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Projections for Nashville Predators Forward Lines after Monster Free Agency Haul

By Max Greenberg

May 3, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) passes the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period in game six of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) passes the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period in game six of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports / Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
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Tommy Novak #82 Nashville Predators
Apr 23, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Nashville Predators forward Tommy Novak (82) handles the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period in game two of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports / Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

Second Line: Steven Stamkos -- Tommy Novak -- Jonathan Marchessault

Now here is where things start to get interesting. Even though two of the guys on this line are near obvious choices, the third is nowhere near as close and is likely to be a major battle come training camp.

Although it is up in the air, the popular choice seems to be Novak being the finishing piece on this line and claiming the center spot, and I am in line with that thinking. The biggest thing going against him is that he just had a dismal playoff performance which has made some people think he is incapable of playing in the top six anytime soon, but I frankly do not agree with that at all.

Novak's lack of experience got exposed in the postseason and he needs to play with some more toughness, but there is still plenty of reason to believe in him. He has 88 points in 122 games in the past two years and clearly has offensive skill, and that is with him not even averaging 15 minutes of ice time per game.

It is plausible to think he could experience an increase of production and overall impact with more ice time and around more talented teammates, and he should only get better as he looks to correct the issues that bogged him down in the playoffs.

Of course, you still have to be well rounded as a player, and Novak does lack qualities that someone like Colton Sissons possesses. But Sissons certainly is not a top six producer, and with Novak's offensive floor and the likelihood that he gets better, he makes way more sense as a second line center.

Stamkos is open to playing center which is possible, but he can no longer be relied on to be the offensive driver he once was. It is far more ideal if he is on the left wing so that he can shine as the one-timer specialist that he is, and of course Marchessault makes perfect sense as the right winger.

It may ultimately not work out with Novak centering Stamkos and Marchessault, but the Predators can make in-season moves to address that weakness if that is the case. With the way their roster is currently assembled, it is perfectly fine to give Novak his chance in this role.

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