The Nashville Predators got another big win Thursday night at home against the New York Islanders, as they are now 14-7-0 since November 26. It is a complete turnaround from the start of the year where people looked like they would lose their jobs, especially because two days before the winning started, the team had fallen 8-3 on their home ice.
While it has been cool to see the Predators come together and find ways to get wins, it has been frustrating for some since we cannot totally get a read on this team's direction. If they were still near the bottom of the league standings, they would be heavy sellers at the trade deadline no question, but now there is uncertainty since the team is close to a playoff spot.
Barry Trotz has shown that he does not like to disrupt the team's chances to win if they show signs that they can do it, so many would think he would try to buy at the deadline. That being said, he spoke the other day and based on his words, he might not be totally buying the recent winning that this team has done.
Barry Trotz mentioned a clear asterisk despite Nashville Predators recent wins
Despite the Predators' winning so many games since the end of November, one thing that has gone poorly for them, especially very recently, has been starts to games. They have given up early goals in several of their contests, and Trotz pointed that out the other day.
To further illustrate this trend, the Predators have given up the first goal of the game in 14 of their last 18 games, and some of those have happened way early in those games. It has been admirable to watch them claw back into those games and win despite early deficits, but that is certainly not sustainable and Trotz knows it.
He is suggesting that the Predators' 20-19-4 record, good enough for 44 points, is a lucky one, which is not even great to begin with. Things can always change, but given all the team would have to overcome before March 6, it would take a lot for them to not end up being sellers by then.
First of all, they are still two points out of a wildcard playoff spot right now, and 16 points out of third place in the Central division. Given the bad starts to games and the scratch and claw nature of lots of their wins, it is just hard to see them truly ascending to being one of the top teams in two months.
Plus, when you look at guys like Erik Haula and Michael Bunting, who would be perfect trade deadline assets, it would probably take a lot for Trotz to not trade them and get valuable pieces in return.
As fun as the recent winning has been for the Predators, they appear to still have more to prove to Trotz and need to make an even bigger jump in the standings. For that to happen, they will have to find a way to play truly consistently complete hockey.