Nashville Predators: Must-Watch Games Early In The Season

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As the dog days of summer begin to wind down and we gear up for training camp and the pre-season, excitement is beginning to build for the 2021-22 NHL season. The Nashville Predators will enter their 23rd season with many questions as they begin a mini rebuild phase.

Several key players have left Nashville through free agency, retirement, trades, or the expansion draft. As a result, this upcoming season will be the first since 2005 without Pekka Rinne on the Predators’ roster.

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Once the puck drops on October 14, some very familiar names and fan-favorites will not be in Nashville’s lineup, including Viktor Arvidsson, Ryan Ellis, and Calle Jarnkrok. Notable additions to the roster include goaltender David Rittich, forward Cody Glass, and defenseman Philippe Myers.

An early look at the Predators’ roster shows a mixture of veterans who will need to have stellar seasons and younger players who will need to fill some holes left by the departure of their former teammates.

The Predators’ front office and coaching staff could heavily lean on players like Eeli Tovanen and Tanner Jeannot to provide even more of an impact this season than they did last year.

We may also see prospect players such as Rem Pitlick and Philip Tomasino make appearances on the roster this year. Tomasino appears ready to join the roster and be a difference-maker right out of the gate.

“I feel like I'm ready to make that step [to the NHL], and not only make the step, but I feel like I can make a big difference on the team next year.” https://t.co/dhAcAkdUH1
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) August 17, 2021

The Predators will need their veterans to step up in a big way this season, especially Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen, who have struggled for the last couple of seasons. Mikael Granlund, fresh off of signing his new contract, will also be counted upon to provide points and leadership.

The x-factor for the Predators next season will be goaltender Juuse Saros. With his new contract firmly in place, Saros is the man in Nashville and will face his first season without friend and mentor Pekka Rinne. He will have to get off to a fast start this season and start the most games he has ever played in his career.

With the NHL going back to the normal divisions and a full 82-game schedule, this season looks to be an exciting one. The Predators start their season with a four-game stand at home and the first three games of the season are appointment viewing. So let’s take a look.

Nashville Predators (Photo Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports) /

The Nashville Predators Welcome The League’s Newest Team

The season’s first game should prove to be an exciting one as the Predators welcome the newest NHL team to Bridgestone Arena, the Seattle Kraken.

Fortunately for the Kraken, they can rely on former Predator Calle Jarnkrok to provide some intel on what to expect. But, unfortunately for them, they will get a quick lesson on what it is like to play in Bridgestone.

Much to the dismay of many fans, Poile did not protect Jarnkrok allowing Seattle to choose him in the expansion draft. The Predators’ loss is Seattle’s gain as Jarnkrok will prove to be a valuable asset for them.

The Predators opening their season at home and against the newest team in the league will be a must-watch for Predators fans everywhere. So it was a good move to put the Kraken on the schedule so early in the season.

Nashville Predators (Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports) /

A Chance For Redemption

We all remember when the final horn sounded last season, and the Predators’ unlikely playoff appearance came to an end. It was a hard-fought battle with the Carolina Hurricanes, and the second game of the season could provide Nashville with an opportunity for some revenge.

Once the series ended, the Hurricanes’ social media team used the opportunity to poke some fun at the Predators. And while Carolina didn’t fair very well in the second round, losing four games to one against Tampa Bay, Predators fans will be ready to make life difficult for the Hurricanes once they step foot in Bridgestone Arena.

Both teams have gone through some changes this offseason. Carolina has lost star defenseman Dougie Hamilton as well as phenom goaltender Alex Nedlejkovic. In fact, Carolina has an all-new goaltending roster after losing Petr Mrazek and James Reimer in the offseason as well.

Even though both teams’ rosters have changed and now look a little different on paper, you can bet that this will be an exciting game and one that the Predators are probably looking forward to.

Another Former Predator Comes Back To Town

The Los Angeles Kings have not stepped foot in Bridgestone Arena since February 21, 2019. The Predators did face the Kings twice during the 2019-20 season, but both games took place in Los Angeles.

This matchup will be another must-watch game because it will be the first time that former Predator Viktor Arvidsson will return to face his old team after being traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

Arvidsson was the first player traded during this offseason, with the Predators getting a 2nd round pick in this past draft and a 3rd round pick in next year’s draft in return from the Kings.

It is always tough to see our favorite players get traded, but Poile felt it was necessary to make roster changes to move the team forward. Unfortunately, this included moving Arvidsson, who had declined a bit since his injury early in the 2019-20 season.

Even though Arvidsson has had his share of struggles in the past two seasons, he will be looking to make a big comeback with his new team in the Kings. I expect he will receive a warm welcome when he steps on the ice in his first game back in Nashville.

Must Read. Players to Watch from Nashville Predators Development Camp. light

These three games will provide some excellent entertainment for fans, especially the first game against Seattle. However, they will also serve as a good barometer of how the team may perform. It will be imperative that Nashville gets off to a good start next season and build upon the momentum that they had gained in the second half of last year.

We are in for an exciting season, but one in which some Predators fans could experience some heartache watching this team go through some growing pains. But no matter what, you can bet that the Predators will step up to the challenge and continue to work towards their goal of being, once again, the hardest working team in the NHL.

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