Dobber’s offseason fantasy hockey grades – Nashville Predators

For the last 17 years (12 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 18th annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the ~~summer~~…er, winter. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead as well as the foreseeable future. Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worthy of owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are what I take into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

Enjoy!

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Gone – Korbinian Holzer, Daniel Carr, Craig Smith, Austin Watson, Steven Santini, Kyle Turris, Colin Blackwell, Nick Bonino, Dan Hamhuis, Yannick Weber

Incoming – Nick Cousins, Brad Richardson, Matt Benning, Erik Haula, Mark Borowiecki, Luke Kunin,

Impact of changes – From a fantasy standpoint, the organization changed the dynamic when they shed themselves of fading value players Turris and Smith. While Kunin does have a bit of upside, he can also play any role and any position. So his value early on will likely be as a two-way checker. Prospect Eeli Tolvanen was at the top of the list when it comes to filling offensive roles, but when the Predators brought back Mikael Granlund and signed Haula, it pretty much ensured that Tolvanen will spend most of the year in the minors. And that's fine, because he doesn't seem to be quite ready for NHL hockey. The diminutive Rocco Grimaldi, as well as the versatile Calle Jarnkrok, each of whom are coming off of very strong seasons, will again have to fight for respect. Grimaldi should see a bit more ice time thanks to the loss of Smith.

From a 'real' hockey standpoint, the Preds got a little grittier on the back end. It will make an understated difference being able to put Borowiecki and Benning out there as a third pairing instead of Hamhuis and Weber. And the loss of grit from Watson is potentially recaptured by prospect Yakov Trenin, who appears to be NHL-ready.

Ready for full-time – Tolvanen was an elite prospect and prolific KHL scorer as a teenager. His time with Nashville and Milwaukee has been a bit of a struggle in terms of the transition, and many poolies have soured on him a little. However, he really turned things around in the second half last season in the AHL as he had 19 points in his last 20 games for Milwaukee. COVID-19 cut the season short, but that just means that other fantasy owners are sleeping on him. He'll be the second guy called up (after Trenin, below) when the Preds need a forward. Look for a huge AHL campaign.

Trenin is a potential 200-Hits forward who also has some offensive upside. He had 35 points in 32 AHL games last season, so he obviously has that league figured out. His improvement year-over-year was very dramatic, as he had just 33 points in far more games (74) the season prior. He could be the perfect third-line player this season, and much more down the road.

It's now or never for Alexandre Carrier, who turned 24 in October. He has played four seasons in the AHL and runs the risk of being a career minor leaguer if he can't stick this time around. There is room for him as the No.7 guy. Although he was a solid AHL producer (37 points in 55 games last season), as a depth guy in Nashville he may not even reach the 10-point mark in a shortened season.

Philip Tomasino is Nashville's prized prospect after he destroyed the OHL last year with 100 points in just 62 contests. Because he is still junior eligible, they won't be able to send him to the AHL. Because he has nothing left to prove in junior hockey, the Preds may keep him up for a six-game stint before sending him down. If he can produce, then maybe they hang onto him in the pros.

Nashville Predators prospect depth chart and fantasy upsides can be found here

Fantasy Outlook – Last season the Predators finished 16^th in league scoring after placing 19^th the year prior. Last season was tougher than it should have been in terms of scoring, as Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson each struggled a lot, not to mention Turris and Granlund. If those first two and Granlund can rebound, the team should be able to move up into the top 15 for goals scored. But you know what would help these things? If Filip Forsberg would stop teasing us, stop getting hurt, and just get to that elusive point-per-game level already. The domino effect on such a thing would be tremendous, and felt throughout the lineup.

Roman Josi has emerged as a top defenseman in the entire league (he actually won an award that says those very words) and for the longest time he was pushing a point-per-game pace last season.

The goaltending is solid, helped along by a consistent team-style of coaching. So Juuse Saros and Pekka Rinne should post decent numbers. The problem there is that they cannibalize each other's starts, making neither of them a top fantasy own. The prospect pipeline is above average at forward, slightly below average on defense (featuring David Farrance), and elite in net (with Connor Ingram and Yaroslav Askarov).

Fantasy Grade: B- (last year was B)

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2020 Offseason Fantasy Hockey Grades