Regular Season Finish: 10th in Eastern Conference
The Predators have been one of the most overlooked teams in the Western Conference for the past few seasons, despite the fact that 2008-09 was the first time they had missed the playoffs since the lockout. In 2008-09, there were just too many good teams in the powerhouse Central Division, as every other team in the division made an appearance in the postseason, with Chicago and Detroit battling for the Conference Championship. Nashville’s biggest trouble was scoring goals, as they scored only 213 over the regular season, 4th lowest in the Western Conference. 
As usual, Nashville’s chances for improvement through free agency and trades have been severely hampered by their financial difficulties, and the Predators have not acquired any new players in the 2009 offseason so far. They did re-sign fan favorite Steve Sullivan, whose hard work and scoring skill have been a bright spot in the organization for the past few seasons. The Predators hope they added a scoring asset on the blueline through the draft when they selected the small but talented Ryan Ellis out of the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL. Ellis had 89 points last season and won the Kaminsky Trophy as the best defensemen in the league.
After losing solid defenseman Greg Zanon and grinder Vernon Fiddler, the Predators will have to hope their current roster will be enough to get them by next season, although the fact that they have to face four playoff-worthy teams 8 times a season won’t help their chances. Until they get their financial issues settled, Nashville will unfortunately be on the outside looking in on the postseason in the Western Conference.