The Nashville Predators - Playoffs, No Way

(Editor's Note: I will be giving the Predators, Islanders, Coyotes, and possibly the Lightning a very brief treatment. I am lagging behind.)

Predators Cap Situation

2009-10 Projected Lines

Erat-Arnott-Dumont
?-Legwand-?

Jones-?-Tootoo
Pihlstrom-Smithson-Belak

Weber-Suter
Hamhuis-?
?-Klein

Rinne
Ellis

Future Watch: Patric Hornqvist should almost certainly win the 2nd line RW job. Colin Wilson had a stellar sophomore season at BU, leading the team in points. Cal O'Reilly has been a terrific assist man for Milwaukee and might finally crack the roster next season.

Free Agent Discussion

Money Available: 10.5 million
Holes to fill: 5

Who Nashville will look at: Nothing fancy, of course. They might get a Jordan Leopold sort of player for defense, along with a 'minutes-eater' type. Up front, re-signing Steve Sullivan is certainly a possibility. Nashville will not break the bank and is unlikely to acquire anything exciting.

Outlook: Nashville barely missed the playoffs but had a negative goal differential. They are a stellar drafting team but due to budget issues they gambled on Peter Forsberg and lost and are still paying the price for losing that deal. As long as Nashville continues to draft and find talent the way they have these last few seasons, they will be a team that is on the cusp of making the playoffs. Without more money put in the team, however, they are unlikely to do any damage once they get there.