Offseason Outlook: Smashville's ready for its close-up
With the NHL offseason now underway, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.
2016-17 Grade: A-
Take a bow, Nashville. You truly were the feel-good story of the NHL year.
Although the Predators backed into the playoffs, losing five of their last seven regular-season games and finishing eighth in the Western Conference, their postseason run put the league on notice.
Nashville proved playoff seedings are really just numbers on a page, knocking out the powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks in the first round with an impressive four-game sweep en route to the Stanley Cup Final - and we all know what happened there.
Free Agents
Once the dust settles on Nashville's playoff run, general manager David Poile's busy summer kicks off with the expansion and entry drafts.
Not only will Poile have to decide what players to protect, which should be interesting due to how well his entire roster played during the playoffs, a hefty list of talented free agents requires his attention.
Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson highlight the group.
| Player (Position) | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit | 2016-17 Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Fisher (F) | UFA | 37 | $4.4M | 42 |
| Vernon Fiddler (F) | UFA | 37 | $1.25M | 4 |
| P.A. Parenteau (F) | UFA | 34 | $1.25M | 28 |
| Harry Zolnierczyk (F) | UFA | 29 | $575K | 4 |
| Yannick Weber (D) | UFA | 28 | $575K | 8 |
| Brad Hunt (D) | UFA | 28 | $600K | 6 |
| Austin Watson (F) | RFA | 25 | $575K | 17 |
| Frederick Gaudreau (F) | RFA | 24 | $595K | 1 |
| Ryan Johansen (F) | RFA | 24 | $4M | 61 |
| Pontus Aberg (F) | RFA | 23 | $780K | 2 |
| Viktor Arvidsson (F) | RFA | 24 | $631K | 61 |
Nashville is currently stacked in net with Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros firmly entrenched in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively, so retaining third-stringer Marek Mazanec would strictly be a depth move.
| Goalie | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit | 2016-17 SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marek Mazanec | RFA | 25 | $575K | .839 |
2017 Draft Picks
Selecting 30th in the first round would represent a challenge for most GMs, but Poile has a proven knack for finding diamonds in the rough - Rinne was drafted in the eighth round.
| Round | Picks |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 1 |
| 4 | 0 |
| 5 | 1 |
| 6 | 1 (From NYR) |
| 7 | 1 |
The Preds may also be inclined to move their first-rounder in some kind of package deal to address one of their needs listed below.
Summer Priorities
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
1. Re-sign Johansen and Arvidsson
Nashville's top scorers from the 2016-17 campaign are in line for significant raises this summer.
Not only did Johansen and Arvidsson lead the team in goals, assists, and points, but they're key cogs in Peter Laviolette's speed-first approach and contribute on special teams, too - Arvidsson led the league in shorthanded goals with five.
Johansen and Arvidsson make the Preds tick. Replacing either of them now would be a mistake that Poile will surely avoid.
2. Leave Neal unprotected, or trade him
James Neal is coming off his worst offensive showing in three seasons.
He's also 29 years old, and if his regular-season performance - 23 goals and 18 assists - is any indication of what he has left in the tank, the Preds would be wise to move on from the streaky scorer and go with a younger, cheaper option like Calle Jarnkrok.
Both players are candidates for Poile's expansion-list chopping block, and if Neal is left unprotected and goes unselected, he may be moved to the trade block.
3. Land a top-six center
After Johansen, Nashville's roster is a bit sketchy up the middle.
Credit is due to guys like Mike Fisher, Colton Sissons, and Jarnkrok for their efforts, but realistically, those players just don't have the talent the Predators need to take the club over the top.
Free-agent centers Martin Hanzal and Sam Gagner could fill that void nicely.
2017-18 Outlook
This is the section that usually says your team's future looks bright - and yes, get the shades ready, because the potential for sustained success in Nashville is downright dazzling.
The Predators arguably tout the best defensive core in the game, and they have P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis all locked down for at least the next two seasons.
Playoff puck will be back on Broadway in 2018. Ready the catfish accordingly.
COL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF
DET | DAL | FLA | LAK | CAR
WPG | PHI | TBL | NYI | WSH
TOR | CGY | BOS | SJS | STL
NYR | EDM | MTL | ANA | MIN
CBJ | CHI | OTT | NAS | PIT
LGK