As the Nashville Predators get set to play their 30th game of the season on Friday in Carolina they sit in fourth place of the Central Division.
It’s not come easy for this group as they’ve battled teams for close wins. Four of which this month have been by one goal. Regardless, through it all this roster has mustered a 16-13-0 record after going 5-10-0 to start the season.
While the Predators have been figuring out what the lineup looks like and having a rhythm it’s come at a cost. Skaters have been scratched — some for a reset — but as assistant coach Todd Richards claims it’s twofold when talking about the defensive corps.
“Unfortunately a good problem to have when you have seven guys that can play… It’s nice knowing we have that depth so you’re talking about 8-9 defensemen you know can play in this league,” Richards said.
The team is always first and foremost, what gives us the best chance to win each night. I will say — the players from their standpoint — it’s not been an easy situation. Just like any athlete, they want to play and they want to perform very well where they continue to work, and then when it becomes their turn they step right in and they’ve done a good job.”
Defenseman Dante Fabbro has been a healthy scratch five times this season while Tyson Barrie has been for four games.
Barrie asked for permission to speak to other teams through his agent and with that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had an update regarding Nashville’s defense on Thursday.
“Dante Fabbro is a guy who has not been in the lineup all the time. I don’t know that he’s asked for a trade, but I know what young people are like, and in those kinds of situations it’s probably a lot of ‘If I’m not going to play please send me somewhere that I can,”’ Friedman said.
“Carrier is an interesting one. I really liked him. The fact that he’s not permanently in the lineup says to me they’re not sure. But one if not two of these guys I think are eventually going to end up going. Not Schenn I don’t believe. And then we’ll see what Trotz does with some cap room either now or in the offseason.”
Contrary to what Friedman said on his weekly visit with Caroline, Willy & D-Mase Alexandre Carrier was scratched only when he suffered an upper-body injury on Nov. 30 against the Minnesota Wild. He missed four games then came back when the Predators were shutout 4-0 in Toronto last week.
Juuse Saros shoots a puck around the board as he is pressured by forward Travis Konecny.
Nashville’s defense is something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
Back on the offensive side of the puck Richards said he likes how Forsberg uses his size first and foremost when he’s played this season.
“I think he’s at his best when he uses his size first then his skill comes secondary because he uses his physical ability,” Richards said. “I think what’s really helped [Forsberg] this year has been the guys he’s playing with.”
Richards also said on Thursday morning he likes how tenacious forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist are as two-way players on the top forward line with Forsberg.
As the Predators keep trudging along now playing 15 games in 27 days by the time the final horn sounds in Carolina on Friday goaltender Juuse Saros has been a stalwart despite the schedule.
“We had to rely on him too much. It was a great performance,” Richards said of Saros’ outing against Philadelphia. “I know the crowd loves that but from a coaching standpoint, it can turn a couple more hairs on your head grey. We know the group in front of us and we’re going to have games like that.
Since Nov. 18 Saros is 9-1-0 with a goals-against average of 2.23 and a save percentage of .932% and looks like the best version of himself as he’s acclimated to a new system.
Nashville has the Hurricanes on Friday night in Raleigh and welcomes the Washington Capitals to Bridgestone Arena on Saturday for their third back-to-back this season.
Pete Weber has the call alongside Hal Gill in Carolina while Max Herz will be back at the 102.5 The Game studio for the pregame and postgame show.
Listen to the full interview with Todd Richards from Robby & Rexrode on any podcast streaming platform of your choice or click below.
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of Nashville Predators
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