First and foremost, this isn't meant to be a knock on Ryan O'Reilly and his importance to the Nashville Predators as they try to rehab their standing in the Western Conference. However, you'd be living in a fantasy world if you think he's a viable top line center at this advanced stage in his career.
Looking through the center depth for the Predators on the current projected lineup, and the Predators basically have five primary centers to work with; O'Reilly, Fedor Svechkov, Erik Haula, Michael McCarron and Steven Stamkos. Not great, and honestly not even average.
This is something that has plagued this franchise for basically its whole existence. They've chased the centers through trades, free agency and drafting. They've had some temporary success with a few guys, but never that legit franchise center that the team could build around.
Deep down I believe General Manager Barry Trotz understands this precarious position at center and is why he focused so heavily on bolstering the defense with Nicolas Hague and Nick Perbix. Two solid blueline additions, while also having belief that Brady Skjei will be much better and Roman Josi will be 100 percent healthy.
Sitting here in mid-August getting ready for 2025-26, the franchise still seems so far away from breaking that curse. Let's do a quick rundown of the team's current situation at center, and why O'Reilly is still the best option at the top.
Can someone overtake O'Reilly on the Nashville Predators top line this season?
I've seen the thought thrown around that Stamkos could get the nod as Nashville's top line center to start 2025-26, which would bump O'Reilly to the second line. While I agree O'Reilly is better suited being on the second line on contending team, it basically comes down to Stamkos not being any better as the top line option.
Stamkos needs to be on the wing at this point in his career. Can he play center if the Predators are in a pinch due to injuries? Sure, and I actually think that will probably happen at some point over the course of 82 games. However, this shouldn't be the Plan A to roll into the regular season.
Stamkos is going to be far more beneficial to the Predators playing on the wing and scoring the vast majority of his points on the power play. If Stamkos can be the main catalyst to the Predators having a top-10 power play, then he's doing his job and then some. Additionally, you're looking for Stamkos to be the veteran leader and mentor to the younger players, like Svechkov.
This brings me to Svechkov. Could the Predators take a huge gamble and try Svechkov on the top line? That would create a lot of negative distractions early in the season if Svehckov leap frogged O'Reilly on the depth chart, so again I don't see this as the best option.
The caveat I'll say about this is if Svechkov breaks out this upcoming season and his clearly taking the next step in his progression as a true center, then maybe you try him up there later in the season. At least then you'll have justification of making the bold switch, especially if O'Reilly is trending the opposition direction.
The other listed centers for Nashville in Haula and McCarron clearly aren't jumping into the top-six, so it really leaves you with this answer that O'Reilly is the best answer because sadly the Predators have no one else. They don't have a true top line center, and it's the main reason why most think this team is destined for similar finish in the standings as last season.
I'm actually sticking to my prediction that the Predators will improve from their 68 points in the standings last season, but also will still fall just short of the playoffs. I got them finishing somewhere in the mid to upper 80's in points due to better team defense and a better showing from Juuse Saros. My thinking is more old school, smashmouth Predators hockey and way more discipline. Minimize the self-inflicted wounds, because quite frankly this team's margin for error is going to be razor thin due to being so thin at center.
O'Reilly does have a lot of chemistry already built in with Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault, so that should allow for better puck movement. What worries me is speed and the aging factor with this potential top line. Forsberg just hit age 31, but remains in his prime. But O'Reilly is 34 and Marchessault is 35. Do they have enough left in the tank to hang with some of the speed teams and younger talents around the NHL? I have my serious doubts, but obviously hope I'm wrong.
Who are the future options for the Predators at center that are currently in the system?
O'Reilly has two years left on his current deal with the Predators. He'll be 36 when his deal expires with the Predators, and at that point he either retires or moves on from Nashville and seeks a one-year deal to win another Stanley Cup somewhere as a depth player.
Nashville has a long ways to go before being a Stanley Cup contender again, so going into this season with O'Reilly at the top line again kind of feels like a bridge year. Buying time until your prospects are ready to finally make the fulltime jump to the NHL.
Of course there's optimism that Brady Martin, your 5th-overall pick this year, will eventually be a top-six center. But how long until he's ready for that role? Remains to be seen, but a conservative estimate would be at least until sometime in 2026-27.
You also have prospect David Edstrom who is a future NHL-caliber center and someone we could see as soon as this upcoming season. Again, where is his true NHL ceiling? Top-six potential might be stretching it, but we'll see.
I also want to be sure not to completely look over Matthew Wood, who already has a few NHL games under his belt. He can play center, and there is always the chance that the Predators try him out more at center and see if there's something to build on. That's something definitely worth exploring in 2025-26, because why not? You don't have many options to begin with.
When you look at the very few options the Predators have coming out of their prospect pool as primary centers, it helps you understand why a lot of fans hope they're a lottery team again next year and get the chance to draft another future top-six center prospect. This will put the Predators in a lose-lose situation in 2025-26 because if they win too much, there goes the lottery chances and instead we'll be drafting mid first-round.
This brings me back to Svechkov ultimately, who is really your x-factor at the position. I know it is very far-fetched, but he's a guy that can surprise so many people if he takes a huge step forward and solidifies himself in at top-six role. Something Tommy Novak failed to do and was consequentially traded.
So for now, yes O'Reilly is your best answer at the top line because Nashville has no one else to turn to that they can trust to at least hold down the role until someone else emerges either through development (Svechkov) or through a trade. Top line centers don't emerge on the open trade market very often, so relying on that isn't a great strategy.
This organization is banking on Svechkov and eventually Martin, but currently 34-year-old O'Reilly is your guy at the top of the depth chart for center. At least we know the guy is basically a second captain behind Josi and should have continuing great chemistry with Forsberg.
Looking at the glass half full, in two years if everything goes according to plan then you'll have Svechkov and Martin as your centers ready to take over in the top-six.