Nashville Predators: Philip Tomasino Returns after Filip Forsberg Injury

It may have taken a scary hit and fall from Filip Forsberg, but the Nashville Predators have finally called back up Philip Tomasino from the Milwaukee Admirals.

Tomasino will likely make his 2022-23 season debut on Monday against the Arizona Coyotes in the wake of the Filip Forsberg injury:

This signals that Forsberg’s day-to-day status could last through this week’s portion of games, which after Arizona will be two really tough Eastern Conference opponents with Boston and Florida.

The Predators are hovering around the postseason bubble but are just four points back of both a wildcard spot and a third-place spot in the Central Division. They also have games in hand over all of the team ahead of them, including four games in hand over the next team they need to pass in the standings, the Calgary Flames.

Nashville Predators will Lean on Tomasino to Provide a Jolt of Energy

Tomasino has thrived in his role with the Admirals this season with 32 points in 38 games. Calls have been loud and clear from much of the Nashville Predators fanbase to bring Tomasino back into a lineup that struggles badly to sustain offense.

Most recently, Tomasino made a major impact in the Admirals’ win on February 11 with a shootout goal and an assist.

Forsberg left Saturday’s game against Philadelphia in the final moments of the first period when he awkwardly fell to the ice following a hit from Rasmus Ristolainen. Forsberg had to be helped off the ice by teammates and didn’t return to the Predators’ 2-1 overtime win.

Now the question leading up to puck drop against the Coyotes on Monday night will be focused on where Tomasino lands in the lineup. Is it as simple is putting Tomasino right on the top line wing with Cody Glass and Matt Duchene?

Breaking up the “Herd Line”, which returned against Philadelphia, would be a puzzling move by Head Coach John Hynes. They’re usually your most consistent line and line chemistry matters a ton.

Your second line of Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Johansen and Mikael Granlund should probably also remain intact, meaning Tomasino might get thrown right into the fire in a top line role. He’s your hopeful future in a top-six role, and it’s not as if he’s getting his feet wet for the first time in the NHL. He played in 76 games and was a 30-plus point scorer in his rookie campaign.

Also, seeing Glass with two highly skilled offensive wings on either side of him in Tomasino and Duchene could be the offensive jolt this team needs.

With that said, Forsberg has been in an offensive rut dating back over a month’s span. Forsberg has just one goal since January 14. Surprisingly, the team has managed to go 6-2-0 over this goal drought from Forsberg.

Can Tomasino fill into Forsberg’s spot and actually produce some offense? I think you have to stick him up there against Arizona and find out.

There’s no way I’m sticking Tomasino in a buried role on the fourth line and shuffling any deck chairs. Give Tomasino the chance to prove himself in Forsberg’s absence.

Depending on how long Forsberg actually ends up missing, it will be intriguing to see how well Tomasino performs and if he can force the hand of Hynes and company to keep him in the lineup even when Forsberg becomes available to return to action.