Five Reachable Goals for the Revamped Nashville Predators in 2023-24
By Chad Minton
![Cole Smith #36 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his empty-net goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period at the TD Garden on March 28, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Predators won 2-1.(Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) Cole Smith #36 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his empty-net goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period at the TD Garden on March 28, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Predators won 2-1.(Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/44c1aaad5e616c15cf1f4ebe505d355ec29d789dfaba60222417aca6b42d558b.jpg)
Goal #1: Reestablish Who You Are and Where You’re Going
Seems extremely general and unclear, doesn’t it? But in reality, who really are the Nashville Predators? Good luck answering that as we sit at the end of July in 2023.
At the end of next season, whether that be after a playoff exit or falling short of the playoffs altogether, I need to know the path forward and who this team really is. I need a vision from the front office that is starting to take shape towards an eventual ascension into the class of team who legitimately have a high chance at the Stanley Cup.
Right now, we’re not sure who the Nashville Predators are, and that’s to be expected with a new General Manager, new Head Coach, and a lot of new players.
This is a reachable goal for this front office to push for, and it doesn’t even have to mean this team makes the playoffs in 2024, but that would be lovely of course. Instead, let’s start painting a picture and cleanse ourselves from the last few years of mediocrity and no direction.
What might that look like? A team that showcases its strengths, shows improvements in key areas that are vital ( like actually scoring goals and not needing Juuse Saros to give up no more than two goals per game), and see a fire behind the bench that John Hynes just didn’t show enough of.
Be a menace to play against again even for the NHL’s best teams.