It’s safe to say at this point that the Nashville Predators have performed above the expectations that many fans had set for them before the season began. Plenty of “expert” rankings had the team sitting seventh in the Central Division, ahead of only the Arizona Coyotes. Even I had them in that position. But with Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen—among other players—coming out of the funks that they were in under Peter Laviolette, and players like Tanner Jeannot making their rounds in the Calder Trophy talk, the Predators have skyrocketed toward the top.
In the offseason, Mattias Ekholm and Filip Forsberg needed contract extensions.