Nashville Predators fantasy projections for 2023-24

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, the fantasy hockey staff has projections for relevant players on the Nashville Predators. Players are listed in order of fantasy rank for this season.

Roman Josi, D

NHL.com fantasy rank: 36

Reason for optimism:Josi leads NHL defensemen in points (155 in 147 games), power-play goals (19) and shots on goal (550) over the past two seasons. Although the Predators are retooling after trading center Ryan Johansen to the Colorado Avalanche and buying out the contract of forward Matt Duchene (who signed with the Dallas Stars), Josi has a high fantasy floor and remains a top-five defenseman option.

NHL.com point projection: 71

Filip Forsberg, LW

NHL.com fantasy rank: 90

Reason for optimism: Forsberg, who missed the final two months of last season because of an upper-body injury, is one season removed from NHL career highs in goals (42), points (84 in 69 games) and power-play points (27) in 2021-22. He could be a big fantasy beneficiary of the Predators signing Ryan O'Reilly (four years) to be their No. 1 center.

NHL.com point projection: 70

Juuse Saros, G

NHL.com fantasy rank: 91

Reason for optimism:Although Nashville missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season after qualifying in each of the previous eight, Saros remained among the NHL leaders in wins (33; tied for seventh), games played (64; tied with Connor Hellebuyck of Winnipeg Jets for first) and save percentage (.919; tied for fourth; minimum 40 games). Saros is a top-10 fantasy goalie option and could form one of the best tandems in keeper and dynasty leagues with prospect Yaroslav Askarov, the No. 11 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

NHL.com win projection: 30

Ryan O'Reilly, C

NHL.com fantasy rank: 131

Reason for optimism:O'Reilly had 20 points in 24 games (regular season and playoffs combined) after being acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in a trade last season and could be a top-100 overall player again if he plays on a line with Forsberg and on the first power play with Josi. O'Reilly's best season came in 2018-19, when he had an NHL career-high 77 points (28 goals, 49 assists) with the St. Louis Blues and then won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the postseason, when he had 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 26 games.

NHL.com point projection: 63

Other NSH players to consider in fantasy: Tyson Barrie, D; Tommy Novak, C; Juuso Parssinen, C; Yaroslav Askarov, G