Steven Stamkos
Steven Stamkos has been one of the most prolific goal scorers of the 2010s, but in the 2020s he has slipped down in the ranks. Based on his play over the last few games, it seems like he and everyone else have forgotten that.
Stamkos is playing like an elite goal scorer again. He's shooting, a lot, and he's stopped passing up shot attempts. He's performing well on the power play, and has been a 3 on 3 hero. His skill set is always valued around the playoffs, and most teams good or bad would love to have a future Hall of Famer.
Stamkos could help keep the Predators in the playoff race, or could help them begin to retool for the future. His ability to score will dictate which of those is more likely.
Brady Skjei
Obviously Roman Josi is the biggest part of the defense for the Predators, but ultimately Brady Skjei may be more important at determining how the season turns.
His raw offensive numbers are down, and he's starting far less often in offensive zone. As defense becomes more and more important to the brand of hockey that Skjei has to play. If he can meet the challenge, then the team becomes more balanced and has a better chance at winning.
However, if Skjei can't do that then frankly the Predators have next to no defensive depth. Their best players are all offensively driven. If Skjei makes the adjustment, the Predators look much better going forward.