Nashville Predators: Opening Week Central Division Power Rankings
Chad Minton’s Rankings (@chad_minton)
1. Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0-0 (Previous: 1)
2. Nashville Predators 2-0-0 (Previous: 5)
3. Carolina Hurricanes 1-1-0 (Previous: 2)
4. Dallas Stars 0-0-0 (Previous: 3)
5. Florida Panthers 1-0-0 (Previous: 7)
6. Columbus Blue Jackets 0-2-0 (Previous: 4)
7. Detroit Red Wings 1-1-0 (Previous: 8)
8. Chicago Blackhawks 0-3-0 (Previous: 7)
My rankings have shifted quite a bit from our preseason edition almost a month ago. The Dallas Stars haven’t even played a game yet due to COVID-19, so who knows how they’ll look when they finally get onto the ice later this week.
The Stars don’t fall down too much for me because if anything, they’ll be fresh and ready to go.
The Predators are the biggest risers in the rankings after a two-game decisive sweep over the Columbus Blue Jackets. They did it with sound team defense and some stellar goaltending from Juuse Saros in both contests.
As for the Chicago Blackhawks, they look like possibly the worst team in the entire NHL. They’re not just losing, but getting dominated in their first three games. It didn’t help that they opened against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who retain their top spot.
The Predators and Hurricanes open a two-game, back-to-back set on Monday, so that will be very telling to if the Predators are legit and ready to be among the top four teams in the division.
And then there’s the Florida Panthers, a team I can’t put my finger on just yet. They’re a wildcard for me, but one that I’m certainly not overlooking.
Rich Howe’s Rankings (@Rich_Howe_9)
1. Tampa Bay Lightning: 2-0-0 (Previous: 1)
2. Dallas Stars: 0-0-0 (Previous: 2)
3. Nashville Predators: 2-0-0 (Previous: 4)
4. Carolina Hurricanes: 1-1-0 (Previous: 3)
5. Florida Panthers: 1-0-0 (Previous: 7)
6. Columbus Blue Jackets: 0-2-0 (Previous: 5)
7. Chicago Blackhawks: 0-3-0 (Previous: 6)
8. Detroit Red Wings: 1-1-0 (Previous: 8)
The Tampa Bay Lightning looks to be continuing their winning ways. From all indications, they haven’t lost a step so far this season.
The Dallas Stars have yet to play a game and will sit at the two-spot until they can prove otherwise.
Although we only have a small sample size, the Nashville Predators have looked good in their first two games. The true test will come when they play some teams with a little more offensive firepower than what the Blue Jackets could muster. The Hurricanes will test the Predators in their upcoming back-to-back games.
The Carolina Hurricanes may have dropped a game against the Detroit Red Wings, but you can bet they will come back with a vengeance. The Florida Panthers have only played one game so expect them to move up as more games are played.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, along with the Chicago Blackhawks, have some work to do to right their seasons. Both should come out swinging in their next games.
If Columbus has a bad season, I expect that Head Coach John Tortorella will be moving on. Chicago has had some unfortunate injuries that have put them in a bad situation in the standings.
The Detroit Red Wings were able to split their first two games with the Hurricanes. Chicago should probably be in the last spot in the division, but I think with time, they will get better. Detroit still has some work to do but may prove everyone wrong and move up in the Central.
Colin Blouin’s Rankings (@colinblouin)
1. Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0-0 (Previous: 1)
2. Carolina Hurricanes 1-1-0 (Previous: 2)
3. Nashville Predators 2-0-0 (Previous: 4)
4. Florida Panthers 1-0-0 (Previous: 5)
5. Dallas Stars 0-0-0 (Previous: 3)
6. Columbus Blue Jackets 0-2-0 (Previous: 6)
7. Detroit Red Wings 1-1-0 (Previous: 8)
8. Chicago Blackhawks 0-3-0 (Previous: 7)
The reign continues for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The phrase goes that to be the king, you have to beat the king, but so far, nobody has done so.
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The Hurricanes had a slip up against an unexpected upstart Red Wings team, but their coaching and players will continue to make them formidable in the division. I expect the Hurricanes to get back on track, especially as a team that has shown they can figure it out as the season goes on, and the divisional make-up benefits their team mentality.
The Predators meanwhile have moved up my rankings to the third spot – I initially had them at No.4 in the division. They are showing a different kind of hockey than what the Smashville faithful have seen the last two years, playing a well-rounded game predicated on smart puck movement and opportunistic offense.
Nashville’s third defensive pairing, a pairing that has been a liability for the team in the past, is now playing meaningful minutes and not giving up big plays, while making big plays of their own – their play has allowed for weight to be lifted off the top two defensive pairings.
The Panthers have started strong enough, meanwhile, the Stars still have not gotten their season underway due to the COVID-19 pandemic – you have to think starting behind everyone else and with a limited camp may put them in an uphill battle within a tough division.
The Blue Jackets still have one of the best defensive top pairings, but have shown vulnerability after that top pairing.
The Red Wings stole a game from the Hurricanes, and have shown improvement, but it may not be sustainable success based on the roster makeup.
The Blackhawks…well…they have so many more questions than answers.
Predlines Staff Composite Rankings
1. Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0-0 (Previous: 1)
2. Nashville Predators 2-0-0 (Previous : 4)
3. Carolina Hurricanes 1-1-0 (Previous: 2)
4. Dallas Stars 0-0-0 (Previous: 3)
5. Florida Panthers 1-0-0 (Previous: T-6)
6. Columbus Blue Jackets 0-2-0 (Previous: 5)
7. Detroit Red Wings 1-1-0 (Previous: 8)
8. Chicago Blackhawks 0-3-0 (Previous: 7)
The Nashville Predators make the biggest jump from the preseason rankings to the first week of the regular season. Again, it’s only two games, but they look like a refreshed team that can be in contention until the final days of the regular season.
On the other end, the Chicago Blackhawks are firmly in the No.8 spot as they’re the only team going into Monday’s action with an 0-3 record.
There’s so much uncertainty surrounding how the Dallas Stars will look once they finally get on the ice. We all had differing opinions on where to place them as they’ve yet to play a game, but there’s a consensus that they’re still a playoff team.
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Maybe the Florida Panthers will be the ultimate wild card of the division. They’ve only played one game after originally being slotted to open the season against the Stars. They’ve got one win under their belt now, and that’s against the lowly Blackhawks.