Fantasy season preview: Nashville Predators
Every year experts around the National Hockey League wonder if the Nashville Predators have what it takes to make the post-season and nearly every year the Predators seem to qualify with ease. This season is expected to be no different, as pundits suggest
the Predators have finally lost their edge. However, it would not be far fetched to expect Nashville to prove them wrong again.
As consistent as the Predators are, they are not a team loaded with fantasy hockey talent. In fact you would be hard-pressed to say that any of their players should be selected in the top-two rounds. Nevertheless, the club does boast incredible depth and
is known for giving youngsters prominent roles.
Forward
The Predators are not a goal-scoring machine and therefore up front there is not a lot in the way of top-level talent. However, because the franchises lack notoriety they do boast several sleeper selections.
Perhaps one of the biggest sleeper selections of this year is Patric Hornqvist. The 23-year-old broke out last season, making himself the Predators go-to offensive weapon. Hornqvist is an all-round player and is perfect for rotisserie leagues and keeper
pools. Last season he tallied 30 goals, and 51 points to go along with a plus-18 rating, 10 power-play-points and eight game-winning-goals. Expect the youngster to improve on these numbers next year.
Also a sleeper for next season is the newly acquired Matthew Lombardi, who registered 53 points for the Phoenix Coyotes last year. Lombardi is not a top flight NHL centre, but will be getting first line minutes this year and is a great late pick in the draft.
One player worth keeping your eye on is Colin Wilson. Wilson suited up for 35 games last year and tallied eight goals and 15 points. If he is able to improve over a full season in the League he could be a great pick-up off waivers.
Defence
At the back end the Predators are slightly more confident. They are a defensive club, but are capable of generating offence from the blue line.
The Preds have arguably one of the better defenseman in the League in Shea Weber. Weber had a slightly off year last season, but still managed to tally 16 goals and 43 points along with seven PP and three GW. Nashville also has promising youngster Ryan Suter
to build off on their blue line. Suter registered 37 points last year, but is expected to improve in 2010-11. He could be a great pick-up just before the mid-way point of a draft.
The rookie of note on the Predators' back end is Cody Franson. Last season Franson registered six goals and 21 points in 61 games to go along with a plus-16 rating. Nashville has high hopes for this youngster, who is sure to garner more ice-time with the
departure of Dan Hamhuis.
Goaltending
The Predators enter into 2010-11 without a goaltending controversy for the first time in several years. The Preds have given the starting job to Pekka Rinne, who was magnificent last year with 32 wins a 2.53 goals-against-average and a .911 save-percentage,
to go along with seven shut outs. Rinne is the real deal and can certainly be considered a number one goalie in any fantasy league.
The Predators' situation gets interesting when looking at the possible back-ups for next season. The squad is currently auditioning Chet Pickard, Anders Lindback and Mark Dekanich. Currently Dekanich is said to have the best chance of starting the season
with the club and although he is not worth a selection he is worth keeping your eye on. Nashville has become a goaltending machine and it would not be implausible for Dekanich to blossom into a strong back-up.
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