Predators reload after run to Stanley Cup Final

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is taking a look at where each team stands. Today, the Nashville Predators:

After a memorable run as the second wild card in the Western Conference to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, the Nashville Predators are spending their short offseason trying to secure the missing pieces needed to make another run in 2017-18.
RELATED: [Complete Team Reset coverage]
**
The Predators will have somewhat of a different look behind their bench. Peter Laviolette returns for his fourth season as coach, but Phil Housley, one of his assistants, was named coach of the Buffalo Sabres on June 15.
Here is what the Predators look like today:

Key arrivals

Nick Bonino, F:After helping the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat Nashville in the Cup Final, Bonino signed a four-year, $16.4 million contract with the Predators on July 1. Barring any more moves, Bonino will be their No. 2 center behind Ryan Johansen. Bonino, 29, had 37 points (18 goals, 19 assists) in 80 games for the Penguins last season. … Scott Hartnell, F:The Columbus Blue Jackets bought out the final two years of his contract June 29, allowing Hartnell to sign a one-year contract with the Predators on July 1. This will be his second stint with Nashville; he played with the Predators from 2000-07 after they selected him with the No. 6 pick in the 2000 NHL Draft. Hartnell, 35, had 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists) in 78 games with the Blue Jackets last season. … Alexei Emelin, D:Already deep on defense, the Predators got even deeper when they acquired Emelin on July 1 in a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights for a third-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Emelin has 72 points (14 goals, 58 assists) in 380 NHL games, all with the Montreal Canadiens.

Key departures

James Neal, F:Selected by the Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft, he scored 23 goals in 70 games last season. Neal, who turns 30 on Sept. 3, has scored at least 21 in each of his nine NHL seasons. …Colin Wilson, F:Traded to the Colorado Avalanche on July 1 for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft, Wilson, 27, had 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in 70 games last season. … Mike Fisher, F: There is a chance Fisher returns for an 18th NHL season, but he is taking his time making a decision. If the 37-year-old decides to play in 2017-18, it's hard to envision it being anywhere but Nashville. For now, though, he is an unrestricted free agent. He had 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists) in 72 games with the Predators last season.

On the cusp

Yakov Trenin, F: A second-round pick (No. 55) at the 2015 NHL Draft, Trenin had 67 points (30 goals, 37 assists) in 54 games with Gatineau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season. The 20-year-old also had one goal and two assists in five games for Milwaukee of the American Hockey League. … Vladislav Kamenev, F:The20-year-old got his first taste of the NHL last season, when he was held without a point in two games for the Predators. He had 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) in 70 games last season for Milwaukee, his second AHL season. A second-round pick (No. 42) in the 2014 NHL Draft, Kamenev is expected to compete for an NHL roster spot in training camp.

What they still need

Another top-flight scorer up the middle. Bonino's 18 goals last season were the second-most of his NHL career (he scored 22 for the Vancouver Canucks in 2013-14), and he could produce in a more offensive role. There also were reports last month that a trade with the Avalanche for center Matt Duchene could happen. Duchene, who won 62.6 percent of his faceoffs last season and is a five-time 20-goal scorer, would be a huge acquisition for the Predators.

Pete Jensen's fantasy focus

The Predators return their core defensemen in front of goaltender Pekka Rinne, but Rinne still brings some fantasy concerns. He was inconsistent in 61 regular-season games last season, and then played 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games, which could take its toll on any 34-year-old. Backup Juuse Saros should continue to push for playing time, and it remains to be seen how Rinne's road struggles against the Penguins during the Stanley Cup Final will affect his psyche. Rinne deserves to be among the top 10 fantasy goalies to start the season, but adding Saros with a late-round pick cannot hurt.

Projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Nick Bonino -- Craig Smith
Scott Hartnell -- Calle Jarnkrok -- Pontus Aberg
Austin Watson -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Colton Sissons
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros