Four Questions After the Predators' 1-4 Road Trip

The Nashville Predators' five game road trip left fans with as many questions about this team as answers.

The Nashville Predators wrapped up their five game western road trip with a record of 1-4 after last night's loss to the Winnipeg Jets.  After a start that saw the Predators competitive against top teams in the league, this 1-4 road trip has many asking if the Predators just played a bad stretch of hockey or if this might be a sign that this new look Predators roster isn't as good as fans had hoped.

There no debate that the outcome of this road trip was disappointing. The disappointment isn't just about not collecting valuable points, it is also about the games themselves. Coming home 1-4 could have felt different if the performances were mostly respectable against better teams. 

Is Nashville a worse team than we thought or was this just a bad stretch of hockey? What is the takeaway for the team and for fans after this road trip?

It was challenging to set realistic expectations before the season started knowing new GM Barry Trotz made major roster moves and hired a new head coach implementing new systems. After respectable games early against teams like Tampa Bay, Boston, Seattle, and the Rangers, expectations rose. Even though Nashville didn't come away with wins against the Lightning and Bruins, it was easy to feel good about five of the six periods of hockey fans saw in those two losses. 

While the Predators played fairly well in October against good teams, those good teams were also working out the kinks in their games as well. After losing 4-1 at home against the Predators, the New York Rangers rattled off six wins in a row and wins in eight of their next nine games. After the Predators held Boston to just three goals and were competitive throughout  whole game, the Bruins went on a 9-2 win streak and scored 38 goals in their next eleven games. 

The Predators played teams that were just warming up themselves, so perhaps early performances by this new Nashville roster set a benchmark that isn't the sustainable norm during a reset.

Yes...and maybe no. The Predators lost to a very hot Vancouver Canucks team that could have a Hart contender in Elias Pettersson, a Vezina contender in Thatcher Demko, and Quinn Hughes who is playing like he wants to be in the Norris discussion.

The win over the Edmonton Oilers is looking less impressive this morning after the struggling Stanley Cup favorites lost their fourth game in a row last night to the San Jose Sharks. The Calgary game was Nashville's worst performance so far, and Nashville struggled against the Jets especially in the second period.  

This was a road trip with too many missed opportunities in too many games. It seemed the longer the trip went on, the further the Predators got from that early look hockey that was fast and furious offensively. A better game in Winnipeg could have left a more positive impression even with a loss, but the performance overall by the Predators wasn't enough to salvage much good will.

Yes. The Predators have good players and good pieces. Thirteen games into a roster reset is far too early to chalk up a 1-4 trip to a poorly constructed roster. Andrew Brunette is still getting to know his players and outside of the Evangelista, Novak, Sherwood line, there aren't any certain forward combinations yet. There is a lot of "new" to work through from the roster to the head coach to the system.

You don't develop a Juuso Pärssinen or Liam Foudy or build chemistry between new teammates in thirteen games. Even teams like Boston and Seattle need a good twenty games to get a fuller picture of who they are and what they need to do with the remainder of the season. 

There is not a lack of talent in Nashville. So far, there's been a lack of time and perhaps understanding on the part of a hungry fan base about what a roster reset really looks — and feels — like and for how long.

The Predators return home and will play at Bridgestone Arena for their next eight of nine games. A lot can happen over the course of this home stand as players like Ryan McDonagh and Cody Glass return to the lineup sooner rather than later. Luke Schenn is still a few weeks out, but Preds fans could finally get a longer look at what he brings to the blue line once he is healthy. Some tough decisions will have to be made about the roster when Glass and Schenn come off IR. 

Andrew Brunette and the coaching staff will continue to try to nail down line combinations that could be long term pieces and work on cleaning up execution and addressing a struggling power play. Six of Nashville's next nine games are against Central Division rivals, so there is a lot to do in a short period of time. Nashville needs to separate the wheat from the chaff after these past five games on the road as they move forward in what is clearly a long process towards contendership.