Tommy Novak has appeared in the NHL for the Nashville Predators each of the past three seasons. Every year he plays at least 20 more games than the previous season. This has allowed for improvement in the highest league in the world, but after a great 2022-23 season, he did take a step back offensively last season. Novak is a middle-six center with the potential to play on the second line or fit in comfortably on the third line. The second line center role is realistically between him and Colton Sissons, but I wouldn't doubt that Steven Stamkos gets some looks down the middle as someone more experienced and can handle that role handedly in the top-6. Sissons got more playing time than Novak last season both at 5-on-5, the power play, and penalty kill. This was an interesting choice considering Novak scored more goals and recorded more points. The Predators should still be hopeful of Novak's potential of playing on the second line full time moving forward while Sissons can be the team's third line center in 2024-25. That being said, Novak has the ability to jump up in goals and points this season. Not only will he have another chance to play a full season, he could be playing in the middle of Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. If there was ever an opportunity to seize, it would be this one for the 27-year-old. Nashville Predators forward Tommy Novak speaks to the media following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. Stamkos is coming off a 40-goal campaign with the Tampa Bay Lightning in which he also finished with over a point-per-game. Marchessault just set a career high in goals with 42 last season with the Vegas Golden Knights. Through Novak's first 149 games in the NHL, he has a lot more assists than goals. The expectation if he plays regular minutes with these two new star free agent signings is that he will have a huge jump in offense, making his contract of $3.5 million AAV look very good for Nashville. In those 149 career games, Novak has 36 goals and 59 assists for 95 points. He has recorded consecutive 17+ goal, 43+ point seasons, but only played 71 games last season and 51 games the season prior. I have a feeling that there won't necessarily be three 40-goal scorers on the Predators next season with one of Stamkos or Marchessault not reaching because there may be too many cooks in the kitchen, but I could easily be wrong and Nashville finish as one of the very best offensive teams in the league. Considering Stamkos is also a strong playmaker, this could improve the chemistry of this possible line as well. Novak isn't expected to get anything more than power-play time on the second unit where he was still effective last season with six goals and 12 points, but will be expected to smash his career high of 18 goals and 45 points next season if he's in the top-6. With all of the other talent in the top-6, Novak's contributions next season would be a nice complement and set the stage for next offseason. RECENT PREDATORS NEWS Nashville Predators and Spencer Stastney Exchange Arbitration Numbers Ahead of Hearing [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-and-spencer-stastney-exchange-arbitration-numbers-ahead-of-hearing] Grading the Organizational Depth Additions of the Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/grading-the-organizational-depth-additions-of-the-nashville-predators] Podcast: Predators Stanley Cup Hype, Power Play & Line Combinations [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/podcasts/podcast-predators-stanley-cup-hype-power-play-line-combinations] Predators Sign Adam Wilsby to One-Year, Two-Way Contract [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/predators-sign-adam-wilsby-to-one-year-two-way-contract]
