With the trade deadline fast approaching and every team in a playoff spot, or on the bubble, we must discuss what each team is looking for. You probably have read the edition of Rank counting down the top ten players on the trading block right now, if not here is a link. So you know who is available, but where are they going? Over the next two weeks we will take a look at what some of these potential playoff teams need to become Stanley Cup contenders.
The first team we will look at is an annual dark-horse pick to make a run in the playoffs, the Nashville Predators. This team has been built on defense and goaltending for over a decade. However, since the firing of Barry Trotz and hiring of Peter Laviolette the Predators have certainly become a bigger offensive threat. This was made obvious when they traded shutdown defenseman Shea Weber for the dynamic P.K. Subban this past offseason.
The Predators are the perfect example of a team heading into the deadline that could use some help to put them over the hump. Currently they sit 4th in the Central Division and #1 in the Wild Card for the west. A mere three points from missing the playoffs. Oddly, this season the Predators are one of those teams that do not do anything very well, but are not bad either. They rank near the middle of the league in almost every team statistic. Goals for, goals against, powerplay, penalty kill are all average. However, they can be explosive. This was evident in their 5-3 win Monday night over the Dallas Stars, where they were down 3-1 in the second period.
They have very good group of top-six defensemen. P.K. Subban and Roman Josi make-up possibly the most dynamic top pairing in the league. Ellis, Ekholm, Yannick Weber and Irwin make for excellent second and third pairings. So defense is not an issue. If they wanted some cheap depth, maybe Dennis Seidenberg from the Islanders. However, I think there will be more teams in greater need that drive up the price there.
Goalie has not been an issue in a very long time for Nashville. Pekka Rinne has been the backbone there and that continues. No need to search for a #1 goalie. Although they are weak in the backup spot. Juuse Saros is an undersized and unproven netminder. The team is just .500 in games he's started this year, 5-5. Having a strong backup goalie may not matter in the playoffs, as they rarely play, but it does matter in getting you to the playoffs. The Predators are a team on the bubble and cannot afford to let games slip away when Rinne is unable to start. Look for teams like Dallas, Colorado, Detroit and St. Louis to be shopping high end backup goalies.
The Predators biggest concern is top six forwards. Their first line is very solid with Neal, Forsberg and Johansen. They even discovered a great second line scorer in Viktor Arvidsson. However, they do not have a true second line center or right wing. Mike fisher is a great third line center, or a low end second line guy. If they could upgrade and push Fisher to the third line, it would be a nightmare matchup for opponents in a seven game series. They just do not have anyone worth making a permanent second line right wing. That is the most glaring hole on this team and it needs fixed if they will have any success in the playoffs. The Predators are rumored to be one of the many teams in the discussion for Matt Duchene. He would solve a lot of their issues, but I am not sure they would be willing to pay the price to get him. More logical solutions would be Thomas Vanek or Jarome Iginla. Older players that would not cost as much to get. Also, they would fit very well in Nashville's system. Another option that could potentially solve both these issues is Martin Hanzal. He can play center or wing and would give the Predators flexibility to use him differently depending on the matchup. I am not sure Nashville is in the running for Hanzal. At this point it sounds like Hanzal to Montreal is a done deal.
If the Predators can fill these couple holes with quality players, they will be a very scary team in the Western Conference playoffs. I expect Nashville to be active at the deadline. They have already made two blockbuster trades in the past year and are hungry for playoff success.
The first team we will look at is an annual dark-horse pick to make a run in the playoffs, the Nashville Predators. This team has been built on defense and goaltending for over a decade. However, since the firing of Barry Trotz and hiring of Peter Laviolette the Predators have certainly become a bigger offensive threat. This was made obvious when they traded shutdown defenseman Shea Weber for the dynamic P.K. Subban this past offseason.The Predators are the perfect example of a team heading into the deadline that could use some help to put them over the hump. Currently they sit 4th in the Central Division and #1 in the Wild Card for the west. A mere three points from missing the playoffs. Oddly, this season the Predators are one of those teams that do not do anything very well, but are not bad either. They rank near the middle of the league in almost every team statistic. Goals for, goals against, powerplay, penalty kill are all average. However, they can be explosive. This was evident in their 5-3 win Monday night over the Dallas Stars, where they were down 3-1 in the second period.
Goalie has not been an issue in a very long time for Nashville. Pekka Rinne has been the backbone there and that continues. No need to search for a #1 goalie. Although they are weak in the backup spot. Juuse Saros is an undersized and unproven netminder. The team is just .500 in games he's started this year, 5-5. Having a strong backup goalie may not matter in the playoffs, as they rarely play, but it does matter in getting you to the playoffs. The Predators are a team on the bubble and cannot afford to let games slip away when Rinne is unable to start. Look for teams like Dallas, Colorado, Detroit and St. Louis to be shopping high end backup goalies.
If the Predators can fill these couple holes with quality players, they will be a very scary team in the Western Conference playoffs. I expect Nashville to be active at the deadline. They have already made two blockbuster trades in the past year and are hungry for playoff success.
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