Who’s Hot with the Nashville Predators Through 15 Games…

#9 Filip Forsberg

Coming off a career season where he had 42 goals and 42 assist, 84 points, in 69 games played, Filip Forsberg has left it all on the ice every night. Through the first 15 games of the season he has 5 goals and 10 assist for 15 points. Forsberg also only has one minor penalty during that time frame. While he is not scoring goals at the same rate he did last season he is still on pace for 82 points this season.

Forsberg has been a factor on 15 of the Predators 36 goals scored so far including 6 assists on the Power Play. The only negative statistic that can be found on Filip Forsberg is his +/- which is currently -6. However, with the lack luster performance in the defensive zone and the minutes that Forsberg has been playing he is not to blame for those statistics all together.

#22 Nino Niederreiter

After being acquired by the Nashville Predators from the Carolina Hurricanes during the off season it did not take long for Nino Niederreiter to start making a difference on the ice, scoring three goals during the NHL Global Series for the Predators against the San Jose Sharks. Niederreiter has played in all 15 games for the Predators this season posting 6 goals and 2 assist. He is on pace to match his scoring total from last year of 44 points, which he has done only two other times during his career in the NHL, first with the Minnesota Wild in the 2016-2017 season (57 points) and again with the Carolina Hurricanes last season (44 points).

Niederreiter’s size, presence, and veteran experience on the ice and in the locker room is sure to help the Predators through the grueling NHL season. Like Forsberg, Niederreiter only has one minor penalty to his name through 15 games however is a -8 in the +/- column.

#95 Matt Duchene

Matt Duchene has been noticeable on the ice in every aspect of play this season. He has left everything he has on the ice every night but has not been getting rewarded for it as much on the scoresheet. Duchene has 3 goals and 8 assists (11 points) through the first 15 games of the season.

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While he is on the list of Who’s Hot, he has been in some penalty trouble so far racking up 20 penalty minutes in 15 games which is only 18 minutes less than what he had during 78 games played in the 2021-2022 season. Matt Duchene is a -5 in the +/- column however he can quickly turn that around if he can get the puck to go in the back of the net. Duchene has averaged 2.4 shots per game however only has an 8.3% shot percentage.

#14 Mattias Ekholm

Mattias Ekholm is going to round out the Who’s Hot. Ekholm has jumped into the offense more during this season and it is showing. While he only has 1 goal and 4 assists (5 points) on the season he has been a major factor in the defensive zone as well as offensive zone. Ekholm is on pace for 27 points this season.

Ekholm’s play in the in the defensive end is what has stuck out the most and is what has led to him currently being a +3 in the +/- column which is tied with Cole Smith for the lead on the Nashville Predators roster. Every night Ekholm puts his body on the line in the defensive end blocking pucks and clearing the net front.

Honorable Mention…

#92 Ryan Johansen

Ryan Johansen definitely deserves an honorable mention here. While his offense has been average through the first 15 games, there is one statistic that sticks out the most when it comes to Johansen, Faceoff Win Percentage. Ryan Johansen currently leads the NHL in Faceoff Win % with 64.57% of faceoff’s won. In this sample size of a season so far that is 9.13% better than any other season in his career.

That’s all for Who’s Hot in Smashville

That finishes off the Who’s Hot in Smashville list. Check back soon for Who’s Not in Smashville through the first 15 games of the 2022-2023 season. There is still a lot of hockey to play so let’s see if these players can keep it going and if the ones on the Not list can improve their play. Until then… Lets Go Preds!