BT's 2009/10 NHL Season Preview: Nashville Predators

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

On to our last division of the Western Conference, it's time for the Central Division.

Nashville Predators

2008/09 Record: 40-34-8 188 points, 10th in West

Additions: Ben Quite—F (FA), Marcel Goc—F (FA)

Subtractions: Scott Nichol—F (FA), Ville Koistinen—D (FA), Vernon Fiddler—F (FA), Greg Zanon—D (FA), Radek Bonk—F (Russia), Antti Pihlstrom—F (Sweden), Greg DeVries—D (FA)

The Predators are in a great spot, which may be a surprise for most people.

Looking at the offseason departures, what the Preds lost were a lot of fringe, role, and bench players as they were able to retain all of their big-timers for another year and re-sign the key pieces.

What’s even better for fans of the Prehistoric Cats is that the vacated roles are going to be filled with young, talented players that should thrive in the immediate future.

Lather, Rinne, Repeat…

Last year Pekka Rinne was one of the most pleasant surprises in the NHL.

After trading starters Tomas Vokoun and Chris Mason in previous seasons, it was expected that Dan Ellis would be able to shoulder the starting load.

Although Ellis played moderately well in the game action he saw last year, he did little to prove that he was more than a backup, thrusting Rinne into the spotlight.

And from that thrust, Rinne never looked back.

Entrenching himself firmly as the starter, Rinne set up a great rookie campaign, earning 29 wins along with a tidy .917 save percentage and an impressive 2.38 goals-against.

The latest success story out of now-goalie factory Finland, Rinne used a very big frame to his advantage, helping to prove that the AHL career he crafted for himself was no fluke.

Looking at him technically, there’s no reason to assume Rinne would have lost a step, and at 26 he’s just entering the prime of his career—which is great news for the Predators, as it gives them a bit of an advantage over their Central Division opponents who have to answer questions about their tender rotation.

Speaking of which, here are those questions I'm thinking of: Whether Chris Osgood will just turn it on in playoffs again, how good can a 33-year old Chris Mason be, and possibly Christobel Huet—although he'll be better as a straight-up starter but we'll get to that in their preview.

Kanye: You know what? Those are some great questions and I respect them, but I have to say: LARRY KING HAS THE BEST QUESTIONS EVER!! WOULD YOU EVER NOT ANSWER A MAN NAMED LARRY? NO. 'CAUSE HE'S THE BEST!!

BT: Why do you even feel like this is necessary?

Then again, once rookie Chet Pickard has established himself and become “elite” at the AHL level, there could be a few goaltending questions of Nashville’s own to answer.

Fortunately, that’s only crystal ball material as Rinne will have it locked down this season.

Does it Suter you? Like a spider spinning a Weber it does…

The Predators (and Rinne) are also fortunate to feature one of the strongest defenses in the league as well.

Of course at the top of it all is the multi-faceted Shea Weber, whose physicality, size, awareness, and offensive ability all amount to one of the best defensemen in the league, whose able to play in any and all situations.

Matching up alongside him is Ryan Suter, who is the perfect compliment to Weber.

While Weber features the big blast from the point on the power play, Suter can not only find his man with a crisp pass, but he can also unleash a huge point shot of his own. Defensively Suter seemed to struggle a bit last season (posting a putrid -16), but history may prove that to be little more than an aberration.

Dan Hamhuis will also be back for the Preds, as he went to the Team Canada orientation camp alongside Weber which says a lot about the consensus thoughts of Hamhuis.

A good offensive presence from the back end that can move the puck, Hamhuis relies on his vision to make that first pass out of the zone. He’s buoyed by the fact that Weber and Suter protect him from being a “feature player” on the back end, eliminating some pressure as both eat up a little extra ice time.

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