How the 2022-23 Nashville Predators Power Play Should be Constructed

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If you’ve followed Nashville Predators hockey for the last few years, you know the horrendous special teams that have plagued the club for a few years now. If you watched any Preds hockey last season, however, you would’ve been pleasantly surprised at just how much the power play has improved.

With the new personnel joining the team, we are starting to get a bit more curious at how Head Coach John Hynes will construct his power play units. Here, I’ll take a look at my predictions for what the 2022-23 Predators power play might look like.

(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

First Unit: Forsberg, Josi, Duchene, Granlund, Johansen

I think it goes without saying that the first unit should consist of Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, Matt Duchene, Mikael Granlund, and Ryan Johansen.

This is the unit that lit the lamp on numerous occasions for the Preds on the power play during the 2021-22 season. It consists of the team’s best offensive players, and boy are they fun to watch.

Filip Forsberg is an easy choice for the first unit. The franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer will be vital to the first unit’s success, as he is one of if not the most offensive player the team has. Forsberg has a wicked shot, and when Duchene is on the ice, the duo can be incredibly lethal.

The captain is obviously another player who should be on the first unit. Roman Josi is incredibly lethal on the power play, as evidenced by his 47 points on the man advantage during the 2021-22 season. Without Josi, the first unit is still good, but the elite talent of Josi is part of what can make the first unit very dangerous.

Matt Duchene is an obvious pick, and is a player who really showed out for the Preds on the power play last season. Scoring 16 goals and 29 points, Matt Duchene is a proven scorer on the power play. As mentioned before, with Forsberg on the unit, expect him to grow his game with his Swedish partner and continue to produce on the first unit.

Mikael Granlund and Ryan Johansen round out the first unit. Both centers are “pass first” players, so they will be integral in setting up plays on the man advantage. Granlund and Johansen put up totals of 25 and 13 assists in the 2021-22 season, respectively. Johansen’s may not have the assists that Granlund has, but he also put up 11 goals on the man advantage last season, and will likely grow those totals as the first unit continues to grow.

Second Unit: Tolvanen, Glass, Tomasino, Ekholm, Jeannot

For the second unit, I’m going to go with Eeli Tolvanen, Cody Glass, Philip Tomasino, Mattias Ekholm, and Tanner Jeannot. The second unit wasn’t as productive as many would’ve liked last season, but I think it’ll only take a few tweaks and to get this unit going.

Eeli Tolvanen has been in a bit of a slump, but still has a lot to offer in my opinion. I’m hoping that a fresh new season is all it will take for the flood gates to open for him, Tolvanen has a wicked shot, and as we saw in the 2020-21 season, can contribute to the power play quite well.

Cody Glass is someone who absolutely killed it in Milwaukee, and when he was put on the NHL roster during the playoffs, he began showing glimpses of brilliance. I expect Glass to be a full-time NHLer next season, and steadily grow his game to be the piece the Nashville Predators have hoped for since trading away Ryan Ellis. I expect Glass to show out next season on the second unit, and start to produce as he continues to grow his game.

Philip Tomasino is a player who should definitely be on the second unit. Tomasino is an offensive player similar to the likes of Forsberg, and I only expect his game to grow. With him on the second unit, it adds a little more offensive creativity and helps to grow Tomasino’s individual game.

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Mattias Ekholm is a seasoned veteran and will be the veteran leader of the second unit. On a unit full of youth, Ekholm will be the veteran presence to help guide the youth on the power play. His game wasn’t exactly where we’d expect it to be last season, but I’m confident he can turn it around and be the leader of the young unit.

Finally, Tanner Jeannot. What else can you say about this kid? Hits, goals, penalty killing, he does it all. Jeannot didn’t get too much power play time last season, but when he did, he made the most of it. I’d like to see Tanner Jeannot on the second unit to bring his strong presence to the unit, as well as his scoring prowess that comes with his style to produce on the power play.

Final Thoughts

As the 2022-23 season begins and progresses, we should continue to see the Nashville Predators power play grow. With the showing of last season, it seems like the power play is finally starting to become an asset rather than a liability.

The first unit is likely going to remain the same as last season, and seeing the production from them last season, its easy to see why. With five of the best players this roster has to offer, expect the first unit to only grow from here and continue to produce.

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The second unit was a bit of a sore spot last season, but with a few bounce back seasons and a little shakeup of the unit, I believe they will find their stride and help to produce to make the power play truly dangerous for any team unfortunate enough to face it.

Only Head Coach John Hynes will know what the units will look like come opening night. If he continues on with the first unit and shakes up the second a little, we could be in for a real treat when the Preds are on the power play. If the team can fire on all cylinders and have both units producing consistently, we will be in for a real treat.

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