The NHL may be getting younger and faster, but that doesn't mean older teams can't be dominant and successful. The Nashville Predators had a good deal of younger players on the roster last season, but also a strong cast of veterans. After free agency and the very successful offseason put together by general manager Barry Trotz, the Predators have become the third-oldest team in the NHL based on projected 20-man rosters. Based on projections, Nashville's average age should be 29.8, with only the Pittsburgh Penguins (30.9) and Edmonton Oilers (30.5) being older. Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz speaks to the media following a busy first day of free agency on July 1, 2024. Trotz talked about bringing in serial winners and over the past two offseasons has added four past Stanley Cup winners in Ryan O'Reilly, Luke Schenn, Steven Stamkos, and Jonathan Marchessault. On top of that, Brady Skjei is no stranger to playoff experience and experience in the league in general. Stamkos, 34, Marchessault, 33, and Skjei, 30, definitely hikes up the average age of the Predators, but in no way is this a bad thing. Young players must prove that they are deserving of spots in the NHL, not be given them. Other teams have made this mistake and when the young players can't handle the workload or role, they have to be pulled back without any secure plan in place. Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos speaks to the media at his first in-person availability since signing a four-year, $32 million contract in free agency. Young players like Philip Tomasino, Juuso Parssinen, Spencer Stastney, and Marc Del Gaizo are all ready for the next step and all spent time in the NHL last season, but it's not going to be easy for any of them to play every day. As the Predators are looking to win and finally hoist the first Stanley Cup in franchise history, the best players are going to play every night. That could very well be the more experienced veterans on the team. As the Predators have made the playoffs in 15 of 19 seasons since the salary cap was introduced and haven't won, playoff experience and an older team that knows how to get the job done is what is going to push Nashville all the way. RECENT PREDATORS NEWS Steven Stamkos Makes First Visit to Nashville Since Signing with Predators: 'The Excitement is Real Now' [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/steven-stamkos-makes-first-visit-to-nashville-since-signing-with-predators-the-excitement-is-real-now] Podcast: Could the Predators Still Trade for Patrik Laine? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/podcasts/podcast-could-the-predators-still-trade-for-patrik-laine] After 2 Decades in Purgatory, Nashville Predators Are Built to Break Through [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/after-2-decades-in-purgatory-nashville-predators-are-built-to-break-through] 2024 NHL Draft Spotlight, Brought to You by Upper Deck: Yegor Surin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/2024-nhl-draft-spotlight-brought-to-you-by-upper-deck-yegor-surin]
