Filip Forsberg leads the top line
You’d be wrong to say that it was Filip Forsberg’s fault for the team’s struggles last season. He maybe didn’t take that jump to the next level like we’ve been waiting for, but he certainly didn’t drop off.
Forsberg’s next order of business is to reach that 40-goal plateau, which he’s never really come close to accomplishing. In both of his seasons when he played all 82 games he managed to post 33 and 31 goals.
The 2018-19 season was Forsberg’s best of his career in terms of goal pace. He only played in 64 games but still managed to score 28 goals.
When looking at this season, he needs to be around that same pace and hopefully play in all 56 games. If he sticks around that pace from two seasons ago then he’ll come in at around 24 or 25 goals.
Forsberg’s assist totals have remained pretty steady over the years, so expect another 20-plus assist campaign. The Predators desperately need him to remain their top scoring forward.
With the grueling and condensed schedule ahead, I don’t expect many players to make it through all 56 games without needing a rest or maintenance day.
Season Prediction: 54 games, 23 goals, 24 assists, 47 points