Nashville Predators Who’s Not Hot List: 2023 Offseason Edition
By Kyle Fleming
![Feb 13, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Mikael Granlund (64) adjusts his helmet after being hit on a play during the third period against the Arizona Coyotes at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports Feb 13, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Mikael Granlund (64) adjusts his helmet after being hit on a play during the third period against the Arizona Coyotes at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d869041cc3d6c0aa06f75315c53aa6a8706a3a15e81556c0e87e0c3bcbf5f1ac.jpg)
#64 Mikael Granlund
The final player on the Not Hot List, is a player that is no longer in the Predators organization as he was traded on March 1, 2023 to the Pittsburg Penguins.
Mikael Granlund was supposed to be a solid top-six center for the team, and well, his play was just too inconsistent to be considered a viable top center in the lineup.
Averaging 18:38 per night, and being given plenty of opportunity to prove himself, Granlund was only able to find the back of the net nine times in 58 games. His 27 assists did help his point total as he tallied a total of 36 points, nearly half of what he scored just one season ago.
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Granlund’s -16 rating was the worst of his 11-year NHL career. Now I do have to give credit where credit is due, his 12 penalty minutes were the lowest since his rookie season in the 2012-13 season.
With only a 43.3% success rate in the faceoff circle, also the lowest number in his career, and his lack of offensive input to the team is what led to him being traded.
Even though Granlud was traded, his 58-game performance, or lack thereof, is enough to land him the final spot on the Nashville Predators Season’s End Not Hot List.
This is why the injection of youth, even after missing the playoffs, was a welcoming sight for Nashville Predators and going into the 2023 offseason.