As the third-worst team in the standings after 18 games, the Predators look weak and stagnant, and nothing good seems to be on the horizon if big changes don’t come quickly. The Predators made a number of big splashes last offseason, bringing in Stanley Cup winners, and future Hall of Famers like Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos, but as far as big splashes go, this one has gone down like a lead balloon for the Preds.
For a team who still has some very good talent, things just clearly aren’t clicking, and there is only so much time you can waste when it comes to waiting for that spark to come. Their homegrown guys like Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi are still guys who are loved in Nashville, and guys who are still solid providers for the team, but as far as supporting acts go, they really aren't the best.
The big additions they made last year like Marchessault and Brady Skjei have turned out to be massive bust. There are guys who are getting paid as premium players, players who should be able to push you to the playoffs, and players who are providing game in and game out, but everything seems to have taken a U-turn for Barry Trotz in the last year. Making drastic decisions is something he shouldn’t be shy to do.
Unfortunately for Preds fans, it is safe to say with how they are performing right now, there is no playoff hope, and the only visible direction is backwards. Bringing in veteran players who are nearing the end of their career was a bold move to add championship experience to the team, however the opposite has happened, and halted what could’ve been a very solid youth transition in Smashville. The guys like Steen Stamkos, Ryan O’Reilly, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei are all guys who still have a lot of trade value for playoff contending teams, and in Nashville’s case, trading all of them should really be a realistic option.
Keeping guys like Josi and Forsberg around is a positive that the Preds have, and knowing they have two guys who have seen success with the team is a plus, but now, it is time to give them a better cast around them, and as tough as it may be, starting all over again is the best option for Nashville. They are definitely not a team who are short of young talent at all. Prospects like Brady Martin, Luke Evangelista, and Matthew Wood are all guys who could play massive roles for the Preds in years to come, but with the current direction the Preds are heading in, their development could be in danger.
Blowing the team up and starting with a fresh piece of paper is a harsh reality no fanbase wants to accept, but for Nashville, what was once a big playoff dream has turned into a nightmare from top to bottom, and sometimes, starting fresh is all a franchise needs, and as for Nashville, it seems the only viable option going forward.