When the Nashville Predators exited last year Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first Round, it seemed like business as usual for this club. In the club’s twelve year history they have made teh post season six times, and lost in the first round five times. Predators fans now that the second act in the strange groundhog day yearly ritual of the predators is a early playoff exit followed by the failure to keep key talent. That is the case again this year, as yet again key talent has left this team.
Head Coach Barry Trotz returns for his 12th season as Predators head coach. He is the only coach the Predators have ever known, and there is a reason for that. He is very good, the players buy into his no excuses culture and are solid on defense. Trotz thinks his club has come a long way. He feels that the team uses to feel intimidated in the playoffs, but after a gutsy performance against the Chicago Blackhawks he thinks they were unafraid and that says a lot. They simply did not have the firepower to duel with the eventual Stanley Cup Champions.
This team’s breakout candidate should be Center Colin Wilson. With Jason Arnott gone via trade to the New Jersey Devils, he will get his chance to shine. Of course this team will also have to over come the free agent loss of D Dan Hamhuls. D Shea Weber and D Ryan Suter showed the world last year in the Olympics that they are an elite defense pairing, and the Predators will need them to step it up big time in the coming season.
Key Additions- C Matthew Lombardi, LW Sergei Kostitsyn, RW Matt Hallschuk, D Ryan Parent, and C Jamie Lundmark
Key Subtractions- C Jason Arnott, D Dan Hamhuls, G Dan Ellis, C Dustin Boyd, D Nolan Yonkman, LW Triston Grant, and LW Hugh Jessiman
