For the last 22 years (12 with The Hockey News) Dobber and the team have reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 23rd 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 – Colton Sissons, Jeremy Lauzon, Kieffer Bellows

Incoming – Erik Haula, Nick Perbix, Nicolas Hague

Impact of changes – After last season’s UFA signings produced one of the biggest flops versus expectations in team history, there was a much more tempered approach to the offseason this time around. That means the changes are much more muted, though still targeting specific needs, which were center and defense depth.

Adding Haula, Perbix, and Hague, the Predators bring in players who have started more of their time in the defensive zone than the offensive zone the past few years. Taking care of their own end first is going to be a necessary step in winning more games than they did last year. It should also help Juuse Saros and his fantasy value as well.

These changes to the depth will hopefully allow some comfort and stability for the top of the lineup (who can also hopefully remain healthy) and that support will likely lead to improvements overall. There's also nowhere really to go but up for one of the teams who disappointed so much across the board.

Ready for Full Time –

With Yaroslav Askarov gone, and the depth chart pretty full with new arrivals and returnees, there aren't a lot of holes to be filled, nor prospects who will be banging down the door regardless whether there is room or not. The future in Nashville is brighter, with a much-improved farm system compared to a few years ago, but the spoils aren't arriving imminently.

Matthew Wood is the big name to watch here, as he finished the season with the big club last year after signing his ELC out of college. Wood brings some more size and offence on the wing, and while he may start further down the lineup, either injuries or production could see him move up quickly. In six games last season, he only recorded one point, but was stuck on the fourth line. Despite that, he was shooting at a rate that would see him at over 200 shots if he plays top-six minutes.

Fantasy Outlook:

As noted above, Saros should see an uptick in performance, with some better defensive presence in front of him. He should pace for 60 starts again if he's healthy, as Justus Annunnen isn't a threat to steal extra time. Curiously, Saros' save totals dropped dramatically, with him facing a lot less rubber despite the team faring markedly worse. If that keeps up for Andrew Brunnette's team to be limiting shots against, then it likely bodes well for Saros' ratios, but not his save volume.

Looking at the skater roster, the biggest question with projecting the team this year is how many games Roman Josi can play, and at what level of quality. If he's fully healthy, then despite being 35, he could still easily regain the form to top 65 points again, as the talent is there and he's smart enough that the age drop off shouldn't be too steep. If he misses time, then Nick Blankenburg likely takes the top power play spot again.

The next key to the Predators' season and possible fantasy success is whether Steven Stamkos – likely slotting in as the top-line centre – can regain his fantasy production while he is set to turn 36 before the end of the season. If last year's drop off is an indication of things to come, then the rest of the offence is going to struggle to hit their potentials. Filip Forsberg was under a point-per-game last year, while Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O'Reilly were under 60 points, and if that quartet doesn't pick things up fast, the Predators are going to be generally left on the free agent pile and on rosters at the bottom of fantasy hockey standings.

Despite some turnover from this time last year, the Predators will continue to be an excellent source of depth players providing Hits, though this year they don't have any big targets on defence. Cole Smith, Michael McCarron, and especially Zachary L'Heureux should be targets for streaming Hits, with L'Heureux adding a bit more offensive potential and a higher propensity for bigger PIM games as well.

Grade – (A risky) B- (last year was A-)