After finishing behind the Detroit Red Wings by just two points in the regular season, the Predators drew a tough first round matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks. A few more OT losses or even just one more win would have put the Preds into a much more palatable first round draw with the Phoenix Coyotes, and from there, who knows what could have happened. Regardless, this is a very tough Nashville club that not many clubs are going to be lining up to play against this season.

david legwand

*Offense’: The loss of Jason Arnott isn’t going to help any, but perhaps the time was right, since for the first time in a few years, he was not among the leaders in goals, points or assists. Still 46 points on a team that had only 2 players score more than 20 goals is a lot to lose. Thankfully, the Preds may have found a quicker, more productive and younger replacement for Arnott in Matthew Lombardi, signed as a free agent in the summer after a career year in Phoenix where he put up 53 points. If Colin Wilson can emerge as a legitimate center, David Legwand and Patric Hornqvist might have some help this season. Legwand fell off a bit last year, but he’s still a heck of a hockey player when he’s on his game. The powerplay will need some work as well, as the Predators had the lowest conversion rate of any team in their division at 16.4%.Grade: C+’'’Defense’’’: The backbone of the team, the Predators’ defense allowed just 225 goals last year, and they look poised to put up similar numbers again. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are both emerging stars on the blueline, while 6’5 Cody Franson is a towering young monster. It’s a young defensive corps, with only Francis Bouillon over the age of 30, but the Preds have themselves a solid blueline, top to bottom. The one thing they’ll have to improve dramatically is the PK, which ranked last in the Western Conference last year.Grade: B+’'’Goaltending’’’: After the job was stolen from him, Dan Ellis was sent packing in the offseason and found a new home in Tampa Bay. The culprit who stole his job, Pekka Rinne, will have to play well this season if he wants to avoid a storm of negative press about who should have been traded out. There’s not much cause for worry, though, as Rinne posted 32 wins and a 2.53 GAA in a stacked Central Division, no less. He’s also on my fantasy team, so he better be in top form.Grade: A-’'’Key Additions’’’: Matthew Lombardi, Sergei Kostitsyn*Key Losses’: Jason Arnott, Dan Ellis

Len robinson
Sports Pundit member

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