The Nashville Predators were the clear winners of NHL Free Agency in 2024. They signed three of the game’s top free agents a year ago. Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei were brought in to help this team compete for a Stanley Cup in 2024-25.
Unfortunately, this did not happen. Not only did Nashville miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they didn’t come close. The Predators finished with the third-worst record in the NHL. They ended up in the NHL Draft Lottery, where they ended up with the fifth overall pick.
The players Nashville signed didn’t have terrible seasons, to be fair. However, they also fell quite short of the mark. Stamkos, in particular, did not meet expectations. He finished the season with 27 goals and 53 points in 82 games. His 53 points were the lowest he scored in a non-shortened season since 2015-16.
There is a lot that was said about Nashville’s performance. For Stamkos, perhaps the expectations led to some of the issues. The Predators got off to a bad start, and were unable to climb out of the hole. Things went from bad to worse after that.
“There (were) a lot of external and internal expectations with some of the moves that we made, and (it) didn’t go as planned,” Stamkos said, via Sportsnet’s Adam Vingan. “That just snowballed. I think without the weight of that, maybe that can help our group a little bit. Just go out there and play and not pay attention to what anyone else is saying.”
Steven Stamkos Settling Into New Surroundings
Luke Hales/Getty ImagesThe Nashville Predators and Steven Stamkos failed to live up to expectations in 2024-25.
One thing that certainly had an impact was his new surroundings. Stamkos joined the Predators following 16 years with the Tampa Bay Lightning. It wasn’t a particularly clean divorce, either. Stamkos wanted to remain in Tampa Bay, while it seemed the Lightning were content with moving on.
A change of scenery can be a good thing, of course. Getting a fresh start can help revitalize a player and give them a new jolt of energy on the ice. However, it can also be a difficult adjustment. Especially when you’ve spent nearly two decades in one spot.
“When you’re in one place for so long and you change and things don’t go well, there’s always different emotions,” Stamkos said, via Vingan. “Honestly, I think just coming into training camp this year was day and night compared to where I was last year, in terms of just mentally.”
Predators Believe In Their Process
Nashville wants to build a sustained form of success on the ice. This is certainly not easy to build, but it’s something each team in the league is looking to do. After a poor season like the Predators had, though, teams may go back to the drawing board.
The Predators are not doing this. General manager Barry Trotz spoke back in the spring about his process. He believed his team could be better this season without the weight of expectation placed upon them. Either way, he is sticking with his process for now.
“We’ll probably be a better team after this kind of disappointment. We’ll be a little more engaged to do better. And we’ll stay with the plan. Our plan has always been to continue to go younger in the next couple of years,” Trotz said back in March, via The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.
The Predators have won two of their first three games this season. They take the ice once again on Tuesday night as they continue their road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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