Predators look to repeat magic run
But reclaiming West hasn’t been done since 2008-09.
The Nashville Predators are proof anything is possible in the NHL playoffs. History suggests they are up against quite a challenge.
Nashville made it into the last postseason as the eighthseeded team in the Western Conference and ended up becoming just the third team seeded last to reach the Stanley Cup Final since 1994.
The Predators couldn’t stop Pittsburgh from repeating, and they’re about to find out how hard it is to defend a championship in their stacked conference. The Western Conference has not had a repeat champion since the Red Wings pulled off the feat in 2008 and 2009, hoisting a Stanley Cup and then losing a Game 7 against the Penguins.
Nashville’s appearance in the playoffs, though, was no fluke. The franchise was in the postseason for the third straight year and the 10th time in 13 seasons. And, the city should be prepared to have a good time again next spring, catfish and all.
“This year, our expectation is to be in the playoffs, but our expectation is also to give ourselves the best opportunity to win hockey games and to play in our building as much as we can because our fans were so great, especially through the run,” defenseman P.K. Subban said. “It was a huge edge for us in the playoffs being at home.”
The Predators seem set up for more success. Mike Fisher retired and was replaced by Penguins center Nick Bonino. General manager David Poile has goaltender Pekka Rinne under contract for two more seasons to go with top-line forwards Viktor Arvidsson, Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg, along with defenseman Subban for at least five years.
“We all know it was a lot of fun, and it was a tremendous experience going through all that,” Johansen said. “At the end of the day like 29 other teams, we didn’t reach our goal.”
Here’s a look at some other things to watch in the West:
Log jam ahead
The Avalanche, the NHL’s worst team last season, may be the only team in the Central Division without a legitimate shot to make the playoffs. The division was so tough last year that Nashville finished a distant fourth behind Chicago, Minnesota and St. Louis.
Each of those teams figures to be just as good this season and will have to compete with Dallas, which seemed to lead the league in major moves. Don’t sleep on Winnipeg, either.
Cautious Connor
The Pacific Division is so stacked even the 20-yearold, reigning NHL MVP with an eight-year, $100 million contract is far from cocky about his team’s chances.
“It’s so competitive,” said Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, who was given an eightyear extension last summer. “It is a grind. And the Pacific, especially, I think you see a lot of teams that are right around that 100-point mark, 95-point mark, that are kind of right on the cusp.”