Nashville Predators: 5 Reasons why they will be successful again this year
![NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 29: Matt Irwin #52, Ryan Hartman #38, and Nick Bonino #13 congratulate teammate Kevin Fiala #22 on scoring the game winning goal in the second period of overtime in a 5-4 Predators victory in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 29, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 29: Matt Irwin #52, Ryan Hartman #38, and Nick Bonino #13 congratulate teammate Kevin Fiala #22 on scoring the game winning goal in the second period of overtime in a 5-4 Predators victory in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 29, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/3fd2e427260c9d78845fe3f31e3eefabc5fd760e8f6a8fe4b9998da2ed7e733b.jpg)
#4 – Being in a tough division will help them
The Central Division will once again be one of the most difficult divisions in the NHL again. The Central again put four teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and had two other teams on the brink of playoff contention. The St. Louis blue narrowly missed the playoffs by one point, as they had 94 points compared to the 95 points the Colorado Avalanche posted. The Dallas Stars fell just short with 92 points.
Those teams should be back this season as well. The Chicago Blackhawks had a down year last year, but will surely be better than last year.
The Predators and the Winnipeg Jets will no doubt be some of the best teams in the NHL, just a year removed from finishing with the first and second best record in the league. The Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild, who both made the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, should be able to create some noise yet again.
The St. Louis Blues made a few moves this offseason to boost a team that was just one win away from a playoff spot. They added Ryan O’Reilly and added three other free agents during the offseason to help boost their play.
The Blackhawks and Stars didn’t make many moves this offseason but could have a chance to contend in the Central Division.
I believe being in a very tough Central Division will only help the Predators. They might struggle at times, but they will be going against some of the best competition whenever they face off against a Central Division team.
The Nashville Predators were a very good 18-5-3 against Central Division foes last season, and if they are able to keep that up against those foes again this season, they will have another successful season.