Nashville Predators Predictions for 2023-24: The Top Goal Scorers
By Chad Minton
#4 Top Goal Scorer for Nashville Predators in 2023-24: Thomas Novak
Maybe one of the most interesting stats I’ve come across during this 2023 offseason surrounding the Nashville Predators is that involving Tommy Novak.
https://twitter.com/chad_minton/status/1687484094441996288?s=20
Novak got such a late start to his 2022-23 and still, thanks unfortunately to injuries, he ended up becoming one of the more reliable offensive contributors on the team. Should we be worried about a “sophomore slump”?
When the season finally came to a close for the Predators sitting outside of the postseason picture, Novak finished at an 82-game point pace of 69 points. Rare territory for any player in Nashville Predators history.
Now looking ahead to 2023-24, Novak should get the full confidence from the coaching staff to be considered for a top-six role right out of training camp. If the team really wants him as a center, which is where he obviously fits best, then he may get third line duty.
Either way, I’m taking a confident swing that Novak will roll over an very efficient second season in the NHL into a full-time NHL gig that sees him crack 20 goals and 50 points.
Novak led the Predators in Goals Above Expected with 5.7 and was with fifth on the team in Expected Goals Per 60 Minutes, according to MoneyPuck.
With some expected ice time increase from 14:39 this past season, I’m putting Novak at fourth on the team in goal scoring and to finish with 21.