The year of 2024 was full of surprises, good and bad, for the Nashville Predators. They started the year as a surprise playoff team punching well above their weight and ended it as one of the worst teams in the NHL, even after some big-ticket free agent signings. Despite the recent shortcomings, fans who voted in a recent poll conducted by hockey analytics Jfresh Hockey recognized a quartet of Predators forwards for their efforts in the calendar year. Star forwards Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Ryan O'Reilly all cracked the top 100 of the fan vote, though it is worth noting that each player fell from their 2023 rankings. Forsberg, the third-longest Predators player on the roster, was the highest-ranking Predators forward [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/filip-forsberg-within-striking-distance-of-7-career-highs] on the list, coming in at 27th. The 30-year-old scored a career-high 48 goals, 46 assists, and 94 points last season and was rewarded for his efforts by... dropping five spots in the poll from 22nd a year ago. That spot is now occupied by New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier, who rose 13 spots from 35th. To find the next Predators forward, we'll have to go all the way to the back half of the rankings, where Steven Stamkos finds himself sitting as the 68th-best forward in the NHL. The longtime Tampa Bay Lightning superstar and future Hockey Hall of Famer actually suffered the biggest drop of the top 100, tumbling a staggering 37 spots from 31st to 68th. Indeed, the two-time Stanley Cup champion is not the player he used to be, even after scoring 40 goals for the seventh time in his NHL career just a year ago. To start his Predators career, Stamkos has just 12 goals, 13 assists, and 25 points in 40 games. Making matters worse, only five of Stamkos' goals have been scored without the help of a power play this season. Rounding out the Predators' representatives are Jonathan Marchessault, 86th, and Ryan O'Reilly, 87th. Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discuss Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz's comments about kicking off a "rebuild plan." Marchessault, like Forsberg, is actually coming off a career year [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/predators-jonathan-marchessault-reaches-500-points], notching a personal-best 42 goals with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. But, just like his Predators teammates who made this ranking, Marchessault is on the wrong side of 30. The 34-year-old dropped 34 spots from his 52nd-ranked finish last year, putting him right behind Stamkos as one of the biggest fallers in this year's vote. O'Reilly is the third-biggest faller [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/game-day/oreilly-nets-hat-trick-as-predators-defeat-flames-4-1] in the vote, ironically dropping 26 spots from the 61st position he held this time last year. He and Marchessault notably slot in behind Jonathan Huberdeau (85th) and Claude Giroux (83rd), players of similar age and production. And if the start of this season has indicated anything, we can expect more drops for these Predators standouts in 2025, too. Visit The Hockey News Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/] team site to stay updated on the latest Predators news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news], game day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/game-day] coverage, player features [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/players], podcasts [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/podcasts], and more.
