Nashville Predators
47-30-5, 99 Pts. 4th Central, 11th Overall
3.24 GF/GP (10th), 3.02 GA/GP (14th), 21.6 PP% (16th), 76.9 PK% (22nd)
Top scorer: Filip Forsberg. 82 GP. 48-46-94, 32 PPP, 11 GWG, 347 Shots, 141 Hits, 18:54 TOI/GP
2024-25 BetMGM Stanley Cup Odds:
Opening: +3500
Current: +1600 (as of August 22, 2024)
Ticket: 9.7%. Handle: 9.8% (as of August 22, 2024)
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2023-24 Fantasy Recap
In mid-November, the Preds were 5-10-0 and just lost to the Ducks. They were kind of left for dead but what followed next was one of the most thrilling rides in fantasy hockey last season.
Filip Forsberg had an incredible 94-point season and pulled Gustav Nyquist and Ryan O’Reilly to 75 and 69 points, respectively. Along with Roman Josi, who remains a perennial top-five fantasy defenseman, the Preds rode the wave to a surprising playoff berth.
That big line, along with Juuse Saros, who led the league in appearances for the third straight season, and also led in shots against and saves for the second straight season, did virtually all the heavy lifting.
No other player scored more than Tommy Novak‘s 45 points, and the rest of the roster boasted very little in fantasy value. The only exception was human battering ram Jeremy Lauzon, whose 111 blocks and record-setting 383 (!) hits in the cap era made him particularly valuable in banger leagues. (Yours truly was definitely pleased to have rostered him).
Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
2024-25 Fantasy Outlook
Ah, the good stuff. The Preds were big surprises (again) in free agency, landing two of the most coveted forwards: long-time Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and original ‘Misfit’ Knight Jonathan Marchessault. The Preds took advantage of two cornerstone players who had been cast aside rather unceremoniously by their previous clubs, adding 82 (!) goals to a team that already had a top-10 offense.
The Preds had fully embraced and executed Andrew Brunette’s more up-tempo offense, and Stamkos and Marchessault should fit right in. Though they may not score 40 goals, it’s possible the Preds will boast three 30-goal scorers, something they’ve never had before.
It’s necessary depth scoring because it’s unlikely O’Reilly and Nyquist can replicate their scoring pace. Forsberg has a chance; he just needs to stay healthy. But with the addition of two top-six forwards, O’Reilly will likely used more in a matchup role with fewer minutes on…