Nashville Predators: 10 Games In, 5 Burning Questions We Have

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All things considered, we have to be pretty happy about how the Nashville Predators have started. But there are some questions that have us wondering.

With a 6-3-1 record to open the 2019-20 season, the Nashville Predators seem to be primed for another playoff appearance and a run at another division title. It would be their sixth-straight playoff appearance and third-straight division title if they can pull off those feats.

But we know going to the playoffs and finishing first in the division isn’t the ultimate goal nor do they meet the expectations most of us have for this team. We expect more from this talent-rich roster. They can’t waste all of this talent with early playoff exits like they have the last two seasons.

As for this current season, the Predators have some clear strengths. Their offense is a force to be reckoned with, and they’re rock solid in goal with Pekka Rinne and, hopefully, Juuse Saros. Here’s our five most burning questions we have with the regular season being just three weeks old.

Can Forsberg stay healthy?

When he’s on the ice and at 100 percent, he’s a great scorer that’s more than capable of putting up 40-plus goals for a season. Problem is he hasn’t been able to play a full season for now three-straight seasons. He’s currently missed the last four games after taking a brutal hit from Vegas’ Mark Stone over a week ago.

Forsberg played in all 82 games for three-straight seasons from 2014 to 2017. However, in the past two seasons he’s missed 33 regular season games. It’s kept him from really exploding offensively by missing so much time.

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I’m really hoping that this injury doesn’t continue to linger. My guess is that they’re being very cautious as it’s so early in the season. After all, the Predators have points in three of the four games he’s missed. With that said, the offense isn’t nearly as unstoppable without him.

There’s obviously no clear-cut answer to whether or not Forsberg can stay healthy. I don’t think it’s a durability issue, but more of just bad luck. Good luck and fortune is what we have to hope for, and that he doesn’t miss any critical time in the home stretch of the regular season in March and April. He might be the most valuable player on the team outside of Pekka Rinne and Matt Duchene.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 17: Goaltender Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators in action during the third period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on October 17, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Can Juuse Saros turn it around?

Not the ideal start for Saros, even if it’s not all his fault. The defense in front of him has been equally horrendous in his three starts, all ending in Predators losses. It’s still just three starts and a small sample size that’s not worthy of creating too much panic, if any.

Now the question arises if he can reverse his fortunes and get his numbers back up to where you can be confident starting him ahead of a red-hot Pekka Rinne. Load management is important to factor in for the 36-year-old Rinne, but not at the cost of losing games because Saros isn’t playing well.

Saros has always left me pretty confident that he can give the team a good chance to win when he starts in place of Rinne to give him rest. If Saros continues to struggle in his next start, whether it’s all his fault or not, then I’ll start gradually being a little less confident. Will the team have to give Rinne more starts than they initially planned due to losing confidence in Saros. We’re not there yet, but we definitely need a solid start from Saros very soon to get some confidence back.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 15: Kyle Turris #8 of the Nashville Predators skates with the puck against Deryk Engelland #5 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on October 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Predators defeated the Golden Knights 5-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Predators’ ridiculous goal pace

The Predators are piling up the goals through ten games. They just shattered a franchise record of most goals through ten games. Three different teams had 35 goals, but this year’s Predators have 42 goals. The Predators are also leading the league in goal for per game, just ahead of the Colorado Avalanche, the team they’re currently chasing in the division.

It’s hard to say if the Predators can keep this pace up, but honestly I don’t see why they can’t. They’ve maintained this great pace without Forsberg for the last four games. Their depth is starting to come alive with players like Colton Sissons, Kyle Turris and even some fourth line guys. Imagine what will happen if Viktor Arvidsson, Matt Duchene and Forsberg start hitting on all cylinders again.

I believe the Predators are an easy lock to finish in the top-five of the league in total goals by season’s end. Can they finish at the very top and also carry this into the playoffs? I’m feeling very confident that they can. They’ll hit their minor slumps like every team does, but it won’t last long This offense is legit and gives the Predators a chance at making a comeback against anyone.

NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 19: Kyle Turris #8 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his game tying goal against the Florida Panthers at Bridgestone Arena on October 19, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Will Turris stay here the entire season?

One of the biggest ongoing stories over the offseason and during these first ten games is where will Turris end up? Are the Predators currently shopping him to other teams who maybe need him more? I don’t agree in the slightest with dealing Turris at this point.

Turris is having an outstanding start to the season. He’s showing his versatility and making the most of his minutes. He’s averaging 13:52 of ice time, the least amount of time since his third season in the NHL way back in 2010-11. Despite that, he’s still making his impact and helping the team big time.

Perhaps he’s increasing his trade value and will bring up a more enticing offer for an in-season trade, but I don’t see it happening. At least not during the season. Next offseason could be a different story. I think the best way to handle this is to hold onto Turris and allow him to keep helping your team for this particular season.

If a great deal you can’t refuse comes up in the offseason, then go for it. But don’t deal one of your top performers right now and risk really crippling your lineup. Keep Turris throughout the season, and I think they’ll do that.

NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 5: Viktor Arvidsson #33 celebrates his goal with Ryan Johansen #92, Ryan Johansen #92 and Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators against the Detroit Red Wings at Bridgestone Arena on October 5, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Will the Predators make it three-straight?

Winning the division isn’t the top goal for the Predators. Anyone else can have the division title if it means the Predators enter the playoffs more hungry and go deep. That didn’t happen the last two seasons that the Predators won the division, their first two in franchise history.

Knowing it’s not the ultimate goal, it’s still a fun race to watch. The Central Division is very deep outside of Minnesota. I’ll even give Chicago a minor shot at getting into the top-three of the division and getting a playoff spot.

The Predators haven’t played but one team withing the division so far. They have two wins against the Wild. Their next division game comes this week against Chicago. Once we start seeing more divisional games next month, we’ll know for sure how the Predators are matching up against a very deep division.

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It’s a four-team race for the division title. My initial preseason stance hasn’t changed. Nashville, Dallas, St.Louis and Colorado are all right near each other.. Even after Dallas’ horrible start, they’re still one of those teams that are real contenders for the division. These four teams are going to come within eight points of each other in the end, and I’m sticking with my preseason pick of Dallas to win the division. The Predators will finish top-three, but I don’t have enough confidence in their defensive depth to peg them as a division winner.

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