Predators
A preview of the 2025-26 NHL season for the Nashville Predators, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Nic Hague, Erik Haula, Nick Perbix
Key Departures: Jeremy Lauzon, Colton Sissons, Gustav Nyquist
Overview
The Predators won the 2024-25 offseason with the signings of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei, causing many to believe Nashville would make a deep playoff run. Instead, the Preds lost their first five games and 22 of their first 29 games. Nashville finished with 68 points, well off their projected number of 98.5, and finished 30th overall. Their 68 points was their lowest output since putting up 69 points in 2001-02.
Offense
Nashville was 10th in scoring in 2023-24, but they plummeted to 31st in offense last season, scoring 54 fewer goals, the largest scoring drop-off among all 32 teams. The Preds also finished dead last in 5-on-5 scoring, but did have the 18th-best power play. Nashville’s 48 games Under the total were tied with Anaheim for a league-high. The Preds were blanked a league-high 10 times last season.
The biggest challenge that the Predators have in generating offense is that they are weak at the center position. Ryan O’Reilly will be 34 when the season starts and will celebrate his 35th birthday in February. Stamkos, who is best suited to play on the wing but could see time down the middle, will be 35 when the season starts and he turns 36 in February. The lack of center depth helps to explain the decrease in productivity for Filip Forsberg, who led Nashville in goals with (31), points (76), assists (45), and shots on goal (281). His 31 goals were 17 fewer than the 48 he scored in 2023-24 and his 76 points were 18 fewer than the season prior.
Fedor Svechkov will be given first crack as the team’s second-line center. Last season, he had 8 goals and 17 points in 52 games. It’s a lot to ask from the 22-year Russian in just his second NHL season.
Defense
Nashville’s 274 goals against and 191 surrendered at 5-on-5 were both fifth-worst in the league. Thirty-six of the Preds’ 52 losses last season were by at least two goals and 28 times they lost by three goals or more, a league worst. Those numbers made shoring up the defense a top priority for GM Barry Trotz in the summer. Trotz acquired Nic Hague from Vegas and went out and signed Nick Perbix, a free agent defenseman who played the past few seasons in Tampa. A bounce back season from Skjei, who signed for big money two summers ago, would also go a long way in improving the defense.
The key to success for Nashville on the back end is the return to health for Roman Josi, who missed the final 29 games due to injury. Forsberg told the 32 Thoughts Podcast in late August that he sees no reason why the Preds captain won’t be ready to go when the season starts.
Goaltending
It was only three years ago that Juuse Saros was considered one of the 10 best goalies in the NHL but since then his save percentage has been in a freefall, going from .919 to .906, and then last season a career-worst .896. Even with the declining numbers, the Preds locked Saros up to an 8-year deal, and just under $8 million a year that kicks in this season.
In committing to the veteran netminder, Nashville traded former first-round pick Yaroslav Askarov to the Sharks last season in a trade they hope won’t come back to haunt them. The saying goes, “goaltending is 70% of the team’s successes and 100% of the team’s failures”.
Player to Watch
Nashville is an aging roster filled with a bunch of 30-something players so they are hopeful that Matthew Wood, the 15th overall pick in 2023, can make an impact this season. He had 17 goals and 39 points in 39 games playing for the University of Minnesota last season, but managed just one assist in six NHL games after his college season was completed.
Outlook
Sportsbooks are viewing last season in Nashville as a one-off. The Predators’ projected point total sits at 86.5, a 19-point increase from last season. I have zero interest in playing the total. I jumped on Nashville to miss the playoffs (-250). It is one of my favorite plays on board. No way this team makes the playoffs.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 86.5
To Make the Playoffs: +190
To Miss the Playoffs: -250
To Win the Central Division: +3000
To Win the Western Conference: +3000
To Win the Stanley Cup: +7000
2024-25 Recap
Record: 30-44-8, 68 points (7th Central Division, 30th Overall)
Over/Under: 33-48-1
Home Favorite: 13-12 // Home Dog: 7-8
Road Favorite: 6-9 // Road Dog: 4-21
Win Score 4 or more: 20 of 30 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 29 of 52
Puck Line Wins: 19 of 30 // Puck Line Losses: 35 of 52
Front End Back-to-Back: 4-10 // Back End Back-to-Back: 3-11
Points Leader: Filip Forsberg – 76
Goal Leader: Filip Forsberg – 31
Assist Leader: Filip Forsberg – 45
Shots on Goal Leader: Filip Forsberg – 281
Blocked Shots Leaders: Roman Josi – 95 (53 games), Brady Skjei – 93 (82 games)
Depth Chart
Forwards
Filip Forsberg / Steven Stamkos / Jonathan Marchesseault
Fedor Svechkov / Ryan O’Reilly / Michael Bunting
Joakim Kemell / Eric Haula / Luke Evangelista
Cole Smith / Michael McCarron / Michael Wood
Defense
Roman Josi / Nic Hague
Brady Skjei / Nick Perbix
Nick Blackenburg / Justin Baron
Goalies
Juuse Saros / Justus Annunen
Power Play Unit 1
Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, Jonathan Marchesseault, Steven Stamkos, Roman Josi
