Nashville Predators: Central Battle On The Boards

Oct 9, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators goalie

(35) during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Central Division of the National Hockey League is arguably the toughest division in the NHL, and while the Nashville Predators have made great strides in the off-season to make a playoff run, the talent is still stacked against them. Let me explain.

Peter Laviolette as new head coach was a welcome change for the Predators. His up-tempo, offensive approach to the game is just what the doctor ordered for the Predators, and with the additions of seasoned veterans like  James Neal, Anton Volchenkov, Mike Ribeiro, Olli Jokinen, and Derek Roy, this Predators team will undoubtedly be much improved over last season. Will it be enough though? Probably not this season.

The biggest obstacle in the way for the Predators will just be trying to find enough goal scoring. It doesn’t matter how much more up-tempo a team is if the goal scoring is not there, and sure – the Predators have some top scorers in Shea Weber (23 goals / 33 assists 2013-14) and now James Neal (27 goals / 34 assists 2-13-14), it won’t be enough facing some very tough teams in the Central Division.

Don’t get me wrong. The Nashville Predators are on the rise, and the next few years could well see them vying for a top divisional spot, but they are still learning a new system under a new head coach, and those kinds of changes just take time.

Predators fans, stay with me as I outline the way I think the NHL Central Division will fall as the 2014-15 season comes to a close. I hope I’m dead wrong of course, because many of you won’t like where I have our beloved Predators. Read on…