It was a nightmare season for the Nashville Predators. Everything that could’ve gone wrong in 2024-25 went wrong. Star players took steps back. Promising rookies endured sophomore slumps. Even star goaltender Juuse Saros put up the worst numbers of his career with a paltry .896 save percentage.
But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost for the Predators.
The majority of the team had criminally low shooting percentages. Head coach Andrew Brunette struggled to find consistent line combinations. Inconsistency and injury derailed hopes of a playoff push. But that doesn’t have to be the case this season. Nearly every player is poised for a big bounce back, but these three players in particular could be the difference-maker for the Predators moving forward.
Steven Stamkos Needs Consistency
Stamkos bucked the trend of low shooting percentages with a surprising 15.5% last season. Having said that, the former Tampa Bay Lightning star isn’t the 60 goal-scorer he once was. While he did manage 27 goals and 26 assists, he wasn’t the key difference-maker the Predators had hoped he’d be for the roster.
The main problem led in Stamkos’ deployment. The Predators struggle between playing Stamkos at center or on the wing. At 35 years of age, Stamkos isn’t going to be the high-flying center he was for Tampa. Deploying him on the wing gives the Predators an additional scoring threat while relieving Stamkos of the defensive responsibilities at center.
Luke Evangelista Needs Breakout with Predators
Luke Evangelista played his first full NHL season in 2023-24, putting up a promising 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points in 80 NHL games. At just 22 years of age, he looked ready to take his next big step in 2024-25. Unfortunately, the second-line forward experienced the woes of a sophomore slump, with 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points in 68 games.
While he struggled to mesh with his line mates in the early season, he managed a late-season rally in March and April. 16 of his 32 points came in the last 23 games of the season. Now, with the new season approaching, he’s received a qualifying offer and looks to bounce back.
“We’re just trying to find a term that fits,” general manager Barry Trotz said on Evangelista’s qualifying offer. “I would like to go longer. The agents are hesitant to go longer on term.”
Michael Bunting Needs to Find Role with Predators
Michael Bunting, acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, couldn’t make the splash the Predators hoped he would. In 18 games with the club, he managed just five goals and four assists, playing 16 minutes a night with Ryan O’Reilly and Jonathan Marchessault.
If Bunting can’t make an impact next season, he runs the risk of losing his spot to a player like Fedor Svechkov or Erik Haula. A lot of these inconsistencies could be chalked up to the abrupt change in scenery. Still, Bunting needs a big breakout season if he wants to stay on the team’s top-six.
“When I looked at our our roster, there’s certain elements that I felt that we still needed,” Trotz said on a post-trade press conference. “Michael Bunting has a little of that sandpaper…I felt that there was an element that I can use. Plus he’s a one-year guy, so it gives me more flexibility.”
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