Last season: 47-30-5, lost to Vancouver in six games in first round of playoffs. COACH: Andrew Brunette (82-47-30 over 2 seasons with 2 teams, 2 playoff berths) SEASON OPENER: Oct. 10 vs.
Dallas. DEPARTURES: D Ryan McDonagh, F Cody Glass and G Yaroslav Askarov. ADDITIONS: F Steven Stamkos, F Jonathan Marchessault, D Brady Skej and G Scott Wedgewood.
GOALIES: Juuse Saros (35-24-5, 2.86 GAA, 0.906 save percentage) and Wedgewood (16-7-5-, 2.
85 GAA, 0.899). BETMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 16-1.
The Predators put together a franchise-record 18-game point streak, rallying from 27th in the NHL at Thanksgiving to reach the postseason for the ninth time in 10 seasons. That ties Nashville with Tampa Bay and Washington for most playoff berths in that span. During the streak, the Predators not only outscored opponents 74-33, they averaged an NHL-best 4.
11 goals per game and allowed the fewest (1.83). Nashville lost to Vancouver in six games in a taut series, but the performance to get there gave Nashville executives the courage to go all-in.
General manager Barry Trotz opened free agency with a big spending spree and also signed Saros to an eight-year deal. He bolstered Nashville's scoring depth, especially on the power play, and added Stanley Cup champions in Stamkos and Marchessault, hoping to make another run at the Stanley Cup. The good: Once the Predators came together in Brunette's first season as coach, they tied for sixth in the NHL with 24 road wins, one off the franchise record set in.