Nashville Predators: Projecting a Fully Healthy Forward Core for the Future

Line 1: Philip Tomasino — Cody Glass — Matt Duchene

Despite all of the injuries the Predators have suffered over the past month plus, not only have these players stayed healthy (excluding a game and a half absence for Tomasino), they have been a consistent line for weeks. And they have the makings of being something special.

When looking at this trio, the one thing that jumps out is SPEED. That is especially the case for Duchene and Tomasino, who could give opposing teams fits with their play in transition, and also with the pure skill that both of them and Glass possess.

One sequence that jumps out to me was a few weeks ago in the game at the Florida Panthers, when Duchene and Glass were leading the charge up the ice. Not only did they look incredibly fast, but they looked every bit as actually effective, dishing the puck back and forth seamlessly between each other while on the rush.

And while the Predators were scoring goals almost at will in Tuesday night’s game in Buffalo, this line was especially on fire. They combined for two goals in the first period and even had another that was unfortunately waived off due to offside, but it did not diminish their performance in the slightest.

Whether this line or the next one I am about to discuss is the first or second line is to be determined, and of course that is when everyone is actually healthy. But knowing what these guys have shown together, it makes sense to keep them together so they can build on that chemistry.