After a nearly rock bottom finish in the standings and one of the worst seasons in franchise history, training camp for the Nashville Predators should be full of open competition. Everyone should feel on notice to perform much better than last year.
The current lineup projections keep the status quo mostly intact for the top-six of the Predators lineup, but there are some young x-factors to take into account.
The bottom-six forwards should feature some opportunities for some prospects to make an impact in training camp and push for a roster spot on opening night.
On the defensive side of things there is also a lot of uncertainty and open competition. Take into account the health status of Roman Josi and figuring out who is going to pair where, Head Coach Andrew Brunette has a lot to sort out as his seat is already warm before we even drop the puck.
Here are some players on my radar who have the most to gain in training camp and can move up the depth chart with strong performances in September against friendly fire.