Three Reasons Nashville Predators can Shock the World in 2023-24
Young and fresh legs throughout the Nashville Predators lineup
While teams with young players are often at a disadvantage due to lack of experience, one advantage they have is significantly less tread on their tires. And the Predators are showing why that is with their young core.
One thing that made that group so fun to watch was because of how fast they were. They matched up well even against some of the fastest teams in the league, and it was a reason why they found themselves in the thick of the wildcard race after selling at the trade deadline.
ESPN broadcast just mentioned that #Preds young legs match up better with Canes speed. Really interesting observation that has me thinking.....more about 2023-24 than possible playoffs this year.
— Chad Minton (@chad_minton) April 7, 2023
Keep in mind that this was in a John Hynes system that did not exactly favor speed, and it is even more impressive how their speed stood out. That especially matters because this year, they have a head coach in Andrew Brunette who is way different than Hynes system-wise.
He proved on the Florida Panthers that his teams play with chemistry and prolificness on offense, but still are stingy on defense. A big reason they can do both so well is because they are fast enough to play an effective 200-foot game.
It seems like a perfect fit for the Predators, who are young enough and skilled enough to play exactly the way Brunette will want them to. And it could very quickly end up becoming a headache for opposing teams.