NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 8-Sept. 8. Today, the Nashville Predators.
The Nashville Predators did more than just re-sign Filip Forsberg during the offseason.
They added significant building blocks around forward as well.
In trade for defenseman Ryan McDonagh and signing forward Nino Niederreiterthe Predators upgraded the roster of a team that was swept by the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference First Round last season.
The prospect of adding two talented veterans to a team that includes forwards Forsberg, Matt Duchene, Mikael Granlund and Ryan Johansendefensemen Roman Jose and Matthias Ekholmand goalie Jesus Saros has coach John Hynes enthusiastic about the 2022-23 season.
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“I think everyone is excited,” Hynes said. “We feel like we’ve put in some hard work here trying to identify needs we felt were going to be good fits for our team.
“I think our returning players really recognize and respect that. I know the new players are excited, and we’re certainly excited as coaches to be able to work with this group and start laying the foundation of our game in training camp.”
Nashville acquired McDonagh on July 3 from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a defenseman Philippe Myers and forward prospect Grant Mismash. McDonagh could be paired with Ekholm, which would give the Predators an experienced, defensive-minded duo.
The 33-year-old has 337 points (71 goals, 266 assists) in 783 regular-season games with the Lightning and New York Rangers. A former captain with the Rangers and alternate captain with the Lightning, McDonagh has reached the Stanley Cup Final four times during his 13-year NHL career and won the Stanley Cup twice with the Lightning.
McDonagh waived a no-trade clause to make the deal happen, in part because he liked the Predators’ potential.
“The first thing that stood out to me was where [Nashville] is competitively,” McDonagh said. “Anybody that’s played Nashville knows the group they have there and how they’ve made the playoffs and [how they’re] trying to be a contender to win the Cup. As a player, you want to be a part of teams that have a chance to win the Cup.”
Josi had an NHL career-high 96 points last season (23 goals, 73 assists) and finished second in Norris Trophy voting. Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche as the League’s top defenseman. The team’s captain, Josi will likely be paired with either Alexandre Carrier or Dante Fabbro.
Video: Discussing the Ryan McDonagh trade
The Predators signed Forsberg, 28, to an eight-year, $68 million contract on July 11.
He has 469 points (220 goals, 249 assists) in 566 NHL games, all with Nashville and is its leader in goals and ranks fourth in points. Forsberg is coming off his best NHL season with career highs of 42 goals, 42 assists and 84 points in 69 games.
“We feel like he’s just coming into the prime of his career right now,” Hynes said. “It’s tough to find players with his kind of talent, and now I think with the mindset he has, and the maturity on and off the ice he’s going through as a person, I think the best is yet to come for him.”
Expect Forsberg to once again play on a line with Duchene, who had an NHL career-high 86 points (43 goals, 43 assists) in 78 games last season.
The Predators improved their forward depth by signing Niederreiter to a two-year, $8 million contract on July 21. The 29-year-old has scored at least 20 goals in six of his 11 NHL seasons, including last season, when he had 44. points (24 goals, 20 assists) in 75 games for the Carolina Hurricanes.
An aggressive forechecker and feisty player, Niederreiter may play alongside Granlund. The two were teammates with the Minnesota Wild for parts of six seasons (2013-14 through 2018-19).
“[Niederreiter is] a big, strong player,” Hynes said. “He plays in the hard areas. He’s a proven offensive producer. He’s got good size (6-foot-2, 218 pounds), very competitive.”
The Predators traded forward Luke Kunin (22 points; 13 goals, 9 assists in 82 games last season) to the San Jose Sharks during the offseason. Philip Tomasino21, who had 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 76 games as a rookie last season, could fill Kunin’s top-six role.
Nashville added some bite to its fourth line by signing a forward Zach Sanford (6-4, 206 pounds), who had career highs of 169 hits and 67 blocked shots in 80 games for the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets last season. He also won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
The Predators have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs eight straight seasons but will be seeking to advance past the first round for the first time since 2018.
“There’s a lot of good things that have gone on,” Hynes said. “I think moving forward, we really feel like we did some due diligence, and we strengthened our team in the areas we felt like we needed to be stronger.”
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