Projecting the Nashville Predators starting lines vs. Dallas Stars in season opener

The 2024-25 regular season opener is just six days away for the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, two division rivals who have high expectations to not only win the Central Division crown, but eventually go deep in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Stars won the Central Division last season for the first time since 2016, and the Predators haven't won the division since 2019. On paper, these two teams are your top two contenders coming out of the preseason, but of course Colorado Avalanche fans probably would disagree.

Be that as it may, the Predators have made more roster cuts from their training camp roster and things are taking shape with two preseason games left. Top tier prospects Zachary L'Heureux, Ozzy Wiesblatt and Adam Wilsby were reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals on Thursday in preparation for the AHL season.

All three made valiant efforts to push for a roster spot on the Predators to open the regular season, but my stance always was that there's no reason to rush prospects into a high-pressure situation for a season-opener against the Stars.

The Predators have their starting lineup that they can feel highly confident in thanks to a very active offseason from General Manager Barry Trotz. Now let's speculate how the starting line combinations could look, because that is still up for debate.

The forward lines are coming into form, but there's more to sort out in bottom-six

There was never really much suspense on how the top-six will look. Unless Tommy Novak just had a horrendous training camp performance, which hasn't been the case at all, then we pretty much knew that last season's top line would stay intact and that Novak would center the 2nd line with newcomers Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault

Head Coach Andrew Brunette is also keeping the band together for the top line with Ryan O'Reilly holding the center position, with Filip Forsberg and Gus Nyquist on the wings.

The top-six for the Predators looked outstanding in the 6-4 preseason win over the Hurricanes on Wednesday. There's be no reason for Brunette to have any pause about this group being his top-six for the season opener against the Stars on October 10.

Another player who needed a strong training camp and has delivered is Philip Tomasino. After being under scrutiny and essentially being called out to step up his game, Tomasino now looks like a high probability 3rd line starter to open the regular aseaosn. And I'm all here for it.

Tomasino has gone from possibly having one foot out the exit door of the organization to now being a trendy breakout candidate for the Predators. If he indeed gets the start on the third line with experienced Colton Sissons at center and his fellow young and talented teammate Luke Evangelista, then I have high hopes for the depth scoring from the Predators this year.

What does this mean for Juuso Parssinen? I think there's still more up for grabs in the final two preseason games for Parssinen to win a starting spot over Tomasino, but I'm leaning more towards Tomasino to get the nod first. I just love that line with Sissons and Evangelista. Parssinen might be the extra forward to open the season.

And then of course you have the locked in 4th line which should be a more veteran heavy line of Mark Jankowski, Michael McCarron and Cole Smith. While I suspect McCarron and Smith are safe, one again Parssinen could earn his way in over Jankowski.

The Predators only have 13 forward remaining on their roster, so the extra forward spot that's a healthy scratch to open the season is likely Parssinen unless he finishes strong in the preseason. He's had a worthy preseason showing, including a goal against the Hurricanes so don't count him out to earn a spot over Jankowski.

Some roster cuts remain for the defensive corps

How about Tanner Molendyk sticking around this late in training camp? A testament to how high the ceiling is for this young man who is only 19-years-old. Just incredible trajectory he's on at such a young age.

Molendyk was drafted at 24th overall of the first round in 2023, thanks to acquiring an extra draft pick from the Mattias Ekholm trade with the Edmonton Oilers. Just to refresh your memory.

As cool as it would be to see Molendyk start the season in a Predators sweater, obviously the more likely scenario is that the organization is just getting him as much NHL training camp reps that they can before sending him back for his upcoming season in the WHL.

Marc Del Gaizo also remains on the training camp roster. He's regarded by many as the next defensive prospect up whenever he's called upon this season. Unfortunately Spencer Stastney has missed training camp due to unknown personal reasons.

Without knowing what's going to come of Stastney playing status next week, Del Gaizo might get the opportunity as a left shot defenseman.

Of course we can't forget about Dante Fabbro, either. So yeah, a lot to sort out still over the last week of preseason.

It looks pretty certain that Roman Josi and Brady Skjei will be your top pairing, while Jeremy Lauzon and Alexandre Carrier have also been practicing together as a pairing, keeping them intact from a successful campaign together last season.

Assuming Luke Schenn is safe as a starter, then it comes down to who his partner is. Fabbro is a right shot defenseman and that would just be an odd match with no chemistry, so until we figure out what the status is for Stastney, I'm going with Del Gaizo to play with Schenn to round out the starting defense to open 2024-25.

When it comes to the Dallas Stars, they are rock solid at the top of their lineup which is why they're a popular pick to win the Stanley Cup in 2025. Matt Duchene is back and projected as the 2nd line center, and their top line with Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson will be very difficult to defend.

The more I stack these two lineups against each other, it's a toss up. Maybe you give the Stars a slight edge because they've been together longer, but I see a higher ceiling for the Predators. But to open the season, the Predators might hit some speed bumps against a Stars team with more experience together.

And to save you all of the enormous suspense known to humanity, Juuse Saros will be the starter between the pipes over Scott Wedgewood. You heard it here first, folks.