You have to look further down the roster to really understand why the Nashville Predators are so good. It’s players like Matt Irwin that make this squad difficult to contend with for any team in the NHL. They ran into a buzzsaw in the playoffs with Winnipeg, but their depth helped get them a Presidents’ Trophy and a division title.
Irwin is a rotational guy for head coach Peter Laviolette. He fits in nicely when his number is called. You can count on him to be on the third or fourth defensive pairing and put in productive shifts.