Nashville Predators: Things We Are Thankful For – Week 1
By Rich Howe
November is the month for giving thanks. Every week we will feature some Nashville Predators-related things for which we are thankful.
Even though the Nashville Predators didn’t live up to expectations last season, we are still thankful that we have this team in a region that no one thought could support a professional NHL franchise.
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By NHL standards, Nashville is considered a small market. Try telling that to the Predators’ faithful that pack Bridgestone Arena regularly.
Although our current climate finds us unable to attend live sporting events, I guarantee that they will sell every seat once fans are allowed to attend games.
Thankful for hockey’s eventual return
Personally, this extended period without hockey has helped build greater admiration for the Predators and the game of hockey as a whole.
Hopefully, this time away from live sporting events will help us appreciate our team and not be quick to write them off when they go through rough patches.
Even with all of the troubles that the Predators had last season, I would give anything to be able to watch them play right now, or any team for that matter. Watching them live in Bridgestone would be amazing.
Last season was a rough one for the Predators. High preseason expectations, inconsistent play throughout the season, and a lackluster showing in the playoffs translated to many roster changes in this offseason.
The changes that the front office has implemented so far will make for some interesting hockey next season.
David Poile is attempting to shift the Predators towards being a more defensive0-mnded team, an area where they have lacked the past few seasons. All of the players acquired via trades or free agency are known for their grit and ability to agitate.
The new “gritty” players, in addition to the core players on the roster, will present fans with a different brand of hockey than what we are used to seeing.
Fans will be looking for Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene, and Ryan Johansen to have tremendous seasons next year after lackluster results last season.
The fans will also be looking for Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, and Mattias Ekholm to continue to play at a level we have become accustomed to seeing from them.
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No matter the outcome of next season, I am thankful that we will even have a season next year, albeit a shortened one. January 1 is the NHL’s target date to start next season, which means teams will begin practicing and preparing for training camp very soon.
Next season may not look like a normal one, and the Predators will not be the same team that we have seen in the past.
We can all take comfort in the fact that we will have a hockey season, we will have a Predators team trying to turn things around, and we will be trending towards some sort of normality. For all of that, we can be thankful.