Complete Guide to the 2015 Offseason for the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators made some solid progress this season, as they improved from a record of a record of 38-32-12 with 88 points in 2013-14 to 47-25-10 and 104 points in 2014-15. The addition of Peter Laviolette behind the bench was a major plus, and the effects of hiring him should extend into the foreseeable future.

Going out in the first round of the playoffs has to sting, especially when you consider that they went in with home-ice advantage and almost pulled off an upset over th Chicago Blackhawks.

The 2014-15 season was a step forward, and the first round of the playoffs can be looked at as a teachable moment. There is a lot to take away from the past season, and here’s an early look at the Predators upcoming offseason.

Top Performers: Filip Forsberg was awesome this year, with 26 goals and 63 points, and his playoff hat trick was the perfect response in his first game after finding out he was snubbed for the Calder Trophy. He has a very bright future, and the best is yet to come.

Mike Ribeiro also had an amazing season, and his 62 points in 82 games made him of the best overall values this season when you consider he made just over $1 million this season.

Shea Weber is known as the Predators' top defender, but Roman Josi really emerged as a stud for Nashville this season. He ended the season with 55 points in 81 games, and he stepped up when Weber went down with an injury in the playoffs.

Last but not least is Pekka Rinne. After a strong regular season, he was announced as a finalist for the NHL's Vezina Trophy as top netminder. He struggled down the stretch, but his dominance early on helped Nashville really jump out in front in the Central division.

Biggest Disappointments: James Neal produced in the playoffs for Nashville, but 23 goals and 37 points in 67 games is pretty low for a player of his caliber.

If you glance at his year-to-year stats you will notice that over the last three seasons he averaged just under a point-per-game average. He left Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but there isn't an excuse for him not producing closer to the 1.00 mark while playing alongside Ribeiro and Forsberg.  

He has to be better for the Predators next season, especially when you consider the type of production Patric Hornqvist displayed during his time in Nashville.

Final Assessment: This season is an interesting one, because the Predators weren't expected to be a Stanley Cup contender, and at the same time, they were a Stanley Cup contender.

If the Predators had been able to defeat the Blackhawks, they would have stood a chance against the Minnesota Wild, and a Stanley Cup Final appearance wouldn't have been out of the question. Not having Weber would have been tough, but they would have adjusted.

This season was a huge step forward for Nashville, and it should be looked at as a stepping-stone for the future success of this team.

What will Nashville do to improve their depth on defense? The Predators' defense took a huge hit when Shea Weber was injured, and the stalwart play of Roman Josi and Mattias Ekholm wasn't enough.

Cody Franson was acquired to bolster the team's depth, but wasn't much of a factor down the stretch or during the playoffs. Ryan Ellis was solid, and Victor Bartley was to a degree, but most championship caliber teams have three defender pairings they can lean on.

David Poile added Franson for a reason, and it was probably because he felt the defense wasn't good enough. He was right, and Franson was a non-factor who was an expensive rental player.

When healthy the Predators have Weber and Josi as a sure thing, and after that there is room for interpretation.

There are a number of defensemen who could be available as a UFA, and it is a thought that should be entertained by general manager David Poile when he looks for ways to bolster his team's Cup candidacy for 2015-16.

Seth Jones is 20, and he appears to be on his way to becoming a solid defender, but he only has 169 games of NHL experience. I would say he is a good No. 4 right now, and that is because he is young and prone to make mistakes.

Ekholm also has some potential, but can he replicate his success to the point where he can be looked at as a sure thing on the back end? Potential is one of the greatest things in the world for a young player, but there comes a point where potential needs to shift to actual progress, and that will be something to watch as both Jones and Ekholm enter their third NHL season in 2015-16.

What kind of contract will Mike Ribeiro get? The Arizona Coyotes bought out Ribeiro because of behavioral issues during the summer of 2014, and he was scooped up by the Predators on a one-year, $1.05 million deal. He was down on his luck, and the Predators figured they didn't have anything to lose.

Ribeiro had an amazing season in Nashville, and there is no way he will that much of a bargain next season. He is going to get paid this summer, but will it be by the Predators?

Can the Predators get some bottom-six help? This season the bottom six wasn't a factor for Nashville. Calle Jarnkrok didn't play as well as expected, Matt Cullen's age showed as the season went on, and Viktor Stalberg was a very expensive and often-injured player for 25 games.

The top six for the Predators is very talented, but they need some help further down in the lineup. There is the chance that some prospects can step in and grow, but adding another key forward should be a priority.

What will be the impact of KHL "superstar" Steve Moses? Steve Moses was signed by the Predators out of the KHL, and he is a 5'9" and 172-pound right winger who played NCAA hockey at the Univ. of New Hampshire. He tallied 36 goals and 57 points in 60 KHL games, but how will his game translate to the NHL level?

Mike Ribeiro: Ribeiro was the Predators' first-line center in 2014-15, and should be re-signed without question. He could command a significant raise, but it will be worth it for the offense he provides the Predators.

Mike Fisher: The Predators' No. 2 center had a very good season in which he tallied 39 points in 59 games. He is a very important part of the team, and one that could get a decent raise.

Cody Franson: Franson started his career with the Predators, ended up in Toronto for a number of years and was re-acquired before the trade deadline. He didn't have a significant impact for Nashville, and is likely headed out of town.

Others: Mike Santorelli, Matt Cullen, Anton Volchenkov, Joe Piskula

1. Mike Ribeiro: Locking up their top center is a must, and trying to find someone else would be foolhardy given the chemistry he displayed with Filip Forsberg.

2. Mike Fisher: He is a veteran leader and an integral part of the room in Nashville, and you could see how much his return to the lineup sparked the Predators in the playoffs. His durability remains a common concern, but he is worth re-signing for the impact he brings when he is healthy.

3. Justin Williams: The Predators would be wise to go after Williams if he becomes available, as he'd be an amazing fit for the second or third line. He is a decent scorer, and his acquisition would allow for either Craig Smith or Colin Wilson to move back to center, as both are natural pivots. Williams would probably command a salary in the $4 million to $5 million range, and that is something that could be in the Predators' price range.

Barring any trades between now and the draft, Nashville will make its first draft selection in the second round of the draft at No. 56 overall, and for that reason there isn't any point surmising who could be picked.

Picks this late in the second round are usually a crap shoot, because in most drafts the talent dips from The No. 40 pick on. There are always a number of players who fall from the first to the second round, but they are all usually off the table from No. 40 on.

If they were to make a pick in terms of adding to an organizational weakness, it would make sense to target a right winger.

The Predators have some solid goaltending prospects such as Juuse Saros, Magnus Helberg and Marek Mazanec. They also have Colton Sissons, Austin Watson and Zach Stepan as potential NHL talent down the middle. The defense already features a number of young players as well.

Top prospect Kevin Fiala is a left wing, but there aren't any right wingers in the system that are worth mentioning. The Predators were lucky when Filip Forsberg ended up in their lap via trade, but outside of that they have not been able to develop a true winger in quite sometime. Offense is the name of the game at the NHL level, and that is something that can be improved as a team going forward.

Viktor Stalberg: He makes $3.5 million for the next two seasons and no longer has a place on the roster. He finished the season with only 10 points in 25 games, and his injury history hasn't helped him win anyone over in Nashville.

The organization made a mistake signing him to such a gaudy contract, and they should try and unload it this summer.

Gabriel Bourque: Bourque was a fifth-round draft pick in 2009, and the soon-to-be 25-year-old hasn't really shown anything special thus far.

He only played 12:00 a game in 2014-15, and he is unlikely to supplant anyone in the top-nine next season. He is slated to be an RFA, and the team could free up a roster spot and recoup a draft pick if they decided to flip him. There's a good chance he will be kept to occupy a bottom-six role, but the Predators really could use an upgrade.

1. Draft picks: The Predators could use some quality draft picks to add some prospects to the cupboard. There are a number of veterans on the roster who won't be on the roster in the coming years, and there aren't many "game-breaking" prospects in the pipeline outside of Kevin Fiala.

In a salary cap world, successful teams are able to stay competitive for multiple years because they on-board talented players who are on entry-level contracts. This allows for financial flexibility, and helps teams avoid getting into a salary cap bind. Getting a first-rounder would be ideal, although an early second-round pick would also be beneficial. 

2. Bottom-six scorers: If Nashville can't land a bottom-six scorer in free agency, David Poile should look to the trade market. The Predators' bottom six could be looked at as a weakness during their first-round series against the Blackhawks, and with a deeper lineup they may have advanced to the second round.

1. Kevin Fiala: The skilled left winger was taken in the first round of the 2014 draft and should make his debut next season. Fiala tallied 20 points in 33 games, with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, and could start the 2015-16 season there before getting called up to the NHL.

2. Viktor Arvidsson: Arvidsson had a solid season for the Admirals, and he led the team in scoring with 22 goals and 55 points in 70 games. He took 272 shots during the season and is an offensive prospect who could see some NHL time in 2015-16.

Forwards

• Filip Forsberg—Mike Ribeiro—James Neal
• Colin Wilson—Mike Fisher—Craig Smith
• Kevin Fiala—Calle Jarnkrok—Steve Moses
• Eric Nystrom—Paul Gaustad—Taylor Beck

Defense

• Roman Josi—Shea Weber
• Mattias Ekholm—Seth Jones
• Victor Bartley—Ryan Ellis

Goal

• Pekka Rinne
• Carter Hutton

Stats via NHL.com and Hockey-Reference. Contract information via NHL Numbers.