#1: Fedor Svechkov
There wasn't much to be excited about over the last couple of months of the Predators season. If you were tuning in every night to watch them play or attending in person, then you deserve a mini statue in front of Bridgestone Arena next to Pekka Rinne.
Seriously, it was hard to watch. But once I got past the pain of how this season became a runaway train heading for the townspeople, I realized there were some reasons to be tuning in, and the top one was Fedor Svechkov for me.
Svechkov is my biggest x-factor for next season if the Predators are going to return to the playoffs and show the NHL they're building something special from the ground up.
Not to keep beating the dead horse, but again it comes down to the Predators have no viable answers at their center position. Stamkos is better at the wing at this point in his career, O'Reilly is a 2C at best, and then just look at the depth chart and tell me what the Predators are going to do.
This is why Svechkov tops my list. It's probably unfair to put this kind of pressure on him considering he was thrust into the Predators lineup way sooner than expected, but it is what it is.
This isn't to say that if Svechkov doesn't live up to top-six center status in 2025-26 that I'll be ready to call him a bust. Not even close, but this is a ranking list based on the Predators "bouncing back fast", and Svechkov's performing at a high level way ahead of schedule will help the team's woes at center immensely.
Furthermore, I'm not saying Svechkov has to light the world on fire next season. What I'm saying is he has to be a reliable 2C, and at the very least a strong 3C. But if he doesn't play 2C, then that leaves O'Reilly and Stamkos as your only options to play in those slots.
Trotz could get in the mix for a 2C in offseason free agency and alleviate pressure on Svechkov from having to take on that role so soon. I find it hard to believe he'll be able to land a top-six center in free agency when looking over the players available, although I would love if Sam Bennett joined the Predators.
Anyway, back to Svechkov, I'll be content with him getting a second line center opportunity similar to the opportunity Tommy Novak got but ultimately didn't work out. If Trotz realizes it's going to take a few years to get back into serious contention, then you see what you have in Svechkov now and who knows, maybe the kid just lights it up in 2025-26.
Svechkov showed steady improvement as the season progressed. I like the confidence he shows, his craftiness when moving up the ice and finding spots in the zone to score with his accurate shot.
Even if Nashville's veterans all have better years next year, this team needs more depth, especially on offense. This is why I put Evangelista and Svechkov ahead of the rest as most important to a Predators bounce back in 2025-26.