Nashville Predators Talk - 2024/2025 Season

Kat Predator

Registered User
Nov 28, 2019
4,235
4,366
I just really wished we had "stood pat" outside supplementing the D and seeing if we could acquire a youngish 2C. And mostly didn't want to lock into Saros long-term and give Askarov a shot.

Go in with an open mind but this has been a disaster.
The transition plan GMBT sketched has guys that are 34, 34, 33, 33, 30, and 29 as the core of a bridge group to take us to where guys we drafted this year and next are ready to shuffle in. Say we nail it in this draft. We're still talking at least a couple seasons before those gems are ready. (Bedard is still figuring it out, for example.) So we're expecting this bridge group, which sucks already, to go until they are 37, 37, 36, 36, 33, and 32? How is this a good plan?

Well, at least the winning culture shock and awe thing is working out. :laugh:
 

MrJoshua

Registered User
Mar 24, 2010
1,569
353
Decatur, AL
This is hard to watch but I’m still happy Trotz went for it. 🤷‍♂️ He added pieces to try to win with the Forsberg, Josi, Saros core. I get it and it only cost cap space. That said, I definitely wasn’t expecting the team to bottom out this hard this season. I thought they might do so AFTER next season, but I thought we’d see 1-2 years of really good hockey first. But this is like watching my beer league team play a college squad. They should not look this overmatched night after night.

I don’t understand the total green light every defender has to drive deep in the offensive zone on every play. Josi, sure, but none of the rest of these guys should be below the hash marks in the offensive zone.

I also don’t understand why nobody seems able to make a decent pass or play with any jump. They look slow and tired and like they’re not sure what’s going on. It’s very confusing.
 

Armourboy

Hey! You suck!
Jan 20, 2014
20,584
12,243
Shelbyville, TN
I just really wished we had "stood pat" outside supplementing the D and seeing if we could acquire a youngish 2C. And mostly didn't want to lock into Saros long-term and give Askarov a shot.

Go in with an open mind but this has been a disaster.
Well me too, I thought signing Saros long term was a bad decision.

I think all of this stuff was a decent enough idea, its just giving these guys multi year contracts with NMC's never made any sense. I get why he kept Saros and brought in the Vets, I just didn't agree with it as a strategy.

I mean I'm like everyone else, I hoped it would work out and we would have a couple of years of fun hockey with a bit of pain on the back end while we more or less age out and replace them. Problem is I don't think we have the right coach for this group of players which is just going to increase the pain levels.
 

sparkle twin

Registered User
Jul 31, 2002
9,311
3,550
Smashville, TN
I don't understand this team. There's no reason this team should be this bad.

They can't make a tape to tape pass. It's in their feet or just out of their reach.

We're beat to every lose puck, old guys and young guys. And then we're too easily knocked off the puck when we do have it. Which leads to too many penalties because our guy turns the puck over and now we're too slow so we reach out with our hand or stick.

There's no consistent center ice/net front presence. When there is, we've scored goals, but that's for one game then it's gone the next game.

They keep passing up shots, trying to be too cute and make these highlight passes that are broken up or are to the other team and it's right back out of our zone.

I mean, these are hockey 101 basics, but they just aren't doing them!
 

Scoresberg

Perpetual Mediocrity
May 28, 2015
10,472
5,447
Earth
>spend +100 mil in the off-season to load up on veterans with long-term deals
>couple months after announce going into rebuild

#onlypredsthings

In all seriousness, that's not how any of this works. We're stuck with what we have and I have zero believe that we will end up with a top-five pick next summer. They will figure things out to a degree and end up with a pick in the 13-16 range. Rinse and repeat next year.
 

Scoresberg

Perpetual Mediocrity
May 28, 2015
10,472
5,447
Earth
From a Panthers fan. You really don't want to see opponents with quotes like this about your team.
Yeah, that game was an ugly one, almost rivalling the Kings loss on Monday. Didn't help Wedgie gave up two soft ones to start it but the team overall folded like a cheap tent last night. That being said, in my mind that was the best team in the league we were up against.
 

Predsanddead24

Registered User
Mar 7, 2019
5,925
6,592
It's becoming more clear to me that Bruno is not a good coach, and last season was a fluke that is keeping him safe because of the 18 games point streak. Simple as that really. There's too much talent for them to be as bad as they are
The 18 game point streak was such a mirage where we happened to get hot at a time where our schedule was incredibly easy. 12 of those 18 games were against non-playoff teams and the playoff teams we did play were often missing key players. Any 18 game point streak is impressive obviously but when you dig in it was clear we weren't really as good as it made us appear to be.
 
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drwpreds

Registered User
Mar 19, 2012
7,898
3,038
Birmingham
The absolute only thing that is giving me pause right now- the only thing that is keeping me going. And this is pretty mind blowing:

If we win Saturday (and that is a big if- lol) we will actually be AHEAD of our start of the season pace from last year. If we win:

2024 5-9-1
2023 5-10-0

That is crazy.

Went back and looked at the start last year and it was also pretty bad- we lost two home games to Arizona and Anaheim to fall to 5-10 and were seemingly at rock bottom. But then we went on 6 game winning streak to pull out of that hole and we know what happened from there- almost had a 100 point season.

I still think we have played WAY worse this year than that start last year, but maybe there is some glimmer of hope that we can dig out of it again.
 
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glenngineer

Registered User
Jan 27, 2010
7,011
1,918
Franklin, TN
A couple of things to try:

Simplify the defensive structure because right now, there isn't one. I find it hard to believe a team playing a man down is having an easier time clearing the puck than a team playing at even strength. Spacing is still terrible. Dmen are pinching when they shouldn't be.

Once Novak and Sissons are healthy, insert them into the lineup it's time to sit McCarron and Smith. I can live with Jankowski for the time being. It's also time to get Fabbro back into the lineup as well.

This is what I would do from there:
Leave the kid line alone, they're the only 3 doing anything at even strength.
With the remaining 9 players, find 3 pairs of guys that click and complement them with a player with a different skill set. Shooter, playmaker, grinder on each line. An example would be Stamkos, Nyquist, ZLH. If you do that, you've got Fil, ROR, March, Novak, Sissons and Jank left over. Maybe Fil, Sissons and March and then ROR, Novak and Jank? I honestly don't know what to do here. Maybe bring up Kemell and put him with ROR and Novak and sit Jank.

Make sure you have some speed on each line too if possible, which may mean breaking up the kid line. Not sure what else to do here but something has to change dramatically.

Insert Fabbro back in to the lineup, pair him with Josi and leave them be. Move Skjei to the second pairing with Carrier. Drop Lauzon to the third pairing with MDG and call it a day. Thinking about this, teams aren't carrying guys who will drop the mitts or it doesn't appear that way. Stop wasting a roster spot on guys like Schenn and McCarron. It's pointless unless they can contribute in other facets of the game.

This is where I would start.

If this doesn't work, I'd find a more structured and adaptable coach to replace Bruno. If that doesn't work, trade off the assets you can, move Saros before his NMC kicks in and start your rebuild. I still can't believe our goalie pipeline went from a strength to a major weakness in a matter of months. Unless the kid we acquired from SJ for Askarov and the 1st round pick turn into anything, we royally screwed the pooch there.

Have a good day everyone!!
 

weems

Registered User
Jul 3, 2008
18,551
12,644
Leafs fan here.
What is the scouting report on Novak.
He's had some nice offensive production and I've heard other Leafs fans bring up his name in potential trade scenarios.
What is he like defensively? Can he be trusted defensively or is he more of a very strong offensive type but needs sheltering defensively?
If Nashville were willing to deal him, what kind of assets would they be looking for?
 

Porter Stoutheart

Seen Stamkos?
Jun 14, 2017
16,006
12,427
Leafs fan here.
What is the scouting report on Novak.
He's had some nice offensive production and I've heard other Leafs fans bring up his name in potential trade scenarios.
What is he like defensively? Can he be trusted defensively or is he more of a very strong offensive type but needs sheltering defensively?
If Nashville were willing to deal him, what kind of assets would they be looking for?
I don't think he's very good defensively, but that may be a criticism that is somewhat overblown. He's sort of slight/weak on the puck, but still smart and quick and has good vision and offensive instincts. If you play him at center, it probably is indeed better if he has some defensive help on his wings. Or he could be converted to wing and contribute.

I don't think the Preds should deal him, there isn't really any big incentive to move him, he's signed for 2 more years at a reasonable salary. We have lots of picks and prospects, so if you offer us a 2nd round pick, say, then we don't really need that. And you probably shouldn't offer anything more than that. So I'd say he doesn't move? :dunno:

I'd like to get my hands on a good top-4 RD who can play strong D, however. If one of those was available, I'd be ready to include Novak in the package. I don't think the Leafs have somebody like that available. (Nor does any other team, probably).
 
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weems

Registered User
Jul 3, 2008
18,551
12,644
I don't think he's very good defensively, but that may be a criticism that is somewhat overblown. He's sort of slight/weak on the puck, but still smart and quick and has good vision and offensive instincts. If you play him at center, it probably is indeed better if he has some defensive help on his wings. Or he could be converted to wing and contribute.

I don't think the Preds should deal him, there isn't really any big incentive to move him, he's signed for 2 more years at a reasonable salary. We have lots of picks and prospects, so if you offer us a 2nd round pick, say, then we don't really need that. And you probably shouldn't offer anything more than that. So I'd say he doesn't move? :dunno:

I'd like to get my hands on a good top-4 RD who can play strong D, however. If one of those was available, I'd be ready to include Novak in the package. I don't think the Leafs have somebody like that available. (Nor does any other team, probably).

Thanks.
Have heard alot of posters throw his name out there for underrated offensive players but wasn't really familiar with his game.
 

Marty Party

Back @ The Bridge
Mar 2, 2012
5,197
2,357
Nashville
ace.mu.nu
“So shines a good deed in a weary Preds world.”

I'd like to thank the Preds for the free home sweater yesterday. The Smashville Loyal patch on the left shoulder is a nice little touch. Don't care for the bank logo on the front but other than that, I'm happy. I'm leaving it blank and will put it in my rotation of game day attire.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
 

drwpreds

Registered User
Mar 19, 2012
7,898
3,038
Birmingham
The absolute only thing that is giving me pause right now- the only thing that is keeping me going. And this is pretty mind blowing:

If we win Saturday (and that is a big if- lol) we will actually be AHEAD of our start of the season pace from last year. If we win:

2024 5-9-1
2023 5-10-0

That is crazy.

Went back and looked at the start last year and it was also pretty bad- we lost two home games to Arizona and Anaheim to fall to 5-10 and were seemingly at rock bottom. But then we went on 6 game winning streak to pull out of that hole and we know what happened from there- almost had a 100 point season.

I still think we have played WAY worse this year than that start last year, but maybe there is some glimmer of hope that we can dig out of it again.
Having said all of that- we did dig out from a 5-10 start last year, but we did it by having two incredible stretches-

Nov- December- Went 13-3-0 after the 5-10 start
Feb- March- went 16-0-2

That means that for a combined 34 game stretch we went 29-3-2.

That is the only reason we dug out from that bad start. Had we gone 24-8-2, which is still a great run- we would have finished with 89 points and wouldn't have been close to the playoffs

Point being, what are the odds that this team (or any team for that matter) can pull of anything close to 29-3-2 again??? Not very good I am afraid...
 
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