Nashville Predators Talk - 2024/2025 Season

[beardawg]

I hate to use a cliche but this team is not relentless or hard to play against or physical. We're giving up too much time and space. We're not finishing checks. We're not forechecking aggressively.

It's funny, the PK, which usually sucks early in the season has been solid, because of the aggressive nature and forcing teams to make quick decisions with the puck, that have led to few scoring chances. Our 5 on 5 play should resemble this, although I realize it's tougher to do with a larger ice surface to cover but I hope my point is conveyed.

I agree with this assessment. They look very soft

 

[herzausstein]

If we went all in the season and manage a 1st overall pick, it would be kindof funny. Things could turn around quick if the #1 pick (presumably Hagens or Frondell) can step into the 2C spot quick.

But we'd probably draft schaefer (d) since our defense is buns

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

Things will improve when the forwards find more chemistry. We made a ton of changes up front and on the blue line this year. It's going to take a little time.

But three things clearly are a problem with really no easy answer.

Saros is either injured still or has regressed... that's really bad on a ton of different levels. If he isn't healthy enough to be playing, we need to sit and rest him. Period. There's too much of a financial investment there.

Schenn and Lauzon aren't NHL d-men. I got 0 answers here. It's a problem.

The team is slow. We're old. We weren't a fast team last year and we certainly aren't this year.

We haven't really been "tough to play against" outside a run under Lavy and a blip under Hynes. Even as personnel has come and gone, that mentality and identity of the team just hasn't been a thing in years (as much as they may want to talk it up).

Beyond just the overall quality if the defense (which is poor), we legitimately only have maybe two guys that can transition the puck (and maybe Stasney when healthy), which seems an awful oversight for a team that wants to play uptempo, pressing, and in transition.

 

[herzausstein]

We haven't really been "tough to play against" outside a run under Lavy and a blip under Hynes. Even as personnel has come and gone, that mentality and identity of the team just hasn't been a thing in years (as much as they may want to talk it up).

Beyond just the overall quality if the defense (which is poor), we legitimately only have maybe two guys that can transition the puck (and maybe Stasney when healthy), which seems an awful oversight for a team that wants to play uptempo, pressing, and in transition.

Problem with stastney coming back is it isnt going to fix the speed issue much. Fabbro will sit and stastney will be paired with schenn. Not much changes. Youll still get 18-20 mins of lauzon and 14-15 mins of schenn

 

[JR303]

While my fandom has definitely waned a bit over the years, and the number of games I actually catch has diminished, I was a bit excited about the prospect of this season.
That said, watching the defense in the parts of games that I've seen so far, has been markedly underwhelming. I think the biggest problem is that we can possibly survive having either Schenn or Lauzon, but I just can't see making it while icing both.

Also, just don't understand the issue with Fabbro. He seems to be a much more solid and dependable option right now, but for whatever reason, doesn't get the chance.
I know others have mentioned it, so it's nothing groundbreaking, but it doesn't make any sense to me.

Time to break up the top line, in my opinion, especially with Nyquist looking anemic so far, that just gives the defense one main player to target, and then you get Forsberg trying to skate through 3 defenders, resulting in a turnover.

All in all, a bit unexpected if not justifiable start to the season, that sorta kicks all of us there were hopeful in the face. Ha ha.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Problem with stastney coming back is it isnt going to fix the speed issue much. Fabbro will sit and stastney will be paired with schenn. Not much changes. Youll still get 18-20 mins of lauzon and 14-15 mins of schenn

Not to mention Carrier at 22?! mins last night? I wouldn't have re-signed him at all, let alone afford him that much responsibility on the team.

 

[ShagDaddy]

If/when Stastney comes back, he should be paired with Skjei and Fabbro left with Josi. Schenn got his 1000th game, now put him in the box and rotate him with Lauzon.

 

[Byrddog]

I’m not as pessimistic as a lot of folks around here might be. But it will be quite a turn of events if Trotz’s “All In” blueprint actually instead leaves the team with a top 5 pick instead.

Or a string of them if the “3S” contracts (Stamkos, Skjei, Saros) all stay like this over the next few seasons. Guys like Schenn and Lauzon and Nyquist are probably movable, but those bigger ones might not be.

I just pray if things don’t turn around that Trotz doesn’t panic and double down on this by trading picks and prospects to try to fix things.

There is a difference in pessimism and just watching plain bad hockey. On paper this team should work perhaps a little thin on the backend but 5 of the top 6 are legit scorers in the league and yes a couple are aging but other than Novak none of the young guys or guys with fewer games in the league whatever one wants to call them they have not produced to the point to warrant top 6 time. Until they can move the puck gain the zone and be a threat in the league they play 3rd line. If the team is cooked by Jan 1 then yeah that's the time to move them in for extended periods.

One thing I was concerned about preseason and it was talked about in depth was the need for a 2C to feed March and Stammer it appears that guy is not currently on the roster without breaking up the 1st line. And honestly it would not take much Stammer endured Cirelli who has been a black hole scoring .

It's early and Trotz had rebuilt the roster without blowing it up. He still has picks and players that can be moved. One can understand the frustration from fans with this start. If a 2C happens to step up it is going to go a long way to heal what Al's us all. This team has been short of the 1C and 2C since inception short just a few years .

 

[wmupreds]

While my fandom has definitely waned a bit over the years, and the number of games I actually catch has diminished, I was a bit excited about the prospect of this season.
That said, watching the defense in the parts of games that I've seen so far, has been markedly underwhelming. I think the biggest problem is that we can possibly survive having either Schenn or Lauzon, but I just can't see making it while icing both.

Also, just don't understand the issue with Fabbro. He seems to be a much more solid and dependable option right now, but for whatever reason, doesn't get the chance.
I know others have mentioned it, so it's nothing groundbreaking, but it doesn't make any sense to me.

Time to break up the top line, in my opinion, especially with Nyquist looking anemic so far, that just gives the defense one main player to target, and then you get Forsberg trying to skate through 3 defenders, resulting in a turnover.

All in all, a bit unexpected if not justifiable start to the season, that sorta kicks all of us there were hopeful in the face. Ha ha.

I agree re: the top line. Get March on the 1st line and put Nyquist down at 3RW as a complementary scorer which is where his game was trending before his breakout (aberration?) last year anyway

 

[nine_inch_fang]

So we will find out if Trotz is as patient as Poile.
At what point is Brunos job in jeopardy?

Now

 

[Scoresberg]

Sissons -7
McCarron -6
Smith -6

As ugly as it gets. Nothing to the table offensively and bleeding like hell defensively.

 

[Predsanddead24]

Now

Only 23 teams have had an 0-5 or worse start in NHL history. Only 12 teams have had an 0-6 or worse start. Based on that I’d have to think he has to win at least one of the next two games or he’s done for.

 

[nine_inch_fang]

I am a big proponent of the idea that prospects have to earn their icetime. They should be "given chances" when available but it's up to them to make the most of it and show their worth. I haven't seen a lot of the action this year but I have noticed somethings that, I think, are becoming a true problem.

Tomasino has seemed to find that extra level of determination that I've been wanting to see but still treated like "the problem".

Parssinen got his one shot, of course it was at wing (idiotic decision), but he still showed he could use his big body to shield and win pucks. His hands were also on display with a magic touch that created an easy tap in goal for McCarron. He too was considered "the problem" and only got 5 minutes of playing time. Did the team perform better while he was sitting the bench?

Fabbro, still just baffled here, he's being more aggressive attacking and controlling the puck longer and more confidently but still considered the 7th Dman on a team with only 6 Dmen.

Brunette's "system" really isn't complicated. In the Dzone they are playing your typical zone/man hybrid that all of these players have been taught since they were 5. This whole "anticipate possession" and get up ice is nothing new either, welcome to ice hockey in the 21st century. And let's see, "relentless" forecheck/backcheck....hmmm where have I heard that before? OH, that's right, t-shirts at every youth hockey tournament since, ever...

Forecheck
Backcheck
Paycheck

The whole reason for hiring Brunette was his communication and ability to get players to come together and run through a wall for him/their teammates. I'm not seeing it. There's still time to turn things around but this a very bad start for a team that is largely intact from last year with only 3 new players.

 

[101st_fan]

Nyquist, Stamkos, Sissons with no points through four games is unacceptable. Nyquist, O'Reilly, Josi at at - 3 or worse is unacceptable.


We're at the point where Bruno has to start coaching the players he has available ... not sticking blindly to some concept. He needs to build lines and pairings that work on the ice, not stick to groupings from last season. Trotz needs to consider roster changes .... Jankowski, McCarron, Pärssinen possibly down ... del Gaizo, Matier, or Molendyk up for the blueline; L'Heureux, Kemell, or even Hinostroza (based on early season performance) for a forward position.

Gus isn't producing as he did in his miracle career season last year and probably should be middle six right now --- move up Marchassault across from Fil.
I honestly don't know what our second line is right now. Stammer -xxx - yyy. That cascades to the third line of March, Luke, Novak, Sissons, Tomasino, Jank, club level bartender. The "identity" line then gets the last cast off alongside Smith and McCarron. Nashville area interstates have more consistency in their pavement than the Predators have in their lines.

 

[Predsanddead24]

I will say these are the same complaints many of us had about Bruno last season too.

 

[jumb0]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847677600098886033

Hopefully Schenn or Lauzon out

 

[nine_inch_fang]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847677600098886033

Hopefully Schenn or Lauzon out

If anyone sits it'll be Fabbro.

 

[Armourboy]

If anyone sits it'll be Fabbro.

Yep only Dman that can do wrong is Fabbro.

Only forwards that can do wrong is Parssinen and Tomasino.

 

[glenngineer]

Yep only Dman that can do wrong is Fabbro.

Only forwards that can do wrong is Parssinen and Tomasino.

And this is what's frustrating as a fan. We have no idea why this is because to our eyes, these guys are not the problem.

 

[Armourboy]

And this is what's frustrating as a fan. We have no idea why this is because to our eyes, these guys are not the problem.

Thing is they generally get reduced minutes when they do play, so there is no way they can be the problem.

 

[thawedout]

Who is the D coach? Does he make the call on who gets ice time or the head coach?

 

[Armourboy]

And that ends up being the case, Fabbro benched.

 

[glenngineer]

And that ends up being the case, Fabbro benched.

For MDG who isn’t any better. It gets harder and harder to watch this team with the personnel decisions they make.

 

[Armourboy]

For MDG who isn’t any better. It gets harder and harder to watch this team with the personnel decisions they make.

Yeah I just don't get it on some of these decisions. I can stand watching bad hockey, I just can't stand watching bad hockey that I feel like is the coaching staffs fault.