Predators: Three Players We Should Most Be Thankful for on Thanksgiving

As we reflect on what we’re thankful for like family and friends, let’s spin it around on what Nashville Predators players we should most be thankful for.

Fans of the Nashville Predators have been treated to a lot of awesome moments and great players performances over the years. Even with the rough patch in November, there’s still a lot of promise in this team going forward.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Predators despite some of the panic you might be feeling. The talented roster has never really changed, especially the foundation of the roster that makes the Predators contenders for a deep playoff run.

With Thanksgiving coming up in just a couple days, I wanted to focus on three players we should most be thankful for as Predators fans. Players who hold the keys to the franchise’s long-term future, have helped grow the franchise and that you can build around. Obviously we’re thankful for almost all of them, but these three rise to the top.

Filip Forsberg

These three players aren’t really ranked in a particular order, but my easy first choice to bring up is Filip Forsberg. It’s still amazing that the Predators acquired him in one of the most lopsided trades in recent memory in the NHL. I’m sure the most diehard of Capitals fans still have nightmares over this trade.

Forsberg is that one player on the Predators that is right on the cusp of becoming one of the top elite scorers in the NHL. He likely hasn’t hit his peak yet, and watching him skate with the puck and make his moves toward the net are a beauty to watch.

What sometimes gets overlooked by fans who don’t follow the Predators is he’s not afraid to get physical. He’s not going to get pushed around and he carries this swagger with him that I absolutely love to watch. He’s an igniter of the Predators on so many occasions.

Forsberg is tied for the lead in goals right now for the Predators with ten despite playing fewer games than all of the regular starters on the roster. You can always count on him to bring it every game. Best part is that the Predators have him under contract for another two years before they’ll have to really decide how much money they want to pony up to keep him.

I’m thankful for Forsberg’s consistent scoring, his potential ceiling that he may not have even hit yet, his on-ice swagger and that he’s under contract for two more seasons after this season. 

Pekka Rinne

Look, I know it’s been really tough sledding for Pekka Rinne recently. That’s not going to negate all he’s done for this franchise, and that he deserves a Stanley Cup before he retires with the Nashville Predators. They better start erecting that statue in front of Bridgestone Arena the second the clock hits zero and the Predators are Stanley Cup champs.

Rinne is the No.1 reason the Predators have enjoyed so much consistent success over the decade-plus that he’s been in net for them. He’s helped provide stability for a franchise that couldn’t get over the hump of the first round of the playoffs. His play propelled the Predators into one of the top teams in the NHL each and every year.

I don’t think Rinne’s time is over just because he’s hit a bad string of games. Some of it has been bad luck and horrible defense played in front of him. He has plenty more gems ahead of him that will lead to Predators wins. He started 8-0-2 this season before hitting his current slide.

Finally, you have to look past the numbers on the ice. I challenge you to find a more classy professional athlete or kinder professional athlete than Rinne. He’s represented the organization so well and might end up going down as the G.O.A.T of Nashville sports if he gets that elusive Stanley Cup.

I’m thankful for Rinne because of his class, integrity, consistency and what he’s given for the Nashville Predators franchise to succeed for so many years. And it’s not over yet.

Roman Josi

I can’t leave the captain out of this. Especially the captain who is arguably becoming one of the best defenseman in the NHL. He’s definitely one of the best offensive defenseman in the league. He’s having a great start to his 2019-20 campaign after locking up his contract extension.

I remain very confident that a Norris Trophy is in Josi’s near future. Maybe even as soon as this season. He’s currently nearly the top in the NHL among defensemen in points with 22 and leads the Predators in that same category.

Josi is also averaging nearly a point per game, which puts him well-above pace of breaking his career-high of 61 points set in 2015-16. His pace will probably slow down a little, but it looks highly probable he’ll set a new career high and is firmly in the conversation for his first Norris Trophy for league’s best defenseman.

Another big reason to be thankful for Josi is he has really taken the captain role and worn it admirably. I know that sometimes the captain role can be overplayed, but Josi has still carried that title very well. When Mike Fisher retired, Josi filled in and took the role in stride.

Josi also came in and helped us cope with the loss of Shea Weber. Sure, the Predators received the exciting P.K. Subban, but he didn’t stick around long enough to get extremely attached to him. Josi is a Predator for life, and we should all be thankful for that.

I’m thankful for Josi’s leadership, speed, that he’s our captain and that he’s got a shiny new contract that will keep him here for a long time.