After a rousing and surprising postseason run Nashville’s expansion strategy is clear – protect that blue line. The Predators’ top-four defensive core may be the best in the game, and they’ll need to adopt the eight skaters/one goalie protection plan instead of shielding seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie to keep it in tact.
Forward Decisions
Four forwards – Filip Forsberg (31 G, 27 A), James Neal (23 G, 18 A with great possession numbers and one year removed from 58 points), and RFAs Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson who tied for the club lead in scoring with 61 points, will all be protected.