Predators' Sissons Responds to Wake-Up Call

Sissons isn't having a great start to the season and Nashville had to make changes which lit a fire under the veteran.

The Nashville Predators didn't start the season off well. That much has been clear. But while some players are performing fairly well, others are struggling. Colton Sissons is the player I'm pointing out here and the team has already taken notice.

Not all of the off-season needs were able to be addressed. The second line center position remained unchecked, but the wingers on the second line were upgraded to Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessualt.

Sissons played second line center last season for the Predators. That's where he started out this season and was expected to hold down until Nashville could find a fix. While he's not necessarily counted on to produce a ton of offense, he still has to contribute some because of where he was playing in the lineup.

Tommy Novak and Sissons were swapped back and forth while the Predators tried to find something that worked amidst a slow start. After 10 games, a big decision was made to move Sissons all the way down the lineup to center the fourth line.

Sissons had recorded no points through the first 10 games of the season and the Predators had a losing record. Not only was the team struggling to score, the veteran's line wasn't doing very well either. That isn't something that can continue to happen with stars like Stamkos and Marchessault.

Once being put on the fourth line, Sissons recorded his first point of the season (a goal) and it didn't even take two periods. In his place, Juuso Parssinen got his opportunity to see what he can do higher in the lineup between a couple of very good players.

I don't expect Sissons to be on the fourth line for a lengthy period of time. This was clearly a wake-up call for him and to see what other combinations might work to get the group going as a whole. It is a team game and if everyone isn't going, it's not as easy to string together wins and get where the Predators need to be this season.

All this shuffling at center also emphasizes what Nashville really needs to go out and find on the trade market later this season if they are able to get back in the playoff hunt.

Sissons should figure it out and the team needs him to. He's a strong two-way presence and is still on a good contract for this year and next. But if the changes that have been made work out in the short-term, the team is going to stick with it.

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