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Nashville Predators: Where Does Their Defensive Core Rank in the Central Division?

By Chad Minton

Nino Niederreiter #22 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his goal in the second period against the San Jose Sharks with teammates during the 2022 NHL Global Series Challenge Czech Republic match between Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks at O2 Arena on October 8, 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Nino Niederreiter #22 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his goal in the second period against the San Jose Sharks with teammates during the 2022 NHL Global Series Challenge Czech Republic match between Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks at O2 Arena on October 8, 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Seth Jones, Chicago Blackhawks
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

#7: Chicago Blackhawks

(Seth Jones, Alex Vlasic, Caleb Jones, Jack Johnson, Connor Murphy, Alec Regula, Filip Roos, Jarred Tinordi)

Simply put, Seth Jones isn’t enough to save this unit from being one of the worst in the division. He’s still an outstanding defenseman and should stuff the stat sheet again in 2022-23.

35-year-old veteran Jack Johnson was signed over the offseason to come in and maybe provide a little leadership to a very inexperienced unit, but not sure he’s going to help much.

Connor Murphy is an underrated part of the Chicago blueline group. He’s been with the Blackhawks since the 2017-18 season and has over 500 games of NHL experience.

There’s no sugarcoating it that the Chicago Blackhawks, much like the Coyotes, are deep in a rebuild and bringing a roster into 2022-23 that is going to be the heavy underdogs on many occasions.

I put the Blackhawks slightly ahead of the Coyotes defensive core only because of Seth Jones and his leadership up top, and they have a little more veteran experience. The ceiling is so low, though.

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