The finalized schedules for the 2026-27 NHL season are out now, and that means that Nashville Predators fans can get a good look at what their season could entail.
The NHL introduced a new 84-game format for the upcoming season, prompting more chances for teams to make their playoff push. Each team will play against their seven other divisional rivals four times each split between home and away. Teams will play non-divisional conference teams three times each and face out-of-conference teams two times (home and away) each.
For the Predators, the extra games will ramp up competition within the division, as they'll see their rivals more frequently while also facing non-conference powerhouse teams more. With practically a new roster, it will be a lot to fun to see what damage this team can do and potentially make a return back to the playoffs.
Matchup standouts
The Predators open their season with two crucial divisional matchups at home, hosting the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars. Both teams have some serious firepower that could pose a threat to Nashville. With former Dallas players Mavrik Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin under Nashville control, there will certainly be some clash on the ice as familiar faces return on enemy lines.
On Oct. 25, Nashville will face Colorado, and for anyone who's been following the offseason moves, this one will definitely be an interesting one. Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux will face up against their replacements in Jack Drury and Ross Colton. Chris MacFarland will use his new pieces against his former ones. It's a reunion tour for either side.
The opening month for Nashville could quite possibly be its toughest, and this next stretch demonstrates that. It'll have a three-game home stretch against some serious cup contenders with the Washington Capitals Oct. 29, Tampa Bay Lightning Oct. 31 and the Carolina Hurricanes Nov. 3.
Fast forward to December, the team will face a similarly constructed roster in the Seattle Kraken in back-to-back contests, first visiting Seattle Dec. 12 and hosting Dec. 15. Both teams have been labeled as "irrelevant" and "mid" by a few analysts. Whoever gets the edge out of this series can be deemed to be more relevant.
In January, the Predators will have another back-to-back series, this time being two away games versus the Utah Mammoth. They will certainly be a tough team to be beat with the additions of Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee over the offseason. The Mammoth are one top of the up-and-coming teams in the Central Division. The Ice Age battle will get more difficult for the Predators, but if they can put up a good fight, it will relieve a lot of pressure in the division.
The final important stretch is the team's season closer. Four of five of Nashville final opponents missed the playoffs by a good margin last season (Chicago Blackhawks April 1 and 8, Calgary Flames April 6 and Seattle April 6). The Predators final game of the season is against Dallas April 10. If they are in similar spot to last season this time around like, it could provide them with some crucial wins to remain in the wildcard race.
Very early record predictions
This is in no way shape or form an accurate represention of how the season will go. Chemistry can increase, injuries can happen, trades can occur; this is all based on what we have right now.
Without a further ado, he's my prediction for how the season will go:
43-27-14 (100 points)
Personally, I see season as an upside year. It won't be a full-on explosive one, but it will have enough juice to get us into the playoffs. It will be the first time since the 2018-19 season that the Predators finish with at least 100 points.
This season will be full of growth in my opinion. I predict that Matthew Wood and Luke Evangelista have yet another strong season, putting up better numbers. I also see Juuse Saros having a better season, potentially recording above a .900-save percentage for the first time in a while. The new guys will have good first-year stats. Some prospects will jump in the lineup and make their marks.
While I do see us making the playoffs, it won't be a long appearance. It could be a similar result to our playoff effort against the Vancouver Canucks not too long ago. We could win one of two games, but ultimately fall just short.
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