Even professional athletes can use a word of encouragement now and again so let's celebrate National Day of Encouragement with a few Nashville Predators.
Even professional athletes can use a word of encouragement now and again so let's celebrate National Day of Encouragement with a few Nashville Predators.
September 12th is National Day of Encouragement, a day dedicated to uplifting people and sharing a positive message with those around us. According to nationaldaycalendar.com, there are several ways to celebrate this special day, and in the spirit of hockey optimism — "hocktimism" — we share a word of encouragement with some of the Nashville Predators.
Let someone know you've noticed their progress: Cody Glass
The Nashville Predators' 2022-23 Masterson Trophy nominee Cody Glass has walked a tough road in his early NHL career. The sixth overall draft pick in 2017 for the Vegas Golden Knights, Glass barely had time to celebrate attaining his NHL dream before he dealt with a serious knee injury. His surgery and recovery during COVID kept him away from family and then the young center was surprised by a trade that brought him to the Nashville Predators in July 2021.
Glass played just a handful of games with the Preds in 2021-22 before heading to the AHL for a majority of the season. Glass entered training camp last September with the goal of making the Predators' roster, but over the 2022-23 season he did much more than that. In his 72 games, the 24-year-old scored 14 goals and 35 points. As veterans went down with injury, Glass was a player who stepped up for the Predators at the end of last season. Perhaps the exclamation mark on his progression and perseverance came in the April 10 game in which he scored a crucial shootout goal to keep the Predators in the postseason conversation before Nashville eliminated the Calgary Flames just a few shots later.
Nashville has seen the Glass's progress, appreciates the challenges he has overcome, and is looking forward to seeing what he can do this season.
Give a high five for a job well done: Juuse Saros
A high five feels less than adequate for the job Juuse Saros has done since becoming the Predators' starting goaltender. Last season Saros carried a battered and basically unrecognizable roster to the brink of the postseason, finishing the year with a .919 save percentage despite facing the most shots and playing the most minutes of any goaltender in the NHL. The reliability of Saros in net is something the Nashville Predators will be counting on as they undertake their roster reset.
Also a bit inadequate? Saros's $5 million AAV through 2025. There is perhaps no other goaltender in the league who gives his team more bang for their buck than Saros. Although this also makes him the Predators most valuable trade chip, the franchise has come to rely on Saros's ability to steal games and that will be important as young players like Luke Evangelista, Phil Tomasino, and Juuso Pärssinen grow into offensive roles over the next few seasons.
Notice when someone is getting close to a hard earned goal and encourage them to keep going: Jack Matier
Jack Matier is coming off of a standout season in the OHL with the Ottawa 67's. In his 58 regular season games, the six-foot-four blue liner scored 13 goals and 49 points and led all 67's defensemen in points, goals, and assists. In 11 postseason games, Matier added three goals and six points.
At twenty years old, the Salt Ste. Marie, ON native is ready for a new chapter in his hockey career. Matier will be vying for a spot with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2023-24 and is one step closer to playing in Nashville — a dream that took root when Matier was drafted #124 overall in 2021 by the Predators. This will be an opportune time for Matier to make an impression as the Admirals have a handful of defensemen who will be UFAs or RFAs at the end of this season.
Provide reassurance or inspiration to the people around you: Kiefer Sherwood
It was a wild 2022-23 season for 28-year-old Kiefer Sherwood. The Columbus, Ohio native scored Nashville's first and last goals of the season, but in between was a roller coaster of highs and lows. Sherwood impressed in training camp and earned a roster spot but ended up back in Milwaukee in November after just five regular season games with the Predators.
Despite any disappointment, Sherwood got to work with the Admirals and scored 22 goals and 38 points in his 42 games before being recalled to Nashville at the end of February as injuries began piling up for the Predators. In the last two games of the NHL season, Sherwood scored three goals and then headed back to Milwaukee to play 14 postseason games in which he scored four goals and 11 points. There will be a lot of competition when it comes to the forwards in training camp this season, but Sherwood's speed and puck pursuit are valuable skills on a team looking to be more offensive.
If Sherwood is looking for inspiration, he should look no further than his new head coach Andrew Brunette. Brunette was a 1993 seventh round pick who played in the ECHL, AHL, and NHL. Although not a highly ranked prospect, Brunette eventually played over 1100 NHL games. Brunette may not have been a flashy player, but his hard work and knowledge paid off on the ice, in the front office, and behind the bench, and the new head coach can appreciate how far hard work can take a player in this league.
Send a card or text to a friend who may be struggling: Filip Forsberg
-Hey Fil - JW how you are. The end of last season was rough with your injury. It had to be frustrating to not quite be ready to get back on the ice in April and watch while the team battled for a chance at the postseason. FWIW you've seen and learned a lot in your nine seasons since earning a full time roster spot, and that knowledge is going to be invaluable for this team RN.
-NGL it won't be the same without your offensive buddies Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen. OTOH you may really like playing with Ryan O'Reilly or helping a young center like Cody Glass take the next step in his NHL career. You could help a young player elevate their game playing on a line together IYKWIM. Fans know you can carry the offense after watching you battle back and forth with Dutchy in 2021-22 for that single season goal record. Take care of yourself in these last few weeks before training camp. TTYL.
Forsberg is going to be another player like Saros who is key to the Predators' reset success in the next few seasons. Signing an 8-year, $68 million contract in July 2022 showed the Swedish forward is committed to being with the franchise long term. Barry Trotz is counting on Forsberg as well, citing him as the elite offensive player the Predators can "reset" around. If Forsberg can stay healthy and find chemistry with new line mates, he may be able to chase that career high 43 goals and 84 points he recorded in 2021-22 especially if Andrew Brunette jump starts the power play where Forsberg could produce.
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