The excitement is building for a brand new NHL season that is just around the corner. We are only a few days away from the beginning of the preseason as the Nashville Predators prepare to take the ice for their 23rd season.
Anticipation is high this year as the Predators have undergone some off-season changes that saw the departure of some seasoned veterans and the addition of some young players looking to make an impact this season.
Rookie Showcase Leads Us To Training Camp
In a build-up to the first exhibition game, Nashville’s rookie camp began last Thursday and will wrap up on Tuesday with the last of three rookie showcase games. The prospects participated in the first two showcase games on Saturday and Sunday.
The Predators’ rookies didn’t fare well over the weekend, losing both games against the Tampa Bay Lightning prospects and the Florida Panthers. However, they will have one more chance to win a game when they face the Carolina Hurricanes for the final game of the showcase.
All eyes are on Philip Tomasino and David Farrance during the showcase games, with both looking for a shot at the NHL roster this season. Tomasino hasn’t disappointed so far, scoring a goal in each of the first two games.
Farrance, who played in two NHL games last season, will use that experience to his advantage and will look to maximize his opportunities in training camp and the preseason to make the Predators’ NHL roster ultimately.
The Nashville Predators Start Their Preseason
On Wednesday, all eyes will be on the regular roster players as they start training camp and then move on to face their first preseason test against the Florida Panthers in a split-squad exhibition taking place on Sunday, September 26. The Panthers are on the upswing in the Atlantic Division and could prove to be a tough preseason test.
On this rainy Monday, a reminder #Preds Training Camp opens on Wednesday, and the preseason doubleheader against the Panthers is set for Sunday. Hockey is coming... pic.twitter.com/vSijxrq1R0
— Brooks Bratten 🍪 (@brooksbratten) September 20, 2021
Up next on the schedule, the Predators will face the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in a pair of exhibition games, one taking place in Tampa and the other at home in Bridgestone Arena. Always a tough team to play against, this pair of games against the Lightning will be a good measuring stick to see where Nashville is at, roster-wise.
To wrap up the preseason schedule, the Predators will face the foe that ended their playoff run last season in the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina had a strange offseason, losing some key players but gaining Jesperi Kotkaniemi by way of a highly publicized offer sheet signing. Carolina is always a tough matchup for the Predators, and these two exhibition games should be no different.
Nashville’s players will need to ensure they are at the top of their games for the final two matchups. These two games against the Hurricanes will determine who will be on the final roster before the puck drops on October 14 against the Seattle Kraken.
- September 26 – EXHIBITION @ FLA – 1:00 PM CT
- September 26 – EXHIBITION @ FLA – 5:00 PM CT
- September 30 – EXHIBITION @ TBL – 6:00 PM CT
- October 2 – EXHIBITION vs TBL – 7:00 PM CT
- October 5 – EXHIBITION @ CAR – 6:00 PM CT
- October 9 – EXHIBITION vs CAR – 3:00 PM CT
Nashville fans could be in for a wild ride next season. It will take all of the Predators’ gained momentum from last season and then some if they want to impact the Central Division.
After a long Summer, we only have six days until we get our first look at a Predators team that has undergone some pretty significant changes. And while there may be some bumps in the road, they at least appear to have a pretty good roadmap for the future.