Each week, we break down the highs and lows of Nashville Predators hockey; we assign “plusses” to the players, lines, coaches, concepts, etc. whose stock is trending upwards, and “minuses” to those who have some improvements to work on.
Let’s jump into this week’s list!
Plus: Filip Forsberg
About a week ago, I did a podcast saying Filip Forsberg’s on-ice play to start the season was very solid. However, the Predators needed better finishing from their star forward, who had just one goal at the time.
One of two things happened after that… Either Filip Forsberg listened to that podcast and thought, “you’re absolutely right, Nick. I’ll step it up.” Or I’m an idiot who needed to shut up and be more patient.
I personally choose to believe it’s the first option.
Forsberg wound up finding the net five times in the past week, including back-to-back games with a brace against Winnipeg and Arizona. He has points in six of his last seven games — four of those being multi-point games — and leads the Preds with 17 points so far this year. It’s a statline that seems a bit like a statement considering some recent sentiment about his 8-year contract being a “mistake.”
Other than a rough outing against Calgary this past week, Forsberg looking like the best player on the ice is starting to become a theme during Preds games, and considering he’s usually on the ice with the other team’s top players, that’s a big deal. If Forsberg plays like this consistently, the Preds are going to have a shot to win almost any game.
MInus: Goaltending
Boy, this is a weird one…
On the surface, Juuse Saros doesn’t look much different from last year’s Juuse Saros. He already has plenty of highlight-reel saves on his resume this year, and — as we saw this week against Calgary — there have been quite a few instances of “boy, this game would be way worse without Juuse cooking.”
But we’ve also seen a few games like the one we saw on Saturday. Saros allowed six goals on just 24 shots against the Coyotes. It was just the 7th time in franchise history the Predators LOST a game while scoring five or more goals. That performance dropped Saros to an .894 save percentage on the season. His backup, Kevin Lankinen, isn’t that much better, owning a .900 save percentage and giving up six goals combined in his two starts this year.
Obviously, not all of the Predators’ struggles are on the goaltenders. Holding other teams to fewer than 39 and 37 shots, like we saw this week against Calgary and Winnipeg respectively, would certainly help matters. However, my fellow Penalty Box Radio teammate Boyd Farrish brought up some interesting perspective on the goalies this season.
Knowing Saros’s track record, there’s reason to believe that’s going to improve. And when it does, the Preds have shown enough improvement in terms of defense and puck possession to believe more wins should follow. But it’s not unfair to say the Preds need — and EXPECT — more from their goaltending.
Plus: Dante Fabbro
Fabbro gets some rare offense-centric kudos for his performance against the Coyotes on Saturday. Fabbro’s one goal/one assist night was just the sixth multi-point game of his career, and his first since April 2022. But even before Saturday, it felt like Fabbro’s play deserved more recognition.
The often-maligned 2016 1st rounder has been playing some of the most consistent hockey of his career on the Preds’ top defensive pair. He’s sixth on the team in xGA per 60 minutes (2.23), fifth best in High-Danger chances allowed (9.1), and second in blocked shots (28). Considering a lot of his minutes are coming against other team’s top offensive weapons, those are all respectable, if not impressive, stats.
Fabbro’s play is also a good “making the most of your chances” moment. It was only a month ago that Fabbro was scratched for the season opener, putting his future with the Preds in doubt. Instead, he’s proving he can be a solid performer in Andrew Brunette’s defensive system, and is more than capable of playing big minutes against All-Star talent.
Minus: Yakov Trenin
If there was ever a time to use the word “snake-bitten,” talking about Yakov Trenin’s season would be one of those times.
The Russian winger has been doing a lot of positive things on the ice this year. He’s fifth on the team in individual expected goals, sixth in individual high-danger chances, and eighth in total shots. Trenin has zero points to show for it.
Not zero goals, zero POINTS.
Connor Ingram, the Coyotes’ goalie, recorded a point against the Predators on Saturday…
Speaking of which, that game featured Trenin as a healthy scratch for the first time this season, and the first time he’s been out of the Preds lineup since November 23rd of last season. It could simply be a case of Brunette trying to give Trenin a chance for a reset. Trenin’s play, as mentioned, has been strong enough to warrant consistent minutes; it’s just a matter of actually manifesting that play into tangible results.
It probably won’t be long before Trenin gets another chance in the lineup. Hopefully, it also won’t be long before he’s able to break the slump.
Plus: Home Cookin’
The Predators’ two-week West Coast road trip didn’t exactly go to plan. The Preds went 1-4 during their five-game romp through Seattle and Western Canada. So far this season, the Preds have played eight games on the road and have won just *two* of those.
Granted, the Predators return to Bridgestone Arena on Saturday didn’t work out great either. But at least Preds fans got to see it in person!
The Coyotes game was the first of a ten game stretch that features nine games at home. That includes some noteworthy opponents coming to Bridgestone Arena: the Colorado Avalanche, the Minnesota Wild, the Winnipeg Jets, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Connor Bedard-led Chicago Blackhawks.
This will be the Preds’ first extended opportunity this season to stay home, enjoy their routines, and not have to worry about the chaotic nature of traveling. For the fans, it’s a chance to see some great games in person. Or, more aptly, it’s a chance to not stay up until BFE o’clock to watch some trash fire of a loss.
Minus: Yaroslav Askarov Trade Talk
The Preds’ 2020 1st Round pick is looking every bit like the star prospect we’d hoped he’d be. He’s only given up eight goals in five starts for the Milwaukee Admirals this season, and his .935 save percentage is second amongst all AHL goalies with at least five starts this year.
That hot start has, evidently, put him in the middle of some trade talk.
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug started the speculation on this week’s Got Yer Back podcast by suggesting the Edmonton Oilers, who recently waived Jack Campbell, should consider a move for the Askarov. It was noted that the Predators reportedly dangled their star prospect at the draft in an attempt to move up in the order, and Barry Trotz may still be willing to do that at the right price.
There are two ways to look at this. One is that Askarov is certainly a viable trade piece. Despite his lack of NHL experience, his upside is well-regarded enough to spearhead a good return, and with Juuse Saros in the fold, the Predators aren’t exactly in desperate need for a goalie. It may also be a good chance to take advantage of a team like Edmonton who would do just about anything short of a felony for immediate decent goaltending.
That being said, one month into a season considered the first year of a retool seems way too early to part with arguably the best prospect in your organization.
If Askarov is indeed a trade chip, either now or down the road, Trotz needs to be careful in how he uses him. A move for Askarov shouldn’t be an “available to the highest bidder situation.” Trotz will want a proven player he can build around for any deal involving the young goaltender. Plus, considering all of the uncertainty surrounding the direction of the Predators franchise, hanging on to a 21-year-old on track to becoming a solid NHLer is a safe move, at least until the Preds’ braintrust gets a better idea of where the team is at in terms of building towards that contender level.
Plus, trading Askarov before the bench-press bobblehead giveaway would be a crying shame.
All statistics courtesy of NaturalStatTrick and NHL.com.
