Predators add McDonagh, Niederreiter to load up for Cup run

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2022-23 regular season, which starts Oct. 7. Today, the Nashville Predators:

2021-22 season: 45-30-7, fifth in Central Division; lost in first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs

Key arrivals

Ryan McDonagh, D: The 33-year-old was acquired via trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 3 for defenseman Philippe Myers and forward prospect Grant Mismash, after scoring 26 points (four goals, 22 assists) in 71 games and five points (last season. The 12-season veteran won the Stanley Cup twice with the Lightning. He will be a top-four defenseman, possibly serving as part of a shutdown pairing with Mattias Ekholm. … Nino Niederreiter, F:The 29-year-old signed a two-year contract on July 21 after scoring 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists) in 75 games for the Carolina Hurricanes last season. He'll play on one of the top two lines, adding aggressive forechecking and goal-scoring ability to the top-six forwards. … Kevin Lankinen, G: The 27-year-old signed a one-year contract July 14 after going 8-15-6 with a 3.50 goals-against average and .891 save percentage in 32 games (29 starts) for the Chicago Blackhawks last season. He will back up Juuse Saros, who led the NHL with 67 appearances last season. … Zach Sanford, F: The 27-year-old signed a one-year contract July 15 after a career-high 169 hits and 67 blocks in 80 games with the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets last season. He will likely play on the fourth line on a team that led the NHL in hits (2,470) last season.

Key departures

Luke Kunin, F:Traded to the San Jose Sharks on July 8 after he had 22 points (13 goals, nine assists) in 82 games last season. … Nick Cousins, F:Cousins signed a two-year contract with the Florida Panthers on July 19 after scoring 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 80 games last season. … Matt Benning, D:Signed a four-year contract with the San Jose Sharks after he had 11 points (all assists) in 65 games last season. … David Rittich, G:Signed a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets on July 13 after going 6-3-4, with a 3.57 GAA and .886 save percentage in 17 games (12 starts) last season.

On the cusp

Egor Afanasyev, F: The 21-year-old played his first professional season in North America last year, scoring 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 74 games for Milwaukee of the American Hockey League. Afanasyev, picked in the second round (no. 45) in the 2019 NHL Draft, signed a three-year, entry-level contract Oct. 19, 2019. In the 2021 World Junior Championship, he had five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games for Russia.

What they still need

They may be one forward away from a very impressive top six. Eeli Tolvanen, the team's first-round pick (No. 30) in the 2017 NHL Draft, will get a shot at filling that spot. Other possibilities could include Philip Tomasino or Tanner Jeannot.

They said it

"They're such a competitive team. They skate really hard. They're very physical and hard to compete [against] … I think this team is not very far from having such a great run." -- defenseman Ryan McDonagh

Fantasy focus

The Predators were a top-heavy team last season with Roman Josi (led NHL defensemen with 96 points) and Saros (third in League with 38 goalie wins) each ranking among the fantasy top five at his position and also two 40-goal scorers in Filip Forsberg (42) and Matt Duchene (43). But other than surprising wing Jeannot (led NHL rookies with 24 goals; fourth with 3.93 hits per game, minimum 25 games), Nashville's secondary players were not fantasy relevant. But the Predators suddenly have a few deep fantasy sleeper options in McDonagh, Niederreiter and Tomasino, who could take on a bigger role in his second NHL season.-- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Mikael Granlund -- Matt Duchene
Nino Niederreiter -- Ryan Johansen -- Eeli Tolvanen
Yakov Trenin -- Colton Sissons --Tanner Jeannot
Zach Sanford -- Cody Glass -- Philip Tomasino
Roman Josi -- Alexandre Carrier
Mattias Ekholm -- Ryan McDonagh
Jeremy Lauzon -- Dante Fabbro
Juuse Saros
Kevin Lankinen