The struggles of the Nashville Predators have been well documented at this point in the season, and most glaringly, the lack of offense. Despite the moves made in the offseason to improve team offense, it has largely been nowhere to be found, and it is not that hard to see why when you look into it.
The weakness at the center position has hampered the Predators tremendously, and their top six has had very little speed. The personnel problems have resulted in Andrew Brunette throwing his line combinations into the blender time and time again, and almost nothing has worked.
Recently though, the Predators have done something they clearly did not originally plan to do, and you could say it happened due in part to injuries. In any event, we have only seen a week of action since the change, but it has been encouraging, and if it stays as it is, the team could be in much better shape than we previously thought.
Nashville Predators may have finally found a top forward line they can roll each night
One of the biggest questions for the Predators coming into the season was if Steven Stamkos was going to play center in any capacity. He had been playing on the wing for the past two seasons, and it seems like Brunette and Barry Trotz envisioned that as his role, but a recent injury to Ryan O'Reilly essentially forced them to play Stamkos at center.
And you might could say that it was a blessing in disguise, because Stamkos has looked legit since returning to the middle of the ice. He has been playing alongside Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault, and the results have been outstanding in the four games that they have been together.
The trio has combined for four goals in four games so far, and have been absolutely getting after it with scoring chances. They are finding multiple ways to score, whether that be forechecking, playing fast in transition, and moving the puck in efficient and creative ways while in the offensive zone.
In the game where the trio did not combine for a goal, Jonathan Marchessault had great assists to two separate teammates on two separate lines. He in particular is starting to heat up, and you can just see that those players are playing with more confidence as a group and individually.
It is no coincidence that the Predators have looked more with it recently, as the chemistry on the top line has resulted in a ripple effect and boosted the team. Even in the games that they have lost, especially the one in Colorado, they looked like a team that belonged, which is a big deal.
Not only is this a big help to the Predators as currently assembled, but this could impact their future decisions for the better. Everyone knows they have been looking to add more at the center position, and they still might, but they also might be able to shift their focus to acquiring wingers, which is usually much easier for a team to do.
Either way, seeing the way Stamkos has performed at center gives this team more flexibility in terms of lineup decisions. Once again, you cannot jump to true conclusions after just one week of action, but what we have seen is better than anything else we have seen the entire year, and it is not broke, so they should not fix it until and unless it is.