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Potential Future Leadership Targets for the Nashville Predators

By Colin Blouin

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 05: Former member of the Nashville Predators Steve Sullivan waves a rally towel prior to Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round between the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 5, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 05: Former member of the Nashville Predators Steve Sullivan waves a rally towel prior to Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round between the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 5, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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It’s time for an honest discussion about the Nashville Predators.

Let’s not get it twisted: at Predlines, we live and breathe Nashville Predators Hockey – there is nothing more we want than to see the team succeed.

Unfortunately, as of late, the team has struggled – mightily. Expectations are no longer the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but to be a contender and make some deep runs. The fanbase, just like us, wants to see the team win Lord Stanley’s Cup – ideally the one to lift it would be Roman Josi.

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The reality? The team has been declining since the President’s Trophy run that followed the playoff journey all the way into the Stanley Cup Final and came up just short.

As much as we want to believe the window is still open, realistically it doesn’t look to be so. This team has struggled during this shortened season against virtually everyone in the division at one point – the only team the Predators haven’t lost to is the Chicago Blackhawks.

What makes the current issues incredibly apparent is the losses to the “contenders”: the Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars have dominated the team in multiple phases of the game.

Frankly, though this team may improve and surprise us, they may not have “it”, and they may have lacked “it” for longer than just this season.

To get back to expectations, it may take a leadership change, as uneasy as it is to say. General Manager David Poile has given 25+ years of service to the franchise, but eventually the time comes where new leadership is needed to navigate a team into a new era. So, let’s explore some possible contenders as future leaders of the hockey operations in Smashville.

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