Nashville's 2024 Playoff Appearance Shows Team's Ability to Defy Expectations

Nashville is likely going to be good again next season. They have some really good value contracts as well.
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2026 Stanley Cup Finals: The Nashville Predators vs The Detroit Red Wings

[@theawayfan6052]

I'd watch that

[@aleksihakli1125]

Don't give me these delusions, It would be my dream match up. But realistically, Preds aren't ready yet. Our prospects need more time to cook, and the current core doesn't have enough depth to reliably roll 4 lines. Josi and Forsberg are our carrying forces and if they get shutdown we struggle to score. I'm not saying they're bad, but we need more time to strive.

[@habinations]

i like your fandom

[@shawndoom]

With Sauros in goal for the Wings... 😏

[@BondandBourne]

That would be a really interesting matchup to watch tbh

[@justingambino2186]

Nashville is in a good spot as a fan. I hope Trotz stays true to his word about aiming to get younger and faster... but the leadership Trotz has brought in feels like at least on the outside looking in.. feels like the culture has shifted in a positive direction this season.

[@thebigbucktheory5488]

The AHL team is also pretty good with some young guys. Always a good sign. Askarov looks ehh right now, but they had a huge winning streak.

[@justingambino2186]

yeah the Ads are playing extremely well at the moment. Def some home grown talent in the wings. Should be interesting over the next few years.

[@Hawkeydad94]

I still think we should let go carrier tbh

[@WilliamStewart1]

The preds kinda remind me of the stars a few years back. If they draft good they could be in the same spot as Dallas now.

[@Tbiblaine23]

I think teams and fans that don’t pay attention to Nashville are going to be shocked by the young talent this team will have in the next 3 years. Their AHL team is stacked with young talent and they have so many high draft picks over the next two years. Nashville could be a contender for a while if they play their cards right.

[@4dventureTim]

Shannon’s analysis is spot on - no surprise! NSH is in a fantastic spot currently, and Trotz is clearly interested in long term success with the young talent he’s bringing up in their system, and with immediate attention to getting offensive production up. With their cap space and a few clever moves, I’m confident they’ll soon have some serious scoring power, and that’ll be the difference between their all too familiar first round exits and their future as a competitor / eventual cup winners.

[@dmonsef]

Preds need to figure out what they are doing with Juuse Saros. He has 1 years remaining with a $5 million cap hit. Askarov doesn't seem to be ready yet as he was struggling in the AHL playoffs. Maybe a offseason to make adjustments and then training camp/preseason, he gets better. Preds could get a great return trading Saros and actually become a better team. If Saros does sign an extension I would expect something like a 5 year deal for $8 million per year.

[@454fire]

The super tricky part is what their goal with Askarov is. When Saros first came up, he was 20 and Rinne was already in his mid 30's, so it made sense to mold him as the 'successor' after backing up for a couple of seasons. As of right now, Saros is 29 and Askarov is about to turn 22. If you sign Saros to an extension, doesn't that just make Askarov roadblocked as Saros still has another 5+ years of good production in him? Unless they're aiming for the Boston system of having a 1A/1B goalie tandem in the future.

[@dmonsef]

@@454fire Saros next contract will be something like 5 years and $8 million per year. I believe when Rinne got his big contract he was making $7 million per year. Saros needs to playing for a serious Cup contender and not a team retooling to just get into the playoffs. They could wait another year to see how Askarov does before giving Saros a new contract, but that is taking a risk waiting too long to act.

[@rocktoonzz]

Nyquist, O'Reilly and Schenn were amazing pickups last summer, and I was impressed with Zucker after we got him. Beauvillier still needs to show something. We have what looks like a great core with our vets and some really good young players. I feel like Bruno's system didn't really come to fruition until the second half of the season. I believe the Preds have a bright future.

[@mrcleanup14]

As a Nashville fan, My perspective is the centers were invisible in the Canucks series. We have 1.5 centers right now. ROR and Sissons. ROR was missing shot attempts left and right when passed the puck. Sissons was up and down with his performance. Novak just didn’t seem like his line got the time or the matchups. 4th line was trying to stall and shutdown their top line all series. I agree with GMBT we need to get younger and faster! Novak needs more TOI, I think they see a lot more production in him. Evangelista is being molded well into this system. I want to see more out of the younger players in Milwaukee! Expectations of speed and effort is going way up next year. I really think a lot of them have another level to give this system. Let’s Go Preds!!!

[@thomasjackson1205]

I feel for ROR so much, he had so many good looks in games in the playoffs and last few season games that missed it hurt. And I'm sure he was kicking himself. Hope he comes back with even more fire and if we add another great/star/younger center for second or third line I think it'll help our depth immensely

[@ADB358]

Josi, and Forsberg alone aren't enough to put the Preds in contention. They have to figure out their top 4 D. They also need to acquire an elite game breaker, if they want to give the core a chance at the cup. Considering that Nashville is an older team, this needs to happen asap.

[@bjohnsonmc]

The only way they trade Saros is for a young future star forward. The need a superstar goal scorer. Their time table is a year or two down the road. Maybe see if they can trade some b level prospect and a current roster for that star.

[@jacobsenter9905]

I would argue that saros needs to at least give us 2 superstars for it to be a thought

[@michaelgarcia9949]

I think fedor svechkov is another one that should have been included on the "on the way list". his numbers were good for his first year in the ahl. Looking forward to a L Heureux, svechkov, evangelista top line in a few years!

[@Cheyennemae.A]

In a few years that could be a killer top line

[@fireaspectsythe5233]

I'd love to see Mitch Marner on the preds. He is just what this team needs. More offensive upside plus a great playmaker. He is someone that can be a big part of this unit. The only problem is the give up. 2 firsts and I'd say a big prospect like parsinnen, novak, or l'huerux

[@nickchristoforou7850]

No thanks. Marner is soft.

[@matt_s2807]

As a canes fan, something the preds should consider is Martin necas and possible Brett pesce. Necas had a down year but can very well turn into a breakout player. Pesce is a solid top 4 d-man who could help round out your back end. Both these players may end up moving on from Raleigh this off season unfortunately

[@newtron1]

I picked Preds to upset the Nucks. Close but no cigar.

[@BoOhMy]

If only Sissons could hit the yawning cage

[@evieprado]

I’m happier with the direction of the Preds than I was a year ago but am still concerned about our upside with this current core. I think Josi, Saros, Forsberg is awesome to build around but other than Saros those other two are older. We weren’t in top form against Vancouver, I think I’m patient enough to give it one more go

[@erikhogberg6635]

Forsberg is 8 months older than Saros.

[@evieprado]

@@erikhogberg6635 whoops 😬

[@HeavyMetalTots]

Predators fan here - I like the trajectory of this team. I still think we are missing one more high end forward. I’m really curious to see how GMBT handles that this summer!

[@deathgrinderb3284]

yea trading duchene soon as he started scoring 40 goals a season was moronic. imo. imagine if we had him this playoffs.

[@stanschmenge1965]

Barry Trotz is one of the best hockey minds in the game, your team is in very good hands.

[@thomasjackson1205]

​@@deathgrinderb3284nah he came here to retire. He would've been on par and not tried as hard. We needed to shake it up for fire's sake. Yes Duchene is great still but we need people who don't wanna retire here unless they have retirement legs but do 60 pts a season. It's poison for any team. ROR is a great replacement despite his age. He often came through and he did great for his position and WANTED to help this team. Duchy just wanted to relax

[@datcfo8170]

They made it the dance, despite learning a new system and structure, new coach, and new GM. They were a coin flip away from beating Vancouver, puck luck determined that series, not some overwhelming dominance by the Canucks. It was a nail biter every game. All that said to say they were competitive and improved throughout the season. Their weakness is finishing plays. I would like to see them add a top six guy who can finish shots, or teach the young guys how to pick the corners better. Easier said than done of course, but I really like the new coach, the system, and the direction of the team. They have talent in the pipeline, Admirals are excellent, and a lot of high picks in the next couple of years. Hopefully they can make a Stanley cup run before Josi hangs up the skates.

[@thomasjackson1205]

If we keep saros next year (which i think we should but theres always rumble about that) then we bring up asky and trade lankinen. If we trade juice then we do the same but but asky in top slot. I think hes not ready for one more year. Either way, depending on who we trade and with our budget and picks in the next two years we shoot for pure gold. Get 2-3 BANGERS for 2nd and 3rd lines and keep 2 of our star goalies and we could have a cup run anytime in the next 3 years. Thats my optimism talking for sure but we have potential energy rn. If we turn it into kinetic energy without losing an aging core and juice? Id be ecstatic. Its tough to say but i know this. Lauzon, sherwood, and evangelista have solidified their future spots and i hope they continue and eventually become part of the core of nashville once the veterans leave

[@Lebowski55]

People expected the Nashville Predators to finish in the middle of the NHL. And thats what happened.

[@jamiecotterill2475]

Marner and Liljegren for McDonagh, Askarov and 2025 2nd.....

[@michaelpostsstuff9958]

Treliving would get fired on the spot for that trade

[@starbright451]

Nyqvist and Forsberg are big parts of eachother's career years, good fit. They might be able to do it again.

[@TheGuilty11]

I think Marner could be nice fit for Nashville. Top tier setup guy for Forsberg, defensively responsible and pretty young. The problem is what do you give up for Marner. They do have plenty of picks but i think Toronto wants some players too. Saros could be one possibility but i don't think preds want to part away with him yet. Lankinen could be very nice and reliable backup or 1B option for Woll. Not sure about any of those predator prospects but maybe Toronto would be interested even if the trade mostly contains high picks and maybe good backup/1B goalie like Lankinen

[@jamesgarvin29]

Those goalie records don't add up Shannon..?

[@aleksihakli1125]

I was baffled how tight the series ended up being. Nashville has a lot of grit, but realistically speaking, they're not ready for the big dance. Our prospects need more time to cook, and the current roster doesn't have enough secondary scoring depth to reliably roll 4 lines. Josi and Forsberg are our carrying forces and if they get shutdown we struggle to score. I'm not saying they're bad, but not quite ready to strive. I'm nothing but an armchair GM, but I'd be shopping for a 2C center and some depth scoring coming this free agency ä.

[@tjthejetus2843]

I think with the dead cap, this year isn’t the go for it year. I think add some rookies, add a couple vets in free agency. When the dead cap goes down next year, then make your big moves for the 2026 season

[@quincee3376]

Preds need just a bit more goal scoring.

[@jacobsenter9905]

This team is just one or 2 players away from contending. We should NOT have been a playoff team this year and everyone wrote us off. Thank God we canceled the U2 concert because I think it will be what we look back on as the turning point of this team. We don't need a Connor McDavid to make us a contender. All we need is someone who has a knack for finding space to score.

[@alekslee3978]

Nashville signs reinhart out of Florida and trades 3 1sts to Toronto for a Marner sign and trade, with a first line of forsberg reinhart and Marner, Nashville wins the 2025 Stanley cup and every cup after that until the greatest trio in nhl history wind down their careers and their numbers are all sent to the rafters

[@smellslikeproductions1024]

Reinhart looks like a Nashville player lol

[@tenlosol]

I think the preds are just missing that premier young center and I wouldn't mind seeing them go for zegras. I would at least stay away from marner or not commit to him with some huge contract hell likely be looking for.

[@gordonmacdowell8117]

Nashville has figured out how to build a team from the net and blueline out, and should be able to at least be as good next season, while they wait out all the dead cap they're dragging around.

[@b3rger825]

Nashville drafts and develops bottom 9 forwards due to where we draft. Then we have to supplement our top line with FA or trades, which means we're always paying a premium. This franchise is stuck in the middle, trying to both win and rebuild at the same time, but never doing either very well. I wish we'd just commit to a rebuild and finally start closing the talent gap that we realize every year we get bounced in Rnd 1.

[@ADB358]

Being that Josi, and Forsberg both have term left, a rebuild seems unlikely.

[@Flannman91]

They need to trade Saros for a young top six center and a second pairing young dman, something like that. Kings? Saros and a pick/prospect for Byfield and Clarke?

[@erikhogberg6635]

Granted Kings made some bad trades in recent years but they're never gonna give up on Byfield for that.

[@GizmoBeach]

All it shows is NSH was better than expected, but either ran into the wrong team or they’re just not good enough top-to-bottom to seriously advance (even Montreal a few years ago fluke-style.)

[@Cheyennemae.A]

No as a Preds fan they just weren’t good enough to advance this isn’t a competing team yet

[@noahcoomer]

I like where Nashville is at, but I think we've might have over achieved.

[@thecrankyyankee5114]

Zackary L tore it up in the first round of the AHL playoffs - in 5 games - 5 goals and 4 assists for 9 points.

[@nickholmes5610]

L’Hereaux is a head case, not sure he makes it

[@alekslee3978]

Please give more information

[@niklashalver9695]

The thing is, he is sooo talented. Look at what he is doing right now in the playoffs, it is insane. Hopefully, he does not mess things up in the nhl ...

[@admirals818]

I would say he matured very quickly this season. Yeah, a couple of suspensions. But look at his composure in the first round of the playoffs vs. Texas. Clear MVP of the series.

[@Sharksandwich77]

He’s a Nashville Predator if I’ve ever seen one, hoping he keeps the shenanigans to a tasteful minimum 😉

[@shashkatoothtiger]

Ok let's be honest, trotz's retirement club (O'Reilly, Nyquist, Zucker, McDonagh and Schenn with Josi and Forsberg soon to be inducted) is playing on borrowed time already and that's only going to get worse. So can somebody please tell me what the heck we're going to build with??? Over the next five to ten years who is going to be our top-six up front? Matthew Wood? Ok, maybe. Novak, Evangelista, Tomasino, Kemell, Beauvillier? No! Just no! Glass, Parssinen, Afanasyev? Maybe but odds are they're third-line at best. So who??? And the back end looks even worse.

[@deathgrinderb3284]

the preds couldve won their series easily. but cant play with a lead. blew two games. why did we get rid of duchene soon as he started scoring 40 goals a season?

[@Robert-ki7bz]

I think they hit a short term peak this year.