The Predators players still believe that their season can be salvaged.
The Predators players still believe that their season can be salvaged.
The Nashville Predators are shockingly bad this season after such high expectations. These expectations were very much warranted given what the team did with seemingly a lot less in 2023-24 along with having one of the biggest off-seasons in NHL history.
The Predators are 7-14-6 and 31st in the NHL, but there's still belief from players in the room that they can get things turned around. Elliotte Freidman said that the players have talked confidently that there's plenty of season remaining, and they are right.
While Nashville dug themselves this hole being seven games under .500 through 33% of the season, they can surely turn the outcome of their season around with the final 66% like what happened last season from the massive point streak and overall great play.
The group recognizes that the penalty kill has been very good, Saros is .010 above the league average in save percentage, and the record is still as bad as it is due to complete lack of scoring.
According to the insider, to add more scoring, the Predators are allowing their defensemen to pinch in the offensive zone. This will, at the very least, help add more offense and zone time rather than being more focused on getting back and not holding the zone to defend.
The Predators have only been able to score more than two goals in a game in 33% of their games (9/27) and have three former 40-goal scorers in their top-6. The potential and scoring ability is there, but recent injuries haven't made things any easier.
As many minor moves that have been made haven't helped, either something major or something clicking with the players is the only way this ship is getting turned around this season.
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