| Pos | Role | Name |
| C | 1 | Olli Jokinen  ActiveVeteran center Olli Jokinen says he decided to join the Nashville Predators as a free agent because of their new coach's offensive-minded approach. Peter Laviolette purshed for Nashville to pursue the 35-year-old. "Obviously with the excitement and the passion about the game and ideas of how he (Laviolette) was going to coach this team, that was one of the biggest reasons I decided to come here," Jokinen said. "Speaking with him, I got excited. I wanted to start playing tomorrow." Jokinen has never played for Laviolette, though his best years in Florida came when Laviolette was a divisional foe as the Carolina Hurricanes' coach. "I think playing against his teams, as a player you were like ‘I’d love to play for this guy. I’d love to play for his teams,’ " Jokinen said. "His teams have always been high-tempo with good skating and they create a lot of chances and a lot of offense. At the same time his teams were hard to play against. They were very organized and stuck with their game plans." Jokinen had 18 goals and 25 assists last season in 82 games with the Jets. Jul 6 |
| 2 | Mike Fisher  SidelinedMike Fisher suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon while training. Fisher will miss the next four-to-six months as a result. In other words, Fisher isn't expected to return until November at the earliest and he might end up missing half the season. Even if he does end up missing just the first month, this will probably have a significant impact on his offseason training regimen, so we wouldn't be surprised if he struggles once he is back. Jul 7 |
| 3 | Calle Jarnkrok ActiveCalle Jarnkrok will probably get a chance to secure a top-six spot among Nashville's forward group in 2014-15. He registered two goals and nine points in 12 games with the Predators after he was acquired from Detroit in the David Legwand trade. Jarnkrok picked up two points in three games for AHL Milwaukee in the playoffs. He's someone who could be worth monitoring next year. May 5 |
| 4 | Colin Wilson ActiveColin Wilson admitted that his shoulder stabilization procedures could've held him back this past season. "It was a tough start to the season and a tough season for myself. I didn't feel quite like myself at the beginning," Wilson said. "I think there were a few factors and (the shoulders) could have been one of them. I think I did everything I could and felt pretty good going into camp and throughout the season, but I tried to not let it get to me." He scored four goals in the first two months of the season and ended up with just 11 markers and 33 points in 81 games. Wilson was moved to his natural position at center this year, but the move didn't help him pick up points. Perhaps Nashville's new coach and a healthier start can give the 24-year-old forward the breakout season that the team and potential fantasy owners have been waiting for. Apr 21 |
| 5 | Paul Gaustad ActiveNashville GM David Poile still thinks highly of Paul Gaustad. "Paul does what he does. He's a checking center, best in the league at faceoffs and penalty killing," said Poile. "To me this is the good and bad news. Paul Gaustad is way more effective when our team has a lead, way more effective on our team as a shutdown guy. Give us the leads in the third period and the leads out of the gate and I think his role is better." Gaustad still has two years left on his current deal, which carries a $3.25 million cap hit. He contributed 10 goals and 11 assists in 75 games last season. Jun 19 |
| LW | 1 | Matt Cullen ActiveMatt Cullen recorded three assists in Nashville's 5-2 win Friday night. Cullen has three goals and 11 points in his last seven games. That offensive outburst has allowed him to reach the 35-point mark for the eighth straight season, not including the shortened campaign. Apr 5 |
| 2 | Viktor Stalberg ActiveNashville Predators assistant coach Kevin McCarthy believes bench boss Peter Laviolette can get more out of Viktor Stalberg and Colin Wilson. "Guys like Stalberg and Wilson can learn from that offensive system that we use," McCarthy said. "It's basically a lot of hard work and precision and doing things at the right time. You need to have skill for that, and they certainly have it." Stalberg accounted for just eight goals and 18 points in 70 games in his first season with the Predators. Jun 2 |
| 3 | Gabriel Bourque ActiveGabriel Bourque blasted home two goals for the Preds in a 3-2 shootout loss to Dallas on Tuesday night. Bourque snaps a four game pointless slump and raises his output to 25 points in 74 games this season. The 23 year old is a minus four with eight penalty minutes. Apr 9 |
| 4 | Simon Moser ActiveSimon Moser registered Nashville's lone goal in a 3-1 loss to Winnipeg on Saturday. His first career NHL goal was assisted by Michael Del Zotto and Mike Fisher. Moser has two points in five games with the Predators this season. Mar 1 |
| RW | 1 | James Neal ActiveJames Neal sees the Predators as his opportunity for a fresh start. "Your emotion gets the better of you," said Neal. There were things that have happened in my game that you regret. I have to change and be better for it. I've changed as a player, I've grown as a player. I'm still young, I have a very long way to go. Mistakes happen and I'm going to be better for it and move forward and not let that stuff happen again." He has some character issues and the tendency to run around on the ice, looking for trouble when things aren't going his way. If he can take that aspect out of his game then he will be better for it. Neal has an excellent release and one-timer, which he used to score 40 goals in 2011-12. He has surpassed the 20-goal mark in each of his six NHL seasons. Repeating that feat in Nashville will be more difficult, but he has the tools to do it. Jul 5 |
| 2 | Craig Smith ActiveCraig Smith registered an assist in the U.S.'s 6-1 win over Belarus at the IIHF World Hockey Championships. Smith had a very solid 2013-2014 campaign with 24 goals and 52 points in 79 games. We think he is a player on the upswing. Don't forget about him on draft day. May 10 |
| 3 | Eric Nystrom ActiveEric Nystrom potted the only goal for the Predators in their 4-1 loss Saturday night against the Blues. Nystrom's goal was his 13th of the season, good for a three-way tie for fourth on the team. With a strong finish, Nystrom could top his career-high of 16 goals he attained in the 2011-12 season. Colton Sissons and Paul Gaustad got the assists. Mar 15 |
| 4 | Richard Clune ActiveRichard Clune reached out to Washington's Patrick Wey after he gave him a beating in a fight on Sunday. "I reached out to the kid on Washington just to express the fact that I hope he's OK and it wasn't my intention to hurt him," said Clune, who sent a text message. "He was the one kind of engaging me, and I had no idea who he was. I don't even look at the other team's roster before the game. I just see the names they write on the board. The kid said he was OK." Clune has 152 penalty minutes in 52 games this season and he's an experienced fighter. Wey was participating in his first NHL bout, so it was a mismatch from the beginning. Apr 2 |
| D | 1 | Shea Weber ActiveShea Weber has now fallen just shy of winning the Norris Trophy three times. Weber finished third in the voting in 2014 after coming in second in 2011 and 2012. He had a terrific season and excelled offensively with 23 goals and 56 points in 79 games. He should remain one of the league's top defensemen for years to come. Jun 25 |
| 2 | Roman Josi ActiveRoman Josi earned an assist in Switzerland's 3-2 win over Latvia to close out the preliminary round of the 2014 World Hockey Championship. However, the Swiss team won't be playing in the tournament's playoff round after they claimed the fifth spot in Group B. Josi led the team in scoring with six points (one goal, six assists) in seven games. May 20 |
| 3 | Seth Jones ActiveNashville coach Peter Laviolette was impressed with Seth Jones at the World Hockey Championship. "To be able to help be a part of his future and watch him grow and develop into the player he's going to be is going to be something special for all of us," said Laviolette, who also coached Team USA. "For me, and for you, and for the city of Nashville, just a tremendous talent." Jones was named the best defenseman at the tournament after he amassed nine assists and 11 points in eight games. The young blueliner should get plenty of opportunities to create offense under Laviolette's more attack-oriented system. Jun 2 |
| 4 | Ryan Ellis ActiveRyan Ellis scored the overtime winner to lead Canada to a 3-2 victory over Sweden. The win gives Canada first place in their division heading into the quarter-finals of the World Championship. They are tied in the standings with Sweden but will take first place due to the win. Brayden Schenn and Kevin Bieksa also scored for Canada who were down 2-0. Linus Klasen and Joakim Lindstrom gave the Swedes the 2-0 lead. May 18 |
| 5 | Mattias Ekholm ActiveMattias Ekholm has agreed to a two-year contract with the Nashville Predators. Ekholm was a restricted free agent and had filed for salary arbitration. His cap hit will reportedly be just below $1.1 million. He had a goal and nine points in 62 games in 2013-14. Jul 9 |
| 6 | Anton Volchenkov ActiveAnton Volchenkov has agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Nashville Predators. Volchenkov became a free agent after the New Jersey Devils bought out the last two seasons of his six-year, $25.5 million contract. He's a defensive defenseman that will probably end up on Nashville's third-pairing. Jul 7 |
| 7 | Victor Bartley ActiveVictor Bartley plans to pay the Predators back for trusting him with a one-way contract. Bartley inked a three-year deal worth $2 million. "They’ve shown such support in me that I want to pay them back by playing great," Bartley said. "That means every day coming to the rink, doing my thing and working hard and being the best I can." He had seven assists and averaged 19:33 minutes of ice time in 24 games as a rookie in 2013. Jun 20 |
| G | 1 | Pekka Rinne ActivePekka Rinne had a strong showing at the 2014 World Championship. Rinne had a 1.88 GAA and .928 save percentage in eight games with Finland. He led the team to a silver medal and was named tournament MVP. After a rough campaign that was derailed by hip problems, it's particularly encouraging to see him start his offseason on a strong note. He's a great bounce back candidate for 2014-15. May 30 |
| 2 | Carter Hutton ActiveCarter Hutton has agreed to a two-year, $1.45 million contract with the Nashville Predators. He will earn $700,000 in 2014-15 and $750,000 in 2015-16. Hutton posted a 20-11-4 record with a 2.62 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage and one shutout this past season. He earned the starting job for the team with Pekka Rinne on the sidelines and will serve as Nashville's number two netminder in 2014-15. Jun 2 |