The Predators head into the 2024 offseason hoping they’ve changed the trajectory of the franchise for the better.
Nashville is only days removed from a first-round loss to Vancouver in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, marking the sixth consecutive postseason series loss for the Preds.
kAmqFE E96 !C652E@CD’ H:?D WcfX 2?5 A@:?ED WhhX H6C6 E96 E62>’D 9:896DE D:?46 E96 a_`g\`h D62D@?[ E92?<D :? A2CE E@ 2 7C2?49:D6\C64@C5[ `g\82>6 A@:?E DEC62< W`e\_\aX E92E G2F=E65 }2D9G:==6 :?E@ E96 A=2J@77 A:4EFC6] %96 !C65D D6E 2 7C2?49:D6 C64@C5 7@C 8@2=D WaehX[ H@? E96:C 7:CDE A=2J@77 82>6 D:?46 a_a` 2?5 A=2J65 2? 6IEC6>6=J 4@>A6E:E:G6 A=2J@77 D6C:6D H:E9 E96 72G@C65 r2?F4<D — 86EE:?8 @FED4@C65 ;FDE `b\`a]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@?[ }2D9G:==6 4@249 p?5C6H qCF?6EE6 H2D ?2>65 @?6 @7 E9C66 7:?2=:DED 7@C E96 }w{VD 4@249 @7 E96 J62C 2H2C5]k^Am
kAm$@[ 2DDF>:?8 E96 !C652E@CD 2C6 >@G:?8 :? E96 C:89E 5:C64E:@? @?46 282:?[ 9@H 5@ E96J E2<6 E96 ?6IE DE6An (92E H:== :E E2<6 E@ H:? 2 A=2J@77 D6C:6D[ D@>6E9:?8 }2D9G:==6 92D?’E 5@?6 D:?46 a_`gnk^Am
kAmw6C6 2C6 7:G6 BF6DE:@?D 7@C E96 !C65D 9625:?8 :?E@ E96 @77D62D@?ik^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(92E’D E96 A=2? 2E 8@2=:6nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%9:D :D E96 BF6DE:@? @? E96 >:?5 @7 6G6CJ !C65D 72?[ 2D yFFD6 $2C@D 92D ;FDE @?6 >@C6 J62C C6>2:?:?8 F?56C 4@?EC24E] }2D9G:==6 4@F=5 D:8? $2C@D E@ 2 4@?EC24E 6IE6?D:@? 368:??:?8 yF=J `[ 3FE :E H@F=5 =:<6=J 36 2 G6CJ AC:46J 562=[ D@>6E9:?8 D:>:=2C E@ E96 562=D D:8?65 3J (:??:A68’D r@??@C w6==63FJ4< WD6G6? J62CD[ Sdh]d >:==:@?X @C E96 }6H *@C< xD=2?56CD’ x=J2 $@C@<:? W6:89E J62CD[ See >:==:@?X 9625:?8 :?E@ =2DE D62D@?]k^Am
kAmx7 E96 !C65D 36=:6G6 E@A AC@DA64E *2C@D=2G pD<2C@G[ E96 ``kDFAmE9k^DFAm @G6C2== A:4< @7 E96 a_a_ }w{ sC27E[ :D C625J 7@C E96 }w{[ E96? :E >2J H6== 36 E:>6 7@C }2D9G:==6 E@ >@G6 $2C@D] %92E EC256 H@F=5 ?@E @?=J 3C:?8 2 ?:46 C6EFC? — :? E96 7@C> @7 5C27E A:4<D 2?5^@C AC@DA64ED — 3FE H@F=5 2=D@ @A6? Sd >:==:@? @7 42A DA246 7@C E96 4@>:?8 D62D@?]k^Am
kAm%96 a`\J62C\@=5 pD<2C@G H2D 8@@5 7@C |:=H2F<66 :? E96 p>6C:42? w@4<6J {628F6 E9:D D62D@?[ H:E9 2 b_\`b\` C64@C5[ a]bh 8@2=D 282:?DE 2G6C286 2?5 ]h`` D2G6 A6C46?E286] qFE :? `c A=2J@77 82>6D @G6C EH@ D62D@?D[ pD<2C@G :D e\g[ H:E9 2 a]gh 8@2=D 282:?DE 2G6C286 2?5 ]ghd D2G6 A6C46?E286]k^Am
kAmpDDF>:?8 pD<2C@G :D H:E9 E96 !C65D :? D@>6 42A24:EJ ?6IE D62D@?[ :E DE:== D66>D F?=:<6=J 96’5 A=2J >F49 >@C6 E92? 92=7 E96 82>6D 2D 2 C@@<:6] pD<2C@G A=2J65 cc C68F=2C\D62D@? 82>6D :? |:=H2F<66 :? a_ab\ac 2?5 cg 82>6D :? a_aa\ab] $@[ H@F=5 E96 !C652E@CD 4@?D:56C <66A:?8 $2C@D F?E:= E96 EC256 5625=:?6[ 3C62<:?8 pD<2C@G :? 8C25F2==Jn p?@E96C @AE:@?i (@F=5 E96 @C82?K2E:@? C6\D:8? 4FCC6?E }@] a z6G:? {2?<:?6? W2 A6?5:?8 F?C6DEC:4E65 7C66 286?EX 2?5 92G6 9:> DA=:E 82>6D H:E9 pD<2C@G :? ?6E ?6IE D62D@?nk^Am
kAm$@ >2?J BF6DE:@?D 2E E9:D A@D:E:@?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(9:49 7C66 286?ED E@ C6\D:8?nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm!6?5:?8 F?C6DEC:4E65 7C66 286?ED @? E96 C@DE6C :?4=F56 {2?<:?6?[ 2D H6== 2D 7@CH2C5D y2D@? +F4<6C[ p?E9@?J q62FG:==:6C 2?5 z:676C $96CH@@5[ 2?5 5676?D6>6? %JD@? q2CC:6 2?5 p=6I2?5C6 r2CC:6C] x? 255:E:@?[ 5676?D6>6? $A6?46C $E2DE?6J 2?5 |2C4 s6= v2:K@ 2C6 C6DEC:4E65 7C66 286?ED[ 2=@?8 H:E9 7@CH2C5D !9:=:A %@>2D:?@[ yFFD@ !2CDD:?6?[ 2?5 t8@C p72?2DJ6G]k^Am
kAm%96 ba\J62C\@=5 +F4<6C :D?’E J@F?8 2?5 96 H@F=5?’E 4@>6 4962A=J[ 3FE E96 !C652E@CD >2J H6== 4@?D:56C C6\D:8?:?8 9:> 27E6C 96 A6C7@C>65 H6== 7@C E96 E62> 7@==@H:?8 2? }w{ EC256 5625=:?6 562= — 4@==64E:?8 D6G6? A@:?ED W7:G6 8@2=D[ EH@ 2DD:DEDX :? `g C68F=2C\D62D@? 82>6D] }2D9G:==6 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ 3C:?8 324< r2CC:6C[ 3FE >2J 564:56 :E’D >@C6 4@DE 67764E:G6 E@ @A6? FA >@C6 A=2J:?8 E:>6 7@C E96 =:<6D @7 $E2DE?6J 2?5 s6= v2:K@ ?6IE D62D@?]k^Am
kAm$96CH@@5 EC2?D:E:@?65 ?:46=J :?E@ }2D9G:==6’D :56?E:EJ =:?6 E9:D D62D@?[ 49:AA:?8 :? 2 42C66C\9:89 af A@:?ED W`_ 8@2=D[ `f 2DD:DEDX :? eg 82>6D] qFE 96 H@F=5?’E 36 4@?D:56C65 :CC6A=24623=6 :7 E96 !C65D 564:565 E@ DA6?5 >@?6J 6=D6H96C6] q2CC:6 2?5 q62FG:==:6C 2C6 2== 3FE 8@?6] tIA64E E96 AC@DA64ED DF49 2D %@>2D:?@[ !2CDD:?6? 2?5 p72?2DJ6G E@ 36 C6\D:8?65[ 2D E96J D9@F=5 4@>A6E6 7@C C@DE6C DA@ED ?6IE D62D@?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw@H 288C6DD:G6 D9@F=5 E96 7C2?49:D6 36 :? 7C66 286?4Jnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm!6C r2AuC:6?5=J[ E96 !C652E@CD 92G6 23@FE S`h]b >:==:@? :? 42A DA246[ 3FE E92E’D H:E9 ;FDE `e A=2J6CD F?56C 4@?EC24E] x? 255:E:@?[ E96 !C65D W2D C676C6?465 23@G6X 92G6 2 ?F>36C @7 A=2J6CD =@@<:?8 7@C ?6H 4@?EC24ED]k^Am
kAmqFE 2D >6?E:@?65 62C=:6C[ E96 !C65D 4@F=5 4=62C Sd >:==:@? :? 42A DA246 3J EC25:?8 $2C@D] x7 }2D9G:==6 5@6D 92G6 2G2:=23=6 7F?5D 9625:?8 :?E@ 7C66 286?4J[ 2 7@CH2C5 E92E 4@F=5 255 D4@C:?8 AF?49 E@ E96 =:?6FA H@F=5 2AA62C E@ 36 2 E@A AC:@C:EJ]k^Am
kAm%9:D J62C’D 8C@FA @7 A6?5:?8 &upD :D?’E 4@?D:56C65 2 A2CE:4F=2C=J 566A @?6[ 3FE E96C6 2C6 D@>6 E2=6?ED @? E96 >2C<6E — =65 3J E96 =:<6D @7 u=@C:52’D $2> #6:?92CE Wdf 8@2=D[ bf 2DD:DED 5FC:?8 E96 C68F=2C D62D@?X 2?5 r2C@=:?2’D y2<6 vF6?EK6= Wb_ 8@2=D[ cf 2DD:DEDX] ~E96C 7@CH2C5D H9@ >:89E 36 E6>AE:?8 :?4=F56 A=2J6CD DF49 2D }6H y6CD6J’D %J=6C %@77@=:[ '682D’ y@?2E92? |2C496DD2F=E[ (:??:A68’D $62? |@?292?[ %@C@?E@’D %J=6C q6CEFKK: 2?5 2 4@FA=6 @7 A=2J6CD E96 !C65D 32EE=65 :? E96 A=2J@77D — '2?4@FG6C’D t=:2D {:?59@=> 2?5 s2<@E2 y@D9F2]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(92E E@ 5@ H:E9 2== E9@D6 5C27E A:4<Dnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 !C652E@CD 92G6 2 8=FE @7 D6=64E:@?D :? E96 ?6IE EH@ }w{ sC27ED] x? E96 a_ac 5C27E[ }2D9G:==6 92D 2== ?:?6 @7 :ED A:4<D :? E96 7:CDE 7@FC C@F?5D — @?6 :? E96 7:CDE[ E9C66 :? E96 D64@?5[ EH@ :? E96 E9:C5 2?5 E9C66 :? E96 7@FCE9] x? a_ad[ E96 !C65D 92G6 6:89E D6=64E:@?D — :?4=F5:?8 EH@ :? E96 7:CDE[ @?6 :? E96 D64@?5 2?5 EH@ :? E96 E9:C5]k^Am
kAm(:== E96 !C652E@CD D:>A=J 36 4@?E6?E E@ FD6 2== E9@D6 5C27E A:4<D[ 255:?8 AC@DA64E 27E6C AC@DA64E E@ 2 72C> DJDE6> E92E :D 2=C625J C2?<65 }@] g 3J k6>m%96 pE9=6E:4nk^6>m ~C H@F=5 }2D9G:==6 4@?D:56C 86EE:?8 4C62E:G6 H:E9 E92E 9@C56 @7 EC62DFC6 — A6C92AD A24<28:?8 D@>6 @7 E9@D6 A:4<D :? 6I492?86 7@C 2 E@A AC@DA64E[ 2 E@A A=2J6C @C E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ >@G6 6G6? 4=@D6C E@ E96 E@A @7 E96 7:CDE C@F?5n %C25:?8 D@>6 @7 E9@D6 A:4<D H@F=5 C6AC6D6?E 2?@E96C H2J — :? 255:E:@? E@ 7C66 286?4J — @7 82:?:?8 2?@E96C :>A24E D4@C6C 7@C E96 4@>:?8 D62D@?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw@H E@ :>AC@G6 DA64:2= E62>Dnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx? E96 C68F=2C D62D@?[ E96 !C652E@CD’ A@H6C A=2J H2D 2G6C286[ 7:?:D9:?8 `ekDFAmE9k^DFAm :? E96 =628F6 H:E9 2 a`]e A6C46?E D4@C:?8 C2E6] x? }2D9G:==6’D D:I\82>6 A=2J@77 D6C:6D[ E96 DF446DD C2E6 A=F?865[ 2D E96 !C65D 4@?G6CE65 ;FDE EH@\@7\aa @AA@CEF?:E:6D — 2 h]` A6C46?E DF446DD C2E6 E92E C2?<65 `ckDFAmE9k^DFAm @7 `e E62>D] p? 6IEC2 A@H6C\A=2J 8@2= @C EH@ 4@F=5 92G6 >256 2 9F86 5:776C6?46 :? 2 A=2J@77 D6C:6D E92E H2D 2D 4=@D6 2D }2D9G:==6’D H:E9 '2?4@FG6C]k^Am
kAmqCF?6EE6 >256 :E 4=62C 367@C6 E96 D62D@? E92E 96 H@F=5 36 :? 492C86 @7 }2D9G:==6’D A@H6C A=2J[ 2?5 :E H2D qCF?6EE6 H9@ 2=D@ E@@< C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 27E6CH2C5 7@C E96 A@@C D9@H:?8 @7 E96 >2?\25G2?E286 F?:E] x>AC@G:?8 :E 7@C ?6IE D62D@? 92D E@ C2?< 9:89 @? }2D9G:==6’D AC:@C:EJ D42=6]k^Am
kAm%96 A6?2=EJ <:== 7=:AA65 E96 D4C:AE] }2D9G:==6 =28865 369:?5 >F49 @7 E96 }w{ 5FC:?8 E96 C68F=2C D62D@?[ 7:?:D9:?8 H:E9 2 DF446DD C2E6 @7 ;FDE fe]h A6C46?E[ aakDFAm?5k^DFAm :? E96 =628F6] qFE E96 !C65D’ A6?2=EJ <:== A6C7@C>65 H6== :? E96 A=2J@77D[ <:==:?8 @77 `` @7 '2?4@FG6C’D `b A@H6C A=2JD[ 2? gc]e A6C46?E C2E6 E92E C2?<65 7:7E9 2>@?8 A=2J@77 E62>D] q@E9 E96 r2?F4<D’ A@H6C\A=2J 8@2=D 42>6 :? v2>6 b[ 2 a\` H:? 7@C '2?4@FG6C]k^Am
kAm}2D9G:==6 ?665D E@ >@G6 2E =62DE :?E@ E96 E@A 92=7 @7 }w{ A6?2=EJ <:==:?8 ?6IE D62D@?]k^Am

