The Nashville Predators record after the first week of the regular season may not surprise many, but the way they've played sure has.
After a franchise changing offseason, the Nashville Predators took the ice this week to kick off a new chapter. While the team is heading in a new direction, the preseason projection doesn't have high expectations for the Predators' first year under GM Barry Trotz and head coach Andrew Brunette.
Preseason projections don't count towards points and playoffs, and on Tuesday the Predators began playing the games that do. Nashville finished the week 1-2 after games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Seattle Kraken, and Boston Bruins, but the record may not tell the full story of how a different looking Predators team has performed in their first week of the season.
Oct 14, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons (10) shoots the puck for a goal past Boston Bruins defenseman Derek Forbort (28) and center Jakub Lauko (94) during the first period at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY SportsThere were important takeaways from Nashville's first week of the regular season.
Apr 10, 2023; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Nashville Predators center Juuso Parssinen (75) skates against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY SportsThe start of the regular season means settling into those game day routines. Several of the Predators talked about what they do to be ready for puck drop.
The Predators must take the lessons they are learning in the first week of the season and apply them quickly as they face the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and San Jose Sharks in the upcoming week.