Does any team have a bigger buzz around it than the Nashville Predators?
In less than a year, the Predators have been involved in two of the biggest blockbusters in recent history, acquiring center Ryan Johansen and defenseman P.K. Subban and continuing the transformation of a once defense-first hockey club into an exciting, puck-possession, offensive outfit.
The end result? The Preds enter the season as a popular pick to go a long way.
"There's no question that the expectations are maybe higher than they've ever been before," said veteran Predators GM David Poile. "I have to take that as a good thing. I realize we haven't won a game yet, we have to play them, and all those clichés I can give you. But the fact is, a lot of people think we have a good club and I believe our players think that, I know our coaches do, and we'll do our best to fulfill our expectations."
Last season's first-round win against the Anaheim Ducks signaled the Predators' ascension. They'll need veteran goalie Pekka Rinne to bounce back this season and they'll need goals from players other than Filip Forsberg and James Neal.
But with the NHL's best blue-line corps led by Roman Josi, the sky's the limit for this team.
Best new faces
Subban brings his razzle-dazzle game to the Music City in what seems like a perfect fit, not just in the sense of a market embracing his ebullient personality, but certainly on the ice where head coach Peter Laviolette espouses an aggressive, offensive-minded game. Subban should feel he has more freedom here than he did in Montreal.
Joining a blue-line that already has Josi -- is there a Norris Trophy in his near future? -- as well as Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, Yannick Weber and Matt Carle underlines this team's No. 1 strength: puck-possessing, puck-moving D.
Carle might prove to be a sneaky signing at just one year for $700,000. Bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 30, and freed of the burden of that big contract he signed, a third-pairing role with low expectations should bode well for the veteran Carle on this team. Plus, he's reunited with Laviolette, under whom he played some of his best hockey with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in his career.
Biggest unknowns
Who else will score goals other than Forsberg (33 goals last season) and Neal (31 goals)?
How about Colin Wilson, who had just six goals and 18 assists in 64 regular-season games last season but then put up five goals and eight assists in 14 playoff games? Everyone loves a player who steps up come playoff time, which Wilson also did the previous spring with five playoff goals in six games, but the Predators would love Wilson, 26, to also show that kind of production in the regular season. It would go a long way to alleviate the team's scoring concerns up front.
"Absolutely. That is a question," said Poile. "We've kind of labeled him 'Playoff Wilson.' Well, we need him to be not only Playoff Wilson but also "Regular-Season Wilson.' There's no question he can do it because we've seen it on occasion the last two playoffs. This year, he's a year older, more mature, wiser, our expectations are very high for him to have a good regular season in addition to a good playoffs. Just by him scoring at the rate that he should be, that could be a huge difference for us."
Another unknown is Rinne, who turns 34 in early November. After years of saving this team's bacon, the aging goalie must now prove he's still capable of a prime-time performance. His save percentage dipped from .923 in 2014-15 to .908 last season. Rinne needs to be good for the Predators to be a true Cup contender.
And finally, what about the loss of longtime captain Shea Weber, traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Subban? His presence in the dressing room leaves a crater on the leadership front, no matter what anybody says. Talk to other players on Team Canada during the World Cup, not to mention head coach Mike Babcock, and the respect and admiration for Weber as a leader is through the roof.
Veteran center Mike Fisher was named captain, an excellent choice; he's as respected as any player in that room. But it remains a question mark entering this season how the team will fill Weber's overall leadership skills.
Sure things
The blue-line corps, as mentioned, for my money is the best in the NHL. It's going to carry this team to many a win this season.
Up front, Forsberg continues to improve as an elite goal scorer, and he's only 22. He put up 26 goals in his first full NHL season two years ago and followed that up with 33 last season. No reason he can't get to 37-40 goals this season if he stays healthy.
Prediction
I'm banking on Rinne bouncing back and the offense up front getting better. I just love the way this team plays and how that blue-line corps is constructed. The Central Division race is going to be an absolute beast, where I'd argue four teams can all win it. But give me the Preds atop the division when the regular season ends in April, and a deep playoff run to follow. First in the Central.