The Predators head into the 2024 offseason hoping they’ve changed the trajectory of the franchise for the better.
Nashville is only days removed from a first-round loss to Vancouver in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, marking the sixth consecutive postseason series loss for the Preds.
But the Predators’ wins (47) and points (99) were the team’s highest since the 2018-19 season, thanks in part to a franchise-record, 18-game point streak (16-0-2) that vaulted Nashville into the playoff picture. The Preds set a franchise record for goals (269), won their first playoff game since 2021 and played an extremely competitive playoff series with the favored Canucks — getting outscored just 13-12.
In addition, Nashville coach Andrew Brunette was named one of three finalists for the NHL's coach of the year award.
So, assuming the Predators are moving in the right direction once again, how do they take the next step? What will it take to win a playoff series, something Nashville hasn’t done since 2018?
Here are five questions for the Preds heading into the offseason:
What’s the plan at goalie?
This is the question on the mind of every Preds fan, as Juuse Saros has just one more year remaining under contract. Nashville could sign Saros to a contract extension beginning July 1, but it would likely be a very pricey deal, something similar to the deals signed by Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck (seven years, $59.5 million) or the New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin (eight years, $66 million) heading into last season.
If the Preds believe top prospect Yaroslav Askarov, the 11th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft, is ready for the NHL, then it may well be time for Nashville to move Saros. That trade would not only bring a nice return — in the form of draft picks and/or prospects — but would also open $5 million of cap space for the coming season.
The 21-year-old Askarov was good for Milwaukee in the American Hockey League this season, with a 30-13-1 record, 2.39 goals against average and .911 save percentage. But in 14 playoff games over two seasons, Askarov is 6-8, with a 2.89 goals against average and .895 save percentage.
Assuming Askarov is with the Preds in some capacity next season, it still seems unlikely he’d play much more than half the games as a rookie. Askarov played 44 regular-season games in Milwaukee in 2023-24 and 48 games in 2022-23. So, would the Predators consider keeping Saros until the trade deadline, breaking Askarov in gradually? Another option: Would the organzation re-sign current No. 2 Kevin Lankinen (a pending unrestricted free agent) and have him split games with Askarov in net next season?
So many questions at this position.
Which free agents to re-sign?
Pending unrestricted free agents on the roster include Lankinen, as well as forwards Jason Zucker, Anthony Beauvillier and Kiefer Sherwood, and defensemen Tyson Barrie and Alexandre Carrier. In addition, defensemen Spencer Stastney and Marc Del Gaizo are restricted free agents, along with forwards Philip Tomasino, Juuso Parssinen, and Egor Afanasyev.
The 32-year-old Zucker isn’t young and he wouldn’t come cheaply, but the Predators may well consider re-signing him after he performed well for the team following an NHL trade deadline deal — collecting seven points (five goals, two assists) in 18 regular-season games. Nashville would like to bring back Carrier, but may decide it’s more cost effective to open up more playing time for the likes of Stastney and Del Gaizo next season.
Sherwood transitioned nicely into Nashville’s identity line this season, chipping in a career-high 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 68 games. But he wouldn’t be considered irreplaceable if the Preds decided to spend money elsewhere. Barrie and Beauvillier are all but gone. Expect the prospects such as Tomasino, Parssinen and Afanasyev to be re-signed, as they should compete for roster spots next season.
How aggressive should the franchise be in free agency?
Per CapFriendly, the Predators have about $19.3 million in cap space, but that’s with just 16 players under contract. In addition, the Preds (as referenced above) have a number of players looking for new contracts.
But as mentioned earlier, the Preds could clear $5 million in cap space by trading Saros. If Nashville does have available funds heading into free agency, a forward that could add scoring punch to the lineup would appear to be a top priority.
This year’s group of pending UFAs isn’t considered a particularly deep one, but there are some talents on the market — led by the likes of Florida’s Sam Reinhart (57 goals, 37 assists during the regular season) and Carolina’s Jake Guentzel (30 goals, 47 assists). Other forwards who might be tempting include players such as New Jersey’s Tyler Toffoli, Vegas’ Jonathan Marchessault, Winnipeg’s Sean Monahan, Toronto’s Tyler Bertuzzi and a couple of players the Preds battled in the playoffs — Vancouver’s Elias Lindholm and Dakota Joshua.
What to do with all those draft picks?
The Predators have a glut of selections in the next two NHL Drafts. In the 2024 draft, Nashville has all nine of its picks in the first four rounds — one in the first, three in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth. In 2025, the Preds have eight selections — including two in the first, one in the second and two in the third.
Will the Predators simply be content to use all those draft picks, adding prospect after prospect to a farm system that is already ranked No. 8 by The Athletic? Or would Nashville consider getting creative with that horde of treasure — perhaps packaging some of those picks in exchange for a top prospect, a top player or the opportunity to move even closer to the top of the first round? Trading some of those picks would represent another way — in addition to free agency — of gaining another impact scorer for the coming season.
How to improve special teams?
In the regular season, the Predators’ power play was average, finishing 16th in the league with a 21.6 percent scoring rate. In Nashville’s six-game playoff series, the success rate plunged, as the Preds converted just two-of-22 opportunities — a 9.1 percent success rate that ranked 14th of 16 teams. An extra power-play goal or two could have made a huge difference in a playoff series that was as close as Nashville’s with Vancouver.
Brunette made it clear before the season that he would be in charge of Nashville’s power play, and it was Brunette who also took responsibility afterward for the poor showing of the man-advantage unit. Improving it for next season has to rank high on Nashville’s priority scale.
The penalty kill flipped the script. Nashville lagged behind much of the NHL during the regular season, finishing with a success rate of just 76.9 percent, 22nd in the league. But the Preds’ penalty kill performed well in the playoffs, killing off 11 of Vancouver’s 13 power plays, an 84.6 percent rate that ranked fifth among playoff teams. Both the Canucks’ power-play goals came in Game 3, a 2-1 win for Vancouver.
Nashville needs to move at least into the top half of NHL penalty killing next season.