Nashville Predators 2014-15 Season Preview

Apr 8, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman

(6) skates against the Dallas Stars during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Predators 3-2 in the overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

 2013-14 RECAP

The Nashville Predators,depsite missing their #1 goalie for a majority of the season as Pekka Rinne recovered from complications due to hip sugery, came down to the last week of the season before being beat out for the final playoff spot.  They ended up missing by just 3 points in the ultra-tough Western Conference.

Mar 22, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing James Neal (18) skates after the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

CHANGES

IN – James Neal, Olli Jokinen, Mike Ribeiro, Derek Roy, Anton Volchenkov

OUT- Patric Hornqvist, Nick Spaling Michael Del Zotto, Patrick Eaves

The Predators were desperately thin up the middle in the past, with Mike Fisher and not much else.  They brought in a finisher on the wing at the draft in trading for Neal, but the questions about who would set him up were addressed in free agency.  Not to say that any of Ribeiro, Roy or Jokinen will be an all-star, but they are veteran centres who will give the Predators a lot of options when putting their lineup together.

Mar 23, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher (12) looks for the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

3 BIG QUESTIONS

1. Is this Fisher’s swan song? – As Senators fans know, Mike Fisher is a bit of a different cat in that he doesn’t need to play the game to be happy.  Even during last season there was speculation that once his current contract ends after this season that he could just retire, that will be ramped up now that his wife, Carrie Underwood, is expecting their first child.  Obviously money won’t be an issue in that family and Fisher might just be happy to retire at 35 and get on with the next phase of his life.

 2. Can Pekka Rinne get back to form? – While Carter Hutton did an adequate job in his absence, the Preds need Rinne to be at or near the top of his game for the Preds to make up the little bit of ground on the opposition and get back to the playoffs.

3. Can Laviolette do what Trotz couldn’t? – It is the dawn of a new era in Nashville, the first time in franchise history someone other than Barry Trotz is behind the bench.  Peter Laviolette takes over, and will try to guide the Preds through the treacherous waters of the Western Conference.