Building the Nashville Predators Experimental Second Line for 2025-26

Offseason hype surrounding the Nashville Predators is about as low as I can remember it, and if they're going to give fans a reason to be excited again then they're first going to have to figure out their top-six forwards to open 2025-26.

The top line really shouldn't have too much suspense around it, and it's more the second line that remains unclear. Assuming the status quo is kept at the top and no more crazy trades happen, then the Predators figure to go with Filip Forsberg, Ryan O'Reilly and Jonathan Marchessault on their top line. I can't see any of those three veterans getting demoted before they play the first regular season game.

If there was one player on the top line that might not be set in stone then it's Marchessault, but depth is a major concern for the Predators and the only other right winger I can see taking Marchessault's spot is Luke Evangelista.

With that said, I guess there is also the minor possibility that O'Reilly gets bumped down to the second line center role. We'll get to that a bit later.

A lot of possible scenarios at play before we can come together on a Nashville Predators 2nd Line

Evangelista is the main piece of the experimental second line, but his contract negotiations continue to drag on into late August. He remains a restricted free agent, with the latest reporting suggesting that the Predators want more of a long-term commitment from Evangelista. There lies the the hold up, per Jeff Marek of "The Sheet" on Daily Faceoff.

The Evangelista hold up is what makes the second line so mysterious for the Nashville Predators right now, with training camp just three weeks away with on-ice activities beginning September 18. If Evangelista somehow holds out longer into the regular season, that will really throw the Predators into scramble mode on how their second line will look.

Let's first discuss the more likely scenario, which is Evangelista eventually signs before the regular season opener and he's on the second line. That leaves Steven Stamkos likely on the second line as well. I just can't envision a sceraio where they bury Stamkos in the bottom-six. Even being well past his prime, you have to have his goal scoring and laser of shot on the second line.

Some have suggested that Stamkos will challenge for a top line center role, moving O'Reilly to the second line. This isn't something I can get on board with to start the season. Stamkos' days of holding down a top line center role are well behind him and I can't just get see him overtaking O'Reilly, who at least has outstanding chemistry already with both Forsberg and Marchessault.

However, if the top line is a disaster and not producing, then Stamkos is your next best option. I think you're probably starting to understand why the Predators' second line is so mysterious right now, and also why there's very little faith that the Predators will be returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026. The center depth is abysmal at best.

With Evangelista presumably signed by then, I have the second line looking like Stamkos on the left wing, Fedor Svechkov at center and Evangelista on the right wing. An aging veteran whose best days are behind him, and two players with a lot of promise but also a lot to prove. Not an ideal scenario for you second line, but what other options do the Predators really have?

Now if Evangelista drags this into the regular season without having a new contract from GM Barry Trotz, then the second line becomes a real unknown. My best estimation is that Michael Bunting moves into the right wing role vacated by Evangelista, Svechkov holds down the center position and Stamkos holds down the left wing.

This is why I don't get the small segment of fans basically saying "good riddance" to Evangelista for holding out for a contract he wants. Both sides need each other, and I don't know who caves first but I have to suspect it might be Trotz for the sole reason that no Evangelista in the top-six puts the Predators even further buried than they already are.

Back to the lack of center depth, Svechkov really has to be ready for a second line role otherwise I see this team going down a similar path that they did last season. Meaning 70 points at best in the standings. But I actually have some faith that Svechkov is going to have a very encouraging second year in the NHL. I just love the young man's poise and compete level. He has sneaky good two-way skill and also plays a mature game beyond his years.

If Svechkov can't handle the second line pressure, then you have to move Stamkos to center. That would then require even more shuffling on the wings if Evangelista isn't on the team. See how bad this gets without Evangelista and why he's so important now?

No Evangelista and a Svehckov that can't handle the second line means a second line of something like Bunting, Stamkos and take your pick of Matthew Wood, Ozzy Wiesblatt or Zachary L'Heureux. Nothing against those guys, but they're bottom-six players right now until they prove otherwise on a consistent basis.

Of course there's always a chance that someone takes off in training camp and rocks the apple cart so to speak. Someone like Brady Martin could shake things up and take a center role. Probably far-fetched, but the chances aren't zero either.

You also have to keep an eye on Joakim Kemell starting for the Predators in the season-opener. But is he really going to be placed on the second line right out of the gate? Only way I can see that is if again, Evangelista isn't signed and suited up.

Come to think of it, I'd much rather give Kemell a chance to fill in for a vacated spot by Evangelista over moving Bunting up. Trotz has mentioned that this is going to be a year where the young guys finally get a chance to prove themselves.

With all those scenarios thrown out there, my overall prediction is Evangelista gets signed and plays on the right wing. Stamkos takes the other wing and plays the mentor role and they test out Svechkov on the second line. If they're 10 games in and this line is struggling really badly, then they'll have to move Stamkos to center and move someone up like Bunting to the second line.

With Evangelista: Stamkos/Svechkov/Evangelista

Without Evangelista: Stamkos/Svechkov/Bunting (Kemell, Wood, L'Heureux possible?)

As you can see, the Predators have very little depth to work with going into this season. Their only realistic chance to improve significantly from last year is rock solid defense and a major bounce back year from Juuse Saros. I just see the offense struggling mightily with a lot of growing pains and finishing bottom 10 in the NHL in goal scoring.