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

It took until late in the year, but injuries have really piled up for the Nashville Predators. The team has had to constantly adapt as players have continued to come out of the lineup, and by the looks of things, we are not going to see them at full health until 2023-24 begins.

It is a bummer because there was such excitement about what this young and revamped lineup could do after the heavy sell-off at the trade deadline. Unfortunately, it looks like we will not actually know what could have been until October at earliest.

That being said, the unknown is unlikely to have a huge impact on the Predators’ offseason plans, and what the lines will eventually look at is going to be a very fun discussion during the summer.

And for the sake of having some fun, let’s project what the Nashville Predators core will look like in Fall of 2023 with a clean slate of a new season, as it is never too early to do so.

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.

Line 3: Egor Afansyev — Juuso Parssinen — Kiefer Sherwood

The reason why the second line center position was tough was because between Parssinen, Glass, and Novak, somebody was going to be the odd man out of the top six. Unfortunately by virtue of the latter two playing well during his absence, Parssinen is the one who ends up getting the boot to the third line.

It does not mean he is in a bad situation, however, as he is alongside two teammates with whom he should play well.

Afanasyev has yet to record  a point in seven games, but it is certainly not for a lack of trying. He is working hard in the offensive zone and has gotten a few chances, but he is extremely raw and not playing big minutes right now.

In his first seven NHL games, Afanasyev has at least one shot on goal in each of those games in very limited ice time of 9:47.  He will break through, he just needs time as he learns the sport at the NHL level. And it is not like he is a liability out there, so there is no reason to worry with him.

Now it was a bit tough to choose between Sherwood and Rasmus Asplund, as you probably have slightly more potential with Asplund, but he really has not done anything in the lineup.

Sherwood has actually played pretty well recently, as he forechecks hard and just plays with a lot of energy, which is nice to have in your bottom six.

Sherwood’s most recent game against the Kraken in which he battled hard and even got a goal showed that he deserves to be in the lineup every night that everyone is healthy, which is fun to see considering he got waived in early November.

You have to appreciate the tenacity that Sherwood shows on every shift.

These players have hardly played together if at all, so if they were to become a line, there might be some growing pains and lack of productivity at the very beginning. But if they were given time, they would become quite an effective grouping with the talent and effort they play with.

Line 4: Yakov Trenin — Colton Sissons — Cole Smith

The days of the herd line are unfortunately over with Tanner Jeannot being traded at the deadline, but it does not mean they cannot roll a line with a similar identity. That’s what this trio, that also currently plays together, does.

This is the one that everyone knows is out there to be that physical element that every team prefers to have when going on a deep playoff run. And even in the case of the Predators, it is nice to have because they are so young and make good use of experienced and gritty guys who will step up in rougher situations.

Trenin and Sissons have obviously played together for the vast majority of the past two years, and Sissons being the consistent veteran on this line makes the opponent take them seriously when they are on the ice.

Smith does not quite have the menace factor that Jeannot brought to the Predators, but he is still plenty physical and does many of the same things that Jeannot did, so he fits right in.

Smith gets his large share of criticism from the fanbase, which is fair, but he is someone who has only gotten better throughout the season. And especially given the current state of the team, he deserves to be in the lineup and bring the effort like he does each game.

Recap of Projected Forward Lines for 2023-24

1. Tomasino/Glass/Duchene
2. Forsberg/Novak/Evangelista
3. Afanasyev/Parssinen/Sherwood
4. Trenin/Sissons/Smith