Nashville Predators: Training Camp Position Battles to Watch
Finding A Home For Fabbro
For the past couple of seasons, it has been the Mattias Ekholm and Dante Fabbro show on the second defensive pairing. While they have worked well together, there have been some bumps in the road.
Also, we can’t forget the mystery surrounding Fabbro’s exclusion from the playoffs last season. No one was exactly sure why, as it appeared that he was not injured, thus beginning a whirlwind of speculation.
However, Hynes and GM David Poile still see Fabbro as a valuable contributor to the team with some room to grow. So much so that he made it onto the coveted “protection list,” saving him from being devoured by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft.
It’s not a matter of if Fabbro will be on the roster; it’s just a matter of where. With the acquisition of defenseman Philippe Myers, we could see Fabbro placed on the third pairing.
The duo of Ekholm and Myers is a dream come true for Hynes, who favors players who are larger in stature. With Ekholm at 6’4″ and Myers at 6’5″, they will cast an imposing shadow on the ice provided Myers can grasp the system quickly.
Fabbro made the jump to the NHL rather quickly and has played well for his age. If he does find himself on the third pairing, it will be a great opportunity for him to work on his leadership skills and continue to grow in his position.
The Tomasino Effect
It is no secret that Philip Tomasino wants to be on the Predators roster and quickly. There is a pretty good chance that he will get his wish this season.
With a great showing at the Predators’ development camp and the rookie showcase tournament, Tomasino is making a very strong case for himself and is putting himself in a position to make his way onto the NHL roster.
The question is, where do you put Tomasino in a lineup that already has a logjam of forwards, and at what position?
One viable option is to place him on the third line with Cody Glass at Center and Tanner Jeannot at Left Wing. A line of this nature would make for a very young line but would also allow all three to grow together and build chemistry.
You could also make a case to have Tomasino playing Center with Rocco Grimaldi on the Right Wing and Jeannot on the Left Wing. Once again, a young line with lots of potential and room to grow but also one that leaves another good player with some upside in Glass out of the mix.
Hynes has the unenviable task of creating a roster from a list of very talented forwards. Tomasino belongs on the Nashville roster. It is just a matter of where, when, and at which player’s expense.
Who Will Center The Top Line For The Nashville Predators?
In an offseason that has seen quite a few changes, more are inevitably coming. What better place to start than the top line?
There are lots of questions already swirling regarding the tenants that belong on the top line. I myself recently wrote a piece declaring my love for a lineup consisting of Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, and Matt Duchene.
In my article, I stated that the “Money Line” of Forsberg, Johansen, and Duchene began to build some chemistry toward the end of last season. It may be time to give them a legitimate shot at building some consistency.
Still, where to put Duchene remains a mystery. We are all waiting with bated breath for him to catch his stride after what some would consider lackluster results during past campaigns for Nashville.
Could he flourish as a winger with the long-time duo of Forsberg and Johansen? Or would his talents be better utilized centering a Mikael Granlund and Eeli Tolvanen line?
Ultimately, a “Money Line” may be a pipe dream. Instead, it may be better for everyone involved to spread the experience around a bit and split up Johansen and Duchene, setting up a battle for the top Center position.
Johansen has centered the first line for quite some time with varying degrees of success. Might it be time for a switch, allowing Duchene to take over, relegating Johansen to the second line? Both Duchene and Johansen are feasible options at the center position for either line.
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As you can see, Hynes will have his work cut out for him at the positions mentioned above and many others. There are so many options at so many positions, but ultimately someone will lose out. One or a couple of our favorite players could find themselves with some new linemates come October.
Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too long to find out what Hynes and the rest of the coaching staff are thinking. The Predators open their season at home on October 14 when they face the Seattle Kraken.