A feared roster weakness is plaguing Nashville Predators early on

The Nashville Predators are currently in a spot no team ever wants to be in - underperforming relative to preseason expectations. Of course it is only three games into the season, but they are winless in those contests, which hurts with how much hype they had after their great offseason splurge.

There are some clear reasons why the Predators have started slow, and also clear reason to believe that they will bounce back. After all, lots of people expected October to be somewhat of a learning month for the team, as there is lots of chemistry to figure out with several new acquisitions.

But if you are saying that absolutely none of this is due to talent and everything can get fixed easily, you are not telling yourself the truth. In particular, there is one question everyone was asking during the offseason that pertains to the lineup, and it has only become a bigger question thus far in the young season.

Nashville Predators are having issues figuring out the second line center position

For as much as the Predators roster improved during the offseason, everyone was wondering if Tommy Novak could step up and be that second line center to complete the top six. Safe to say that has not happened so far, and it seems like a tall order at this point.

In fact, he has not even made it a full game at second line center, as he was swapped with Colton Sissons during the third period on opening night. And even that was short lived, as Sissons was pulled from that spot last game in favor of Steven Stamkos.

So yeah, the Predators have had a different second line center in every game they have played this year, which is not a recipe for success in the slightest.

Now, let's not act like Andrew Brunette is blameless here, he has shuffled the lines like crazy three games into the season, and nobody can be expected to get into a rhythm that way. But let's also realize that when you look at the Predators' roster from top to bottom, there is no ideal guy to play the spot, and that void is a big reason why the lineup has changed so much.

Besides Ryan O'Reilly and the guys already mentioned, the only ones who can play center in any capacity are Michael McCarron, Mark Jankowski, and Juuso Parssinen. Clearly you do not want McCarron or Jankowski in the top six, and while Parssinen has shown flashes, do you want to give such a big role to a guy who played the second half of last season in the AHL? That is a firm no for me.

That leaves Novak, Sissons, and Stamkos as the only logical options at top six center, and again, neither would be ideal.

Stamkos of course has the pedigree and experience at center, but he is not the offensive driver he once was and is best when his wicked slapshot can be showcased. Sissons is a "do everything" kind of guy and has the consistency and experience that he can do it if needed, but do you want to give it to a guy who has played bottom six almost all his career? Of course not.

Now, people will still vouch for Novak especially since he has started well with two goals on the year, and it might seem unfair that he was pulled from the spot so quickly. But his best play has been alongside Luke Evangelista, and while they have looked nice together, it has been on the third line.

Those two have played as linemates so often and have great chemistry, and I really do not want to see that broken up. Now what would be super cool to see is them rising to the top six to play alongside Stamkos, and they could easily earn that sometime this season, but that time is not right now.

It is likely that Brunette and the Predators are going to be handcuffed at top six center with the current roster, and very well might have to make an in-season trade to make it better. Luckily, they have a tremendous volume of draft capital over the next few years, and easily the tools to add to their roster during the season if they have to.