Nashville Predators: 2021-22 season outlook
The 2020-21 offseason was one that Predators fans have been waiting and dreading for a long time now. It was long overdue, but the team needed a change and with that, the team made some moves. Letting some guys walk in free agency and trades and one retiring, but every team eventually hits this bump and the road and have to make tough decisions and it finally happened for the Predators.
Pekka Rinne
After 15 seasons with the team, Pekka Rinne finally decided to hang the skates up. The former 8th round pick became the starter in the 2008-09 season and went on to have a amazing career. The former Vezina Trophy winner holds many records with the organization and is the best player in Nashville Predators history. Pekka will forever be a Predators legend. With him leaving, that means it is now Juuse Saros team now. The 26 year-old took over the starting role this past season and is ready to make the big leap without Rinne being there with him.
Ryan Ellis
Another hard departure for fans to handle was trading alternate captain Ryan Ellis to the Philadelphia Flyers in a 3-team trade. For ten seasons, the defenseman took the team to new heights, but unfortunately couldn’t stay healthy and a trade was made.
Nashville receives: Philippe Myers and Cody Glass
Philadelphia receives: Ryan Ellis
Vegas receives: Nolan Patrick
The trade helps everyone. Nashville wanted more youth and got that with two young players. Philadelphia wanted more experience on the blue line and got that with Ellis. Vegas wanted to moved Glass, but still get youth and did with Patrick.
Other notable players that the team let go because of either free-agency or expansion are
Calle Jarnkrok- Expansion Draft
Erik Haula- Free Agency
Viktor Arvidsson- Trade
Erik Gudbranson- Free Agency
Luca Sbisa- Free Agency
Jarred Tinordi-Waivers
With a lot of guys leaving, there will also be some new faces. Outside of Glass and Myers, the lineup will also have goaltender David Rittich and forward Philip Tomasino. Out of the four new faces, all eyes are going to be on Tomasino.
Philip Tomasino
A 1st round pick in 2019, has made the opening night roster heading into this season. He will be one of the youngest players to debut for the team in their history and that’s very refreshing for fans to hear. Last season in the AHL, Tomasino put up 32 points in 29 games and looks to bring that explosion of youth to the NHL level. It wouldn’t surprise me if he makes a run for the Calder Trophy for best rookie in the NHL.
I don’t think the Predators have the firepower to make the playoffs, but I think they are a fringe playoff team. The central is tough division with teams like the Avalanche, Jets, and the Blues. The Blackhawks and Wild are on the same level as the Predators being fringe playoff teams. The team needs at least 90 points to even think about getting in and that will be a tough task in a tough division, but hey, anything is possible.
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