Mason, the former Predators goalie, lives in Nashville and follows the team daily as the television color commentator on Bally Sports South.
The Predators (30-18-4) are fourth in the Central Division with 64 points in 52 games entering the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series game against the Tampa Bay Lightning (33-11-6) at Nissan Stadium, home of the NFL's Tennessee Titans, on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, TVAS2, NHL LIVE).
"I remember at the beginning of the year, we're doing all our prep, we're getting ready for the beginning of the year stuff and I'm going through the expert picks in the Central Division and they have Arizona last and then right above Arizona, barely, they have the Nashville Predators," Mason told co-hosts Dan Rosen and Shawn P. Roarke, who recorded the podcast in Nashville. "I remember asking Predators coach] John Hynes about that. I'm like, 'Does this bother you or does this motivate you or how does this make you feel?' He goes, 'You know what "Mase," I've seen it, it doesn't bother me, we're going to write our own story. I think we're better than we were last year. Finally, we were able to get the identity and know who we are as a hockey team [in] the second half of last season and I think we're better than we were last year.'
"It feels good. These guys are confident."
Mason also said he was confident forward Filip Forsberg will re-sign with the Predators to stay in Nashville on a long-term contract.
Forsberg, who leads Nashville with 26 goals in 39 games, is in the last year of a six-year, $36 million contract and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. His future with the Predators has been a hot topic with the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline approaching at 3 p.m. ET on March 21.
"I guess there's probably people inquiring and that's what happens when you see a potential free agent, teams are going to do their due diligence," Mason said. "I think there's every intent to get him signed. I mean, I've heard absolutely nothing other than that. Both sides want to get it done. But, of course, the longer it goes people start speculating. I'm sure calls have been made to [Predators general manager
and the NHL app.
