That's great but it was also by far a career high and even so is he a top 30 forward in the league?
Who knows maybe he reaches a higher peak later than most players but the odds are against it.
Im gonna ask the question: Is Nashville elite now?
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Who knows maybe he reaches a higher peak later than most players but the odds are against it.
JPT
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His goals per game pace was slightly higher in 2021-2022 than it was last season. I don't know if that makes him a top 30 forward, but it does tend to show he's capable of repeating that kind of offensive success.
Yes, he's definitely a top 30 forward/10 Winger. He has usually missed 10-15 games so he hasn't reached his highest in his 20's but he has seasons similar to this one, factor in his chemistry with O'Reilly over Johansen and there's no reason he can't keep playing at this level.
Ianturnedbull
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LeighDx59
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Nashville just got their goaltending coach back so I expect Saros to rebound. And by the end of the season, the Preds were finally clicking well under Brunette. Adding Stamkos and Marchy, who know what it takes to win, helps their depth up front.
Elite? probably not. But depending on health, they could make some noise come Playoff time.
Elite? probably not. But depending on health, they could make some noise come Playoff time.
Actually in 2021 he scored 42 goals, 84 points in 69 games. So that would have been a 50 goal 100 point pace, just 2 seasons ago.
While yes, 48 goals in 82 games is his career high, I don't think it's fair to say by far, since just 2 seasons prior he had just 6 less goals in 13 less games.
Ya the stats seem to counter my argument but maybe it's a Nashville under the radar thing?
That being said I'm sure that alot of people would have him outside of the top 30 for forwards but like I said it might be because of Nashville?
SeanMoneyHands
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The main reason why Trotz got two 40 goal scorers this summer is because Nashville was clearly overwhelmed offensively in the first round series vs Vancouver. They just matched up poorly offensively against the Canucks.
If these two teams face each other again this playoffs, I think Nashville has the firepower now to go toe to toe with the Canucks in a scoring affair.
If these two teams face each other again this playoffs, I think Nashville has the firepower now to go toe to toe with the Canucks in a scoring affair.
Fair enough. We forever said Ekholm was a top shutdown defender, and now since he's in Edmonton everyone acknowledges that, even at 34 years old, he was even better years ago in Nashville but no one but us knew.
Ya that's fair as I have always liked Ekholm and he is probably rated higher in his new situation but he was always that guy.
You see topics like this all over online platforms. Open ended questions. Creativity isn't a strong suit anymore.
I think there's a difference between 40 year old Ronnie Francis and a cooked Brian Leetch and Stamkos and Marcheesault coming off 40 goal seasons. And it's not like we're asking them to be 1st liners here either.
Wasn't Belfour one of the only reasons the leafs were worth a damn between 03-Matthews?
Your d was so stacked for a long time. I feel like it was widely known he was a top shutdown d. I remember thinking how huge of a pickup that was for Edm.
JPT
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I think for Preds fans the deal was more that they realized how good he was a lot earlier than the rest of the fans in the league. Of course, that makes sense considering how relatively little exposure other fans had to the Predators until their Cup run.
One season of 42 goals doesn't make a you a routine 40 goal scorer, he hasn't ever scored more than 30 before that. I don't foresee him moving the needle at all. Stamkos is a great player but has slowed down. Still will put up points and improve their power play. As far as being elite, not even close.
JPT
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30 goals still puts anyone in the upper echelon of Nashville's anemic offensive history. Our PP has been shit, even if Stamkos is just a PP specialist and "only" scores 30-40 goals it'll by huge for us.
We don't need him to hit 40, but 30+ would be perfect, hitting 40 again would be a pleasant surprise.
He hits 30+ at the same rate he hits 40 though, that's my point, it's tenuous calling him a consistent 30 goal scorer. Mike Gartner was a consistent 30 goal scorer, this guy is not.
30,27, 25, 22 in 66 games, 18 in 55, 30, 28 in 76, 42.
Seems like he's pretty consistent assuming he's healthy, even in his down year of 25 goals he still had 59 points, perfect for a 2nd liner.
