One of the main themes that the hockey experts seem to be focused on early this year is how the Nashville Predators turned things around so quickly. That topic of conversation is no surprise considering the Preds have one of the best records in the Western Conference after missing the playoffs entirely a year ago. However, a closer look reveals that the reason for the Predators turnaround has a lot to do with the fact that they were never that bad to begin with. A new face behind the bench, the return of an old one in goal, and the addition of a couple of key pieces on the ice are three reasons Nashville has turned things around.
Laviolette Has Provided A Spark
It’s important to remember when breaking down the Predators success that even when they missed the postseason a year ago they still posted a 38-32-12 record. Ownership and management felt the best course of action this offseason was to hire a new coach that would change the way they played the game and make them a more fun team to watch than they were as a defensive minded team under Barry Trotz. Enter Peter Laviolette, only the second coach in franchise history. Laviolette is a smart coach that knows how to put his players in position to get the most out of their strengths while also making sure that they play a responsible game in their own end as well. Laviolette has done an excellent job in his first year and that’s one reason for Nashville’s turnaround.
Pieces Were In Place
It wouldn’t matter nearly as much that Laviollete is a more offensive minded head coach if the team didn’t have the talent to take advantage of it and there are two key pieces that have made the difference. Rookie Filip Forsberg played 13 games for Nashville a year ago and he didn’t show much flare as a minus-8 with four points but he has looked like a completely different player as a top line scorer with 22 points in 21 games this season. Forsberg has paced the Predators in goals, assists, points, and he is an outstanding plus-18. Factor in the additions of James Neal and Mike Ribeiro up front and suddenly Nashville has an excellent top line of scorers that wasn’t there a year ago.
Rinne, Defense Have Always Been Strong
Shea Weber, Ryan Ellis, Roman Josi, Seth Jones, Mattias Ekholm and Anton Volchenkov make up one of the most complete defensive cores in the league. Volchenkov was added in the offseason while both Ellis and Jones have grown with another year of experience. However, the biggest difference for the Predators in their own end has been the return of Pekka Rinne in goal. Rinne is 14-3-1 with a 1.97 goals against average and .927 save percentage. That is the biggest reason why Nashville owns the second-best goals against average in the NHL with a 2.10 mark. Last year, he was out with hip problems and the Predators tanked. The return of the 2011 and 2012 Vezina Trophy finalist has provided the Predators with the stability they lacked in goal last season. Laviolette’s arrival, combined with the additions of Neal and Ribeiro, as well as the development of Forsberg, are all reasons Nashville has turned things around. But the biggest difference this season has been the return of Rinne in goal as he has given the Predators a chance to win every time they step on the ice.
