The Nashville Predators were an afterthought to make the playoffs or do much damage last season after retooling and parting ways with top two centers in Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen. This didn't stop the group that was there and new head coach Andrew Brunette from making their mark and emerging as a playoff team after going on a very impressive second half run. While the Predators weren't on anyone's radar last season, Barry Trotz and company have made the team one of the hottest topics of conversation from this offseason. Nashville re-signed Juuse Saros and Alexandre Carrier while adding Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei as big names in free agency. Despite the major moves and the Predators bringing in multiple veterans who have won Stanley Cups, the oddsmakers are still overlooking them. According to Moneypuck's season predictions [https://moneypuck.com/predictions.htm], Nashville has the 13th best odds of making the playoffs in 2024-25 with a 66.6% chance. Those odds are cut by more than half for the team to get out of the first round of playoffs, down to 31.5%. This is due to the high likelihood that the Predators will match up against either the Dallas Stars or the Colorado Avalanche in the first round as both are projected to finish higher than the Predators and both to have home ice advantage in the first round. Nashville is projected to finish the season with 97.4 points, 12th best in the league. Since of course no team can have half points, that would be 97. The Predators ended 2023-24 with 99 points and a record of 47-30-5. So this is where the problem comes to the forefront. Yes, the Predators got points in 18 consecutive games, but that streak didn't start until the 55th game of the season. The Predators started the season with a 5-10-0 record and in the first 54 games of the season, had a record of 27-25-2. That points percentage isn't good enough to make the playoffs in any season. But around the time when the 18-game point streak happened, the team finally settled into the new system and were able to score and defend. The trade deadline acquisitions of Jason Zucker and Anthony Beauvillier weren't much and didn't much help the team's chances of making the playoffs. But when looking at the additions of Stamkos, Marchessault, and Skjei, they are all game-changers. Stamkos scored 40 goals and recorded 81 points in 79 games last season. The former captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning has played over 1000 career games and is over a point-per-game in his career, not to mention a two-time Stanley Cup champion. Forward Jonathan Marchessault speaks to the media on day one of Nashville Predators training camp at Ford Ice Center Bellevue. Marchessault is coming off a career-high 42 goals in 82 games and he finished last season with 69 points. He too is a former Stanley Cup champion, but the former Vegas Golden Knight won the Conn Smythe in doing so. Skjei is in his prime and coming off a career-high 47 points in 80 games for the Carolina Hurricanes, a notoriously more defensive team. Skjei scored 13 goals last season and 18 goals in 2022-23. He plays in every situation and is strong offensively and defensively. If anything, with these additions and the team Trotz has formed in Nashville, the Predators are underrated and overlooked this season. The odds the Predators win the Stanley Cup is 3.5%. They also have better odds of making it to the second round of the playoffs than three divisional opponents have at making the playoffs (St. Louis Blues, Utah HC, and Chicago Blackhawks). Odds are just a general starting point. Anything can happen and expect the Predators to really burst through the ceiling this season. RECENT PREDATORS NEWS Podcast: Jonathan Marchessault's Predators Preseason Debut [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/podcasts/podcast-jonathan-marchessaults-predators-preseason-debut] Nashville Predators Reduce Roster to 25 Following Preseason Win vs. Carolina [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-reduce-roster-to-25-following-preseason-win-vs-carolina] Philip Tomasino Could Surprise & Earn 3rd Line Role on Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/philip-tomasino-could-surprise-earn-3rd-line-role-on-predators] Nashville Predators Have the Perfect Mix of Talent This Season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-have-the-perfect-mix-of-talent-this-season]
