The Nashville Predators endured an incredibly disappointing conclusion to their last season. Despite significant off-season investments aimed at bolstering their roster, the team underperformed dramatically, failing to secure a playoff spot after a challenging 82-game campaign.
The pressing question is whether they can rebound from such a setback, or if General Manager Barry Trotz is grappling with an aging core juxtaposed with promising but perhaps not yet NHL-ready young talent.
Last season, the Predators struggled across the board, experiencing difficulties in both offensive and defensive aspects of their game. Even the draft lottery dealt them a blow, pushing them back two spots, though they remain content with their fifth overall pick, Brady Martin, who has already signed his entry-level deal.
Until they demonstrate otherwise, the team appears to be in a transitional phase, caught between different generations of players.
This dynamic involves a veteran contingent, including Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Ryan O`Reilly, and Roman Josi, all aged 34 or older, who are still expected to carry significant responsibilities. Conversely, there`s a group of early-20s prospects and younger players like Fedor Svechkov, Luke Evangelista, Zachary L`Heureux, Matthew Wood, and Brady Martin, who are striving to establish themselves in the NHL.
The key challenge is whether these two groups can successfully integrate to find a winning formula, or if the Predators are destined for a potentially difficult, forced rebuilding period.
This analysis is part of our ongoing series examining each of the NHL`s 32 teams.
Key Players to Watch
Newcomer: Nic Hague
Acquired from Vegas this summer and quickly signing a four-year, $5.5 million AAV extension, Nic Hague is expected to elevate beyond a bottom-pair defenseman role, possibly shifting to the right side. The left-shot Hague expressed comfort playing either side, but his effectiveness higher in the lineup remains to be seen. In Vegas, his ice time was limited by a deep defensive corps, averaging 17 minutes last season with some penalty-kill duties. Given his new contract, the organization hopes Hague can secure a top-four spot and contribute more offensively than his career-high of 17 points. Nashville offers the 26-year-old an opportunity to grow into his prime years and expand his game.
Under-the-Radar Prospect: Fedor Svechkov
Nashville currently lacks strong depth at center. Could their 2025 first-round pick secure a roster spot? Possibly. Or will 34-year-old Erik Haula begin as the second-line center, a significant demand for a player who averaged under 15 minutes and scored just 21 points last season with New Jersey? While Michael McCarron took the second-most faceoffs for Nashville last year, he`s likely better suited for the bottom six. Steven Stamkos might be an option, but he`s likely more effective as a winger at this point in his career. Therefore, Svechkov is the central figure to watch. The 22-year-old will have a chance to claim the second-line center role with a strong training camp or over the course of the season. The Predators desperately need their young talent to step up, and Svechkov is crucial in addressing their center needs. He recorded 17 points in 52 games during his rookie season.
Top Prospect: Brady Martin
Selected fifth overall in the most recent NHL Draft, Brady Martin is a dynamic force. Known for his hard hits, relentless forechecking, consistent goal-scoring, and ability to play center – always a highly valued position – he impressed at Nashville`s prospect tournament. Martin will enter training camp vying for a spot on the NHL team. Having signed his entry-level contract, the 18-year-old is now ineligible for the NCAA, meaning he`ll either play in the NHL or return to the CHL. At the close of last season, GM Barry Trotz emphasized creating opportunities for younger players to earn their way into the NHL. While others like Joakim Kemell might be on a faster track, a strong performance from Martin in camp could earn him at least a nine-game trial.
Key Questions Facing the Predators
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Can the team recover from the disastrous 2024-25 season?
The Predators were celebrated as winners of the 2024 off-season, holding high expectations for acquisitions like Marchessault and Stamkos, and committing to near-term success by re-signing Juuse Saros and trading Yaroslav Askarov. However, Year 1 resulted in a dismal failure, missing the playoffs by 28 points and finishing with the third-worst record in the NHL. Head coach Andrew Brunette was retained, as the team aims to move past 2024-25 as an anomaly caused by significant simultaneous changes. They urgently need to improve defensively, having recorded the league`s sixth-highest GAA, but their offense was arguably the biggest disappointment, ranking 31st overall (though their power play was 18th). Marchessault and Stamkos both had underwhelming debut seasons in Nashville; can they now spearhead a team-wide resurgence?
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Can Juuse Saros regain his elite form?
From 2020-21 through 2022-23, Juuse Saros was among the NHL`s top four No. 1 starters with a .920 save percentage and was a Vezina Trophy finalist once. He became one of the most heavily relied-upon goalies, with three consecutive seasons of 60-plus starts. Yet, for two consecutive years, Saros`s save percentage has declined, and he`s posted a negative `goals saved above expected` metric. At 30 years old, there`s still time for a bounce-back season, which the Predators desperately need from him to even consider returning to the playoff picture. The 2025-26 season marks the first year of his eight-year, $7.74 million cap hit extension signed in 2024.
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Will Luke Evangelista sign a contract extension before the season begins?
While veterans like Stamkos, Marchessault, and O`Reilly are crucial, the growth of Nashville`s early-20s players is vital for lifting the team out of the basement. Among them, Luke Evangelista has shown the most promise, although his points per game stalled between 2023-24 and 2024-25. Last year, he scored 10 goals and 32 points in 68 games. This production hasn`t yet led to a contract extension, and he remains one of the few restricted free agents. With training camp approaching and no deal in place, a prolonged negotiation risks a slow start for both player and team.
