NHL Playoff Predictions 2012: Predators Will Make Deep Stanley Cup Run

After nearly a decade of solid regular-season play and playoff mediocrity, the Nashville Predators are finally in a position to make their run at a Stanley Cup. 

It all begins with their big-money goaltender, Pekka Rinne. Rinne has been one of the best goalies over the last three years in the NHL, and he's remained in top form even after the Predators made him one of the highest-paid ones. 

The Preds have one of the most balanced scoring attacks in the NHL. Despite leading the team with 58 points, saying Martin Erat is the team's most valuable forward would be a disservice to many players such as Mike Fisher, David Legwand, Patric Hornqvist and Sergei Kostitsyn, who all get on the scoring sheet frequently.

It's hard to say that Nashville would be where they are today without Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. The defensive combo is among the best in the league, capable of shutting down explosive forwards game after game. They also get in on the scoring sheet, with 95 combined points between them. 

The Predators feature the NHL's best power play at 21.6 percent.

This is far from the same Predators team that we saw in the opening game of the 2011-12 season. Since then, they've added Andrei Kostitsyn, whose added 13 points in 19 games and has played motivated hockey thanks to his brother, Sergei.

Perhaps the biggest off-ice moment of the season for Nashville was re-acquiring KHL-star Alexander Radulov. Radulov has been widely considered the best non-NHL player, and he has fit in well with Nashville's system and adds explosive scoring ability.

They also added veteran defenseman Hal Gill and face-off expert Paul Gaustad through trades, adding to their depth at both positions.

Less than a year ago, they were on the verge of rebuilding yet again after losing veterans and long-time producers like J.P. Dumont, Steve Sullivan and Joel Ward. 

But the young talent has flourished in Nashville this year, as first-year skaters like Gabriel Bourque, Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi have contributed much more than expected.

There's no bigger opponent Nashville could have drawn in the first round than the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit has been Nashville's most fierce rival since the franchise's inception, and 2012 marks the first year that the Preds have finished above them in the standings. 

Despite the big-time matchup in the opening round, the Preds' fanbase is looking much further. They want a Stanley Cup, and they finally have a team capable of bringing it to Music City.