The Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators]and Tampa Bay Lightning were in very different places this past season. The Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning] made it into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the second seed in the Atlantic Division and were a dark horse to win the whole thing. They'd end up being bounced by the eventual cup champion Florida Panthers in the first round. The Predators didn't come close to the playoffs, finishing second to last in the Central Divison and posting one of their worst records in the last decade. However, that is not how newly acquired defenseman Nick Perbix [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-sign-lightning-defenseman-nick-perbix-to-2-year-deal], who played for the Lightning last season, saw it. "They [Nashville] didn't have the kind of year they wanted last year, but I know, looking at this roster and playing against them, it's definitely not how I think this year will go," he said. "It's definitely an appealing team." Perbix signed a two-year, $5.50 million contract with a $2.75 million annual hit on July 1 as a free agent. General manager Barry Trotz said [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/fixing-defense-was-focus-for-trotz-nashville-predators-in-free-agency]that the Predators wanted to "fix" their defense in free agency, and adding Perbix was a big part of that. "You always hear that defense wins championships in sports...and being called a defenseman that's the number one priority," Perbix said. "I just pride myself in keeping the puck out of the net. Everyone likes to be up in the offense, but my thing is being a puck moving defenseman." In 74 games last season, Perbix scored 19 points in 74 games, logging 20 minutes and a plus/minus of eight. His plus/minus was higher than every player on the Predators roster last season by five points. When talking about the Predators struggles last season, Perbix said that it was a year where everything went wrong and believes that Nashville still has a really good team. In sports, there are little bounces here and there, injuries, this and that, and I think it was just one of those years for them that everything that could go wrong went wrong," Perbix said. "You're bound to get some bounces here and there, and the experience of the roster both playing here and on other teams. It's just about going on the right trajectory." Perbix is also reunited with one of his former teammates, Steven Stamkos. The two crossed paths in Tampa during Perbix's first two seasons in 2022-23 and 2023-24. "He [Stamkos] was my first captain as a pro and showed me what it was like to be a pro," Perbix said. "In college, you kind of get your hand held a lot. Going through school, going through, just itineraries, where being a pro, I found out that it's just a lot more open." "It's kind of up to you to determine what you do on a day-to-day basis. He [Stamkos] was definitely one of those guys who helped a lot." Perbix is predicted to skate in the Predators' third pair with Nicolas Hague [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-acquire-golden-knights-defenseman-nicolas-hague-in-trade-lauzon-sissons-dealt-to-vegas], who Nashville acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights]. Hague is expected to speak to media on Thursday.
