How the Nashville Predators Season Can Be A Success, Without A Stanley Cup

Each year all of the teams in the NHL set out with a singular goal, to win the Stanley Cup. The Nashville Predators are no exception and are fighting to be a contender for the crown.

Yet only one team can win per year, so that can’t be the only way to measure success.  Here are some alternate ways that the Nashville Predators can have a successful season.

Establish a new Nashville Predators Identity

The Predators have a new head coach in Andrew Brunette and for the first time a new GM, albeit in the very familiar face of Barry Trotz. A flurry of moves has helped restock the roster and hopefully pushed the Predators right past a rebuild and back into contention.

Trotz has talked about a culture and identity change on the team, and Brunette will come with an up tempo offensive style that should bring new energy to Smashville. If it catches.

The season will be a success if the team manages to blend with Brunette’s style and play as he wants them to. If the roster can adjust and become offensively efficient, fast, and dangerous that should lead to long-term benefits.

It will save the defenders and goalie for a long playoff run, and help create offensive depth. It may also dictate what moves Barry Trotz does, doesn’t, and has to make at the trade deadline and offseason.

Be Better At Home

Last year the Predators were 22-14-4 at home, except that the four stands for overtime losses. So really, the Predators’ home record was 22-18, just over .500. That’s okay, but Smashville was starting to build a reputation as a tough place to play, and it should get back to that.

Between a full raucous crowd, and the odd team getting too involved in the postgame nightlight scene, Nashville should be one of the more difficult barns in the arena to waltz in and come out with a win.

For example, during the President’s Trophy run in 2017-18, the Predators were 28-9-4 at home. They had the same record in 2014-15, another one of their best statistical seasons.

All over their team history, when the Predators are their best at home they do their best during the season. So establishing home dominance early and often will be a key to calling the season a success.

Be Tougher To Play Against

Now this can be a bit vague at times. If the offense is humming sure they’ll be “tough” to play against. Right now though we’re using tough as an intangible.

Last season saw the Predators get beat up and pushed around at times. With a decidedly younger, more offensively geared lineup, they’ll have to step on the physical side of the game.

The good news is that Luke Schenn brings toughness in spades. When you add him onto a lineup that includes Jeremey Lauzon, Michael McCarron, Kiefer Sherwood, Yakov Trenin, and Cole Smith,  then there should always be someone on the ice who can take care of business.

Other teams, especially in the rough and tumble Western Conference, and the slaughterhouse of a division that is the Central, any time an opposing team raises a question the Predators must answer. In this case, the Predators must fight for success.