Despite a huge roster overall this offseason, the annual fan survey from The Athletic reveals that hockey fans still see the Nashville Predators in the same light as last season.
After Chris MacFarland took control of the Predators as President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, he made it his goal to find a way to get the team out of the "mushy middle." He acquired several depth pieces like Jack Drury and Ross Colton, made a move for top six talent Mavrik Bourque, and did everything he could to help keep the team in relevance while also developing top prospects in the process.
While many Predators fans have more confidence heading into this season than previously, it appears that the league is still unsure on whether this team can do anything greater this time around.
Nashville previously stuck in "mushy middle," still can't escape it according to some
Not too many people had the Predators going as far as they did last season. After finishing third last in the league in the 2024-25 season, most thought it wouldn't get much better. However, the team would nearly make the playoffs in 2025-26, missing out by mere points.
Now with a completely new bottom six and tightened defensive core, it is quite hard to imagine the Predators doing worse than last season. There are more veterans in the lineup, rather than prospects trying to make a name for themselves. Last season's forward group was rough thanks to this. A wide array of unexperienced NHLers were mixed upon veterans in need of other veteran linemates. Now with that problem solved, things should sail smoother this season.
In the survey, The Athletic asked fans "Which 2026 non-playoff team are you most certain will make the playoffs in 2027?" The most obvious answer was of course the Florida Panthers, who added some serious gamechangers over the summer. Other names include the San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs. One name that was nowhere to be found however was the Predators.
They failed to make the visual poll, getting less than 2% of votes. Even with practically a brand-new team full of promising names, fans still can't get behind the idea of the Predators even making the postseason.
It will take more than just winning games to get fans believing in the Predators; it'll take winning playoff games to start seeing support.
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