The Nashville Predators got a whole lot better in free agency and added some big names that will really push the envelope offensively. That being said, there is now some real competition for the team lead in goals and points in 2024-25, titles both held by Filip Forsberg. WHO WILL CHALLENGE FORSBERG FOR GOALS? Forsberg set the franchise record with 48 goals last season for the Predators, marking the second time in the past three seasons that he has topped the 40-goal plateau. He scored 22 more goals than the next closest player on the team, Ryan O'Reilly. With more skilled offensive players surrounding him in the top-6 and on the power play, that potential to score even more goals is there. Forsberg should once again play with O'Reilly and Gustav Nyquist at 5-on-5 and that line did very well for the Predators last season. This time around with the new additions of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault playing on the second line, opponents will have to spread out the matchups so Forsberg's line could have it easier some nights. Forsberg is only 29 and right in the prime of his career. The reigning goal leader in Nashville has some very stiff competition though. Both Stamkos and Marchessault hit the 40-goal mark last season. And as I mentioned, Forsberg has only done so twice in his career. Stamkos is a seven-time 40-goal scorer, has reached 50 goals twice, and is one of only a few active 60-goal scorers in the NHL. He has also hit 40 goals in two of the past three seasons. Stamkos was at the peak of his goal-scoring at the beginning of his career, but with so many injuries and missed games along the way, it's tough to say just how many more 40-goal seasons he would've put together. Despite his ability to get more assists now, he has no problem scoring goals. Nashville will need him to score like he can, though he is 34 years old. Marchessault is the third contender for the 2024-25 leader in goals for the Predators. He did put up a career-high 42 goals last season, but is a three-time 30-goal scorer and has scored at least 22 goals in seven of the past eight seasons. The only time he didn't reach 20 goals was in the 2020-21 shortened season. It is looking like it will be a very prolific power play for the Predators, so Marchessault should have ample scoring chances and score 8+ goals with a man advantage like he has done in each of the past two seasons. He should also have Stamkos and his passing ability on his line at 5-on-5 all season too. Forward Jonathan Marchessault speaks to the media after signing a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Nashville Predators in free agency. Forsberg is the youngest, the most comfortable in Nashville, and it's his scoring record to hold. I think he finishes the 2024-25 season as the team leader in goals and may even hit 50 goals for the first time in his career. It looks like Stamkos and Marchessault are going to be neck-and-neck all season long. With the strong likelihood of Stamkos wanting to feed a true goal-scorer in Marchessault the puck, but also able to score himself, it should be back and forth for second on the team in goals all season long. ANOTHER NAME IN THE MIX FOR NASHVILLE'S TEAM-LEAD IN POINTS Forsberg may have also led the team in points last season with 94, but prior to that, Roman Josi has either finished with the most points on the team or just topped Forsberg every season since 2017-18 when Forsberg was last the team leader in points. The title for most points on the team may be held by Forsberg from last season, but I see it as Josi's to lose as he also holds the franchise record in points in a season with 96. Between those two, I only see Stamkos as the other challenger for the most points on the Predators in 2024-25. Stamkos has reached 90 points in five of his 16 seasons, albeit not all of them have been full seasons. He has finished 12 seasons with at least a point-per-game and recorded 106, 84, and 81 points in the past three seasons. Stamkos is the only one on the team with a 100-point season as well. I do think age is one the side of Forsberg though and why he will also finish with the most points on the Predators. The reason why i left off Marchessault and Nyquist is simple. Marchessault's career-high of 75 points came seven years ago in the Vegas Golden Knights' first season. This wasn't necessarily an anomaly, but scoring 69 points last season shows that is around the peak any team will get from him, especially at 34 years old. Nyquist also put up a career-best 75 points last season, topping his previous high by 15 points. He is also a good player, but I can see his numbers dropping without the time on the top power-play unit. It is going to be a very fun year to watch the Predators and something special could be brewing in Nashville after new additions and higher expectations. RECENT PREDATORS NEWS Where Do the Nashville Predators' New Additions Fit in the Lineup? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/where-do-the-nashville-predators-new-additions-fit-in-the-lineup] Barry Trotz, Predators Not Done Making Moves This Offseason [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/barry-trotz-predators-not-done-making-moves-this-offseason] Despite Incredible Offseason, Nashville Predators Still Hindered by Cap Hits of 4 Former Players [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/despite-incredible-offseason-nashville-predators-still-hindered-by-cap-hits-of-4-former-players] Podcast: Gibson Shines, Surin Charms at Predators Development Camp [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/podcasts/podcast-gibson-shines-surin-charms-at-predators-development-camp]
