and was on a great pace before succumbing to injury that helped him miss 18 games. I think he scores another six goals if he plays in those 18 games.
With Duchene in the mix on Forsberg’s line, I like Forsberg to set the new franchise record. He’s already on pace for 82, so let’s be realistic and cut that number in half as he’ll crack 40 goals. Arvidsson will obviously score his regular 30-35 goals himself.
Others who can charge the offense
It’s not just the top two lines that make this Nashville Predators team perhaps the best offensive team in franchise history. The bottom six screams potentially high offensive numbers when you consider some of the players on those bottom two lines.
Beginning with Kyle Turris, who’s trying to make up for a disastrous 2018-19 season. He’s been playing on the second power play unit and in the bottom six. He looks more comfortable in that role and should hopefully return back to his offensive potential of when he scored 19 goals the season he came to Nashville, and 27 goals the season before that. If he can score somewhere around 20 goals, imagine what that will do for this team’s third and fourth lines?
We have the Roman Josi, who is widely considered one of the best offensive defenseman in the game. I’m not going to be surprised at all if he puts up career highs in offensive categories and gets closer than he ever has to winning the Norris Trophy. Josi is joined by Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm as three defenseman whose offensive games are nothing to sneeze at.
To round this out, the Nashville Predators are going to have no problem hanging with teams on the scoreboard every night. There’s not going to be reason to worry too much if they fall behind early because they have the offensive firepower to make comebacks. Duchene is transforming the offense, the power play looks better and there are key depth players and defensemen who make this one of the best teams offensively in the NHL.