The Nashville Predators' 2019-20 season was a bit of a roller coaster. After landing Matt Duchene in free agency, the team struggled through the first half, and fired Peter Laviolette, replacing him with John Hynes. The NHL's pause on March 12 came as they were still jelling as a club, and they lost in the qualification round of the postseason.
With more time to absorb Hynes' system, the Predators should be more of a cohesive unit in 2020-21. Here's everything you need to know before opening night:
Big question: Can this team score enough goals?
The Predators had a middling offense last season, scoring one or fewer goals in nearly 20% of the team's games. Defenseman Roman Josi led the scoring with 65 points, and no forward posted more than 50 points. What's more, the Predators said goodbye to Nick Bonino and Craig Smith, who each scored 18 goals -- second to only Filip Forsberg (21) on the team.
GM David Poile brought in some fresh faces and left some lineup spots open for young players; can anyone break through and help this offense out?
Did realignment hurt or help?
The Central Division was getting wildly competitive, so the Predators got some relief by switching to this new-look version. The only two powers here are the Lightning and Stars. The Predators find themselves in the next tier of "pesky challengers," which also includes the Hurricanes, Blue Jackets and Panthers.
Offseason comings and goings, plus the cap situation
Nashville has $7,442,190 in projected cap space, according to Cap Friendly. The Predators bought out Kyle Turris this offseason, ending a stressful three-year relationship. They also parted with veteran forwards Nick Bonino and Craig Smith, plus Austin Watson and Colin Blackwell. The Predators brought in forwards Erik Haula, Brad Richardson, and Nick Cousins, along with defensemen Mark Borowiecki and Matt Benning. They also re-signed Mikael Granlund and have Yannick Weber in camp on a professional tryout.
Bold prediction
Filip Forsberg scores 27 goals. In a normal season, that would have him on pace for 40 goals, which would make him the franchise's first-ever 40-goal scorer. Blame 2020 for delaying this from actually becoming a reality.
Breakout candidate: Luke Kunin
The obvious answer is Eeli Tolvanen, who should finally get a regular role after scoring 21 goals in 63 games for the Preds' AHL team last season. Also keep an eye on teeanger Philip Tomasino, who scored 40 goals and 60 assists in 62 OHL games last season. However Kunin, 23, is the surest bet, especially since he started to find his game (career-high 15 goals, 31 points) with the Minnesota Wild last season before being traded to Nashville.
Biggest strength: Goaltending
Though 25-year-old Juuse Saros has officially taken the reins from Pekka Rinne, expect both Finns to have a big role this season (it's too early to count out Rinne completely). Strong duo.
Biggest weakness: Special teams
The Predators' power play ranked 24th in the NHL last season (17.3%) and they were 28th on the penalty kill (76.1%). Poile brought in several players who should help specifically on the penalty kill, including Borowiecki, Benning, Cousins and Richardson, the latter of whom was Arizona's top penalty-killing forward last season, a unit that ranked fifth in the NHL.
Predators in NHL Rank
No. 12: Roman Josi, D
No. 60: Ryan Ellis, D
No. 90: Filip Forsberg, C
Prospect perspective
Pipeline ranking: 16
Prospects in the top 100: No. 8 Yaroslav Askarov (G), No. 45 Philip Tomasino (LW), No. 64 Eeli Tolvanen (LW)
Fantasy facts to know
No question, the Predators need more from Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen after both underperformed in 2019-20. Whoever slides in aside Filip Forsberg -- Nashville's only forward to eclipse the 0.70 point-per-game mark last season (0.76) -- stands the best chance of enjoying a revival of sorts. My bet is Johansen earns first crack at the gig, which could reward fantasy managers willing to give the 28-year-old another shot.
Winger Eeli Tolvanen is one to watch as a potential breakout talent, competing as a top-six forward and power-play asset. Following up an admirable performance with the Milwaukee Admirals last season, the 21-year-old will be in game shape straight away after playing with Jokerit this fall in the KHL.
Nashville's crease clearly belongs to up-and-comer Juuse Saros ("up-and-coming" for about five seasons now) as Pekka Rinne waltzes into the final year of his contract and 39th on the planet. Brief playoff run aside -- in which Rinne sat idle -- Saros was better than his mentor in all facets, signaling a changing of the guard in the Predators' net. The additions of blueliners Matt Benning and Mark Borowiecki only help bolster the team's defense all around.
Endeavoring to imitate his Norris Trophy-winning season, Roman Josi serves as the Predators' brightest fantasy star. Averaging 3.77 shots per game, the dominating defenseman notched 16 goals and 49 assists, including 23 power-play points, in 69 games last season. He also doesn't shy away from blocking shots -- a significant bonus in the new ESPN standard scoring settings. At age 30, Josi is the full fantasy package and shouldn't last beyond the second round in most drafts. -- Victoria Matiash