For the last 21 years (12 with The Hockey News) Dobber and the team have reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 22nd annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer. 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 we take into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

Enjoy!

Gone – Ryan McDonagh, Kiefer Sherwood, Jason Zucker, Tyson Barrie, Kevin Lankinen, Anthony Beauvillier

Incoming – Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Skjei, Scott Wedgewood

Impact of changes – After last season's UFA signings produced one of the best top-line performances in team history, along with a playoff appearance, the Predators have gone back to the free agent well to try and boost their performance once again. The impact will immediately be felt throughout the lineup, with the additions creating a much more dangerous second line, which will in turn free up matchups for the top line, as well as re-slotting role players into more ideal lineup spots. This is a big win for all the offensive contributors, without greatly reducing the role of anyone with fantasy relevance.

There will be a change with the top power play, with at least Colton Sissons as possibly Gustav Nyqusit getting the boot to the second unit. Those changes will also impact how well Jonathan Marchessault will fit into the new role, as one of him or Nyquist should be that fifth man.

On defence, removing Barrie and McDonagh while replacing them with Skjei means that there shouldn't be as much rotating between NHL defencemen as there was last year. It also means Jeremy Lauzon (last year's NHL Hits leader) likely has a safe and full-time spot in the lineup. Skjei likely steps in as the second power play anchor, with Roman Josi maintaining his elite status with his spot on the first unit.

Ready for Full Time –

Last year we mentioned the forward trio of Luke Evangelista, Juuso Parssinen, and Philip Tomasino, were all ready for full seasons. Only Evangelista did play the full year, putting up a point every second game. Tomasino saw similar success in his 40 games but spent a lot of time in the AHL as well. Parssinen scored half as well in his 40 NHL games and wasn't keeping up to Tomasino's pace in the AHL either. Compared to Parssinen, Tomasino probably has the inside track on the one available forward spot on a line with Colton Sissons and Luke Evangelista.

Spencer Stastny played 20 games with the Preds last season, along with 44 at the AHL level as one of Milwaukee's top defencemen. He showed well in his NHL stint, and by his arbitration ask of a one-way deal, he feels like he should be a full-time NHLer this year. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, there are six defencemen chiseled into the lineup spots. Stastney makes for a great option as a seventh defenceman, who would be a solid injury fill in, but there isn't much opportunity past that.

Yaroslav Askarov is talented enough to be an NHL goalie today. However, some extra ripening at the AHL level is not going to hurt him at this stage, and the Predators seem set on not gifting him a role on the NHL roster. If an injury strikes to workhorse starter Juuse Saros or to new backup Scott Wedgewood, then Askarov could find himself carrying the load.

Fantasy Outlook:

Regardless of the change behind him, Saros will again be a workhorse starter looking at 60+ starts and an outside shot at chasing 40 wins. Scott Wedgewood's outlook doesn't change much from Dallas to Nashville. Overall, the goaltending here should be solid, and most importantly of all for fantasy purposes: easily projectable.

The top half of the forward group plus Josi is the big appeal here, with a deeper team that provides more fantasy options than last year. That should help Tommy Novak rise as well, while holding Skjei and his inflated underlying percentages afloat. The powerplay will be what separates the fantasy relevant players from the truly elite on the team, with the top three of Josi, Stamkos, and Filip Forsberg being the only three that are likely worth looking at as top-50 fantasy assets.

Over the past few years the Predators have been an excellent overall source of Hits and Blocks, though last year they took a step back in PIMs. Lauzon probably won't pace for 400 Hits again, but between him, Luke Schenn, and Skjei, there is plenty of bruise on the back end. Adding Stamkos and Marchessault – who averaged a combined 6.5 shots per game last season – could see the Predators become a top-five team in the league in the shot column, after finishing eighth last year. Both Forsberg and Josi are elite in those categories as well – just as long as they can spread it around enough to keep everyone happy and productive. If any coach can make all that happen, it’s likely Andrew Brunette.

Grade – A- (last year was B-)