Nashville Predators: 3 Things We Need Out Of Training Camp

Challenge the Goaltenders and Get Them Comfortable Early

The Predators rode into the playoffs last year on the back of the otherworldly play of Juuse Saros. At the time, Saros still had the luxury of friend and mentor Pekka Rinne as a backup.

Now, Rinne is gone, Saros is the franchise goaltender for the time being, and expectations are higher than they have ever been.

Saros will be called upon to play the most games of his career next season. With how he played last season and the pay raise he got in the offseason, he is set for a career year in Nashville and hopefully in the Vezina trophy conversation at the end of the season.

However, Saros is notorious for slow starts early in the season. If that happens, the Predators will be digging themselves out of a hole early and looking for backup goaltender David Rittich to save the day until Saros finds his footing.

A bonus will be getting Rittich comfortable early in training camp to set him up for success when his number is called as a starter. Nashville enjoyed a 1A/1B situation in goal for many years, and it would be nice to continue that tradition. It appears that Rittich has the necessary skills to make that a reality.

While it is hard to gauge how well a goaltender will do during a season by their performance in training camp, Saros and Rittich need to be on their games early and give the coaching staff the confidence they need at the goaltender position.

Goaltending got the Predators into the playoffs last season. Both Saros and Rittich will more than likely have to play their hearts out this season, keep the Predators in some games, and steal games when the team is struggling to find the back of the net.