It is difficult to deny the excitement around the Nashville Predators right now, as they absolutely stole the headlines on July 1. The signings of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei not only made them better on paper, but sent a message to everyone else about how serious they are about winning and culture, given how talented and pedigreed all three guys are.
But as more time is passing from the start of free agency, we are getting closer and closer to the fun part: the Predators getting on the ice and proving legitimacy. And that will be easier said than done -- all of us know that what is on paper does not mean true results, and any time a team has several new players and chemistry to iron out, it can take some time.
That is especially the case when you look at the schedule the Predators have in 2024-25, and really at the beginning. Of course, every team in the NHL plays each other every year so nobody avoids tough games, but the stretch the Predators have in the first month-plus of the season is borderline jaw-dropping.
Nashville Predators have a gauntlet of opponents to open 2024-25, will still have expectations
First off, the Predators have a tough game at home to start the new season, as the Dallas Stars come to town. That one makes a ton of sense and will make both fanbses happy, the teams have developed a nice rivalry of the Southwest and given their recent history, it just makes sense to begin that way.
But when you look the schedule all the way until November 17, you probably go from talking about a potentially fun start to wondering what the chances are of drawing such tough games. All in all, here is the bulk of the Predators opening portion of the 2024-25 season:
10/10 vs DAL
10/17 vs EDM
10/22 vs BOS
10/28 @ TB
10/31 vs EDM
11/2 vs COL
11/7 @ FLA
11/11 @ COL
11/14 @ EDM
11/17 @ VAN
To summarize, that is a game against the 2023-24 Central Division winners who made the Conference Finals, three meetings with the defending Western Conference winners, one against the defending Stanley Cup Champions, and a 2024 playoff rematch right at the end for the Predators.
Every team in that stretch made the second round of the 2024 playoffs except for the Lightning, who are still obviously pedigreed, and that game will be Stamkos' return to Tampa Bay, so the storyline will be intense and surely seep into the play on the ice.
That is as difficult of a set of games as you will see anywhere, and one that should feel like a true playoff-caliber stretch months before the real thing. It is honestly a situation where the Predators will get all of the hardships and responsibilities, but almost none of the benefits and silver linings if they do not do well.
When you make all of the signings that the Predators did this season, you do not plan to just make the playoffs, you plan to go deep. If they finish that stretch of games well outside of a playoff spot, they will have a ton of ground that they might not be able to make up, and just cannot afford to be in such a spot.
They have had a super exciting recent offseason like their football counterparts in the Tennessee Titans, who also have a tough schedule to start their upcoming season. But the Titans are truly in a trial and error year and would have the potential silver linings of a bad start that the Predators would not have, so the boys in gold will have way more urgency on their plate.
Now, if they really do start out well and are in a comfortable playoff spot after November 17, that will be impressive with several new faces on the roster, and show that they really are to be feared. There is such a wide range of outcomes for the Predators to start the 2024-25 season, and with all eyes being on them right now, chances are that is not changing any time soon.