Predators add veterans O'Reilly, Schenn in bid to return to playoffs

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2023-24 regular season, which starts Oct. 10. Today, the Nashville Predators:

2022-23 season: 42-32-8, fifth in Central Division; did not qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs

Key arrivals

Ryan O'Reilly, F:The 32-year-old signed a four-year contract July 1 and will likely be the No. 1 center. He had 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 53 regular-season games for the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues last season and nine points (three goals, six assists) in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games for Toronto. The winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs in 2019 when he helped lead the Blues to the Stanley Cup, O'Reilly is expected to provide leadership to a young team. … Luke Schenn, D:The 33-year-old signed a three-year contract July 1 and could play on a defense pair with Nashville captain Roman Josi. Schenn had 22 points (four goals, 18 assists) in 70 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks last season and led the NHL with 318 blocked shots last season. … Gustav Nyquist, F:The 33-year-old signed a two-year contract July 1. He had 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 48 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild last season and five assists in six playoff games. A four-time 20-goal scorer, Nyquist will likely have a top-six role, potentially playing alongside center Cody Glass. … Denis Gurianov, F:The 26-year-old signed a one-year contract July 11. He had 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 66 games for the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens last season. … Andrew Brunette, coach:The 49-year-old was hired May 31, replacing John Hynes. Brunette, who was an associate coach with the New Jersey Devils last season, had a 51-18-6 record as coach of the Florida Panthers in 2021-22. … Barry Trotz, general manager:The 61-year-old became GM on July 1, replacing David Poile, the winningest GM in NHL history (1,533). Trotz has 914 coaching wins, third-most in NHL history, during 23 seasons (1998-2022). He coached the Predators for the team's first 15 seasons.

Key departures

Ryan Johansen, F:Traded to the Colorado Avalanche on June 24 for forward Alex Galchenyuk. Johansen had 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 55 games with the Predators last season and 362 points (110 goals, 252 assists) in 533 games over eight seasons with the Predators. ... Matt Duchene, F:Signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1 one day after the Predators bought out the remaining three years of his contract. He had 56 points (22 goals, 34 assists) in 71 games last season. … Mark Borowiecki, D:Announced his retirement after 12 seasons on May 3. He was limited to four games because of injury last season.

On the cusp

Video: NHL Tonight discusses the future of the Predators, F: The 21-year-old had 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 24 games after he was recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League in February. Evangelista (6-foot, 183 pounds), who was the No. 42 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, hopes to add strength and weight this offseason as he competes for a top-six role. … Video: NHL Tonight discusses the future of the Predators, F: In his first pro season in North America, the 19-year-old had 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 14 regular-season games for Milwaukee and 10 points (eight goals, two assists) in 14 playoff games. It would be no surprise to see Kemell, Nashville's first-round selection (No. 17) in the 2022 NHL Draft, in the NHL this season. … Video: NHL Tonight discusses the future of the Predators, F:The 22-year-old, who was the No. 45 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, had one goal in 17 games for the Predators last season. A skilled puck-handler, Afanasyev had 59 points (25 goals, 34 assists) in 131 games during the last two seasons in Milwaukee.

What they still need

More consistent point producers. Although Johansen and Duchene weren't part of the Predators' future, the team will still need to replace their offense. Nashville also traded forwards Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund, Video: NHL Tonight discusses the future of the Predators and defenseman Mattias Ekholm before the NHL Trade Deadline last season. The Predators will have to hope young players like Evangelista, Glass, Juuso Parssinen and Tommy Novak will continue to build on the promise they showed last season.

They said it

"I wanted to change a little bit of the culture. Not that the culture was bad, it just needed a little tweak. I was looking for serial winners. I wanted to allow a path for our young guys to develop and be surrounded by those type of people and have those placeholders in place so we can let that skill, speed, all those things that we've drafted, mature and get to a place where we're going to have a good run at it for a long time." -- general manager Barry Trotz

Fantasy focus

O'Reilly brings experience and Stanley Cup pedigree to Nashville. He had 20 points in 24 games (including playoffs) in mostly a top-six role for Toronto and has fantasy upside if he plays on a line with high-scoring wing Filip Forsberg and on the power play with Josi. -- Anna Dua

Projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan O'Reilly -- Luke Evangelista

Juuso Parssinen -- Cody Glass -- Gustav Nyquist

Denis Gurianov -- Tommy Novak -- Video: NHL Tonight discusses the future of the Predators

Yakov Trenin -- Colton Sissons -- Cole Smith

Roman Josi -- Luke Schenn

Ryan McDonagh -- Tyson Barrie

Jeremy Lauzon -- Alexandre Carrier

Juuse Saros

Kevin Lankinen