Predators eliminated, failed to overcome scoring issues, injuries

The Nashville Predators failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2013-14.

The Predators (41-31-8) were eliminated from contention when the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Tuesday to earn the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference.
The Predators had qualified for the playoffs eight consecutive seasons, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
Here's a look at what happened in the 2022-23 season for the Predators and why things could be better next season.

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The skinny

Potential unrestricted free agents: Michael McCarron, F; Zach Sanford, F; Kiefer Sherwood, F; Mark Borowiecki, D
Potential restricted free agents: Cody Glass, F; Rasmus Asplund, F; Jake Livingstone, D; Cal Foote, D; Alexandre Carrier, D
Potential 2023 Draft picks: 13

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What went wrong

Scoring issues: The Predators are averaging 2.70 goals per game, 28th in the NHL. A key issue is their power play, which is 27th in the League, converting 17.6 percent of the time. Matt Duchene (22) is the only player with 20 goals this season for Nashville.
Missing traded players: The Predators parted with several key players at the NHL Trade Deadline, including forward Nino Niederreiter (to the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 25), defenseman Mattias Ekholm (to the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 28) and forward Mikael Granlund (to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 1). The Predators were out of the playoff picture when those trades were made, and they missed those players during their late push.
Injuries: Forward Filip Forsberg hasn't played since Feb. 11 with an upper-body injury. Same injury for Ryan Johansen, who last played Feb. 21. Defenseman Roman Josi also has an upper-body injury and he last played March 18. Duchene hasn't played since March 26 because of a hand injury. Josi leads the Predators with 59 points, followed by Duchene with 56 and Forsberg with 42. That's a whole lot of offense missing from the lineup.

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Reasons for optimism

Barry Trotz: There's a changing of the guard at general manager in Nashville, but the Predators will be in good hands with a familiar face. David Poile, the only GM in Predators history, is retiring June 30 and Barry Trotz, who coached the Predators from 1998-2014, is replacing him. Trotz was 557-479-100 with 60 ties with the Predators and went on to win the Stanley Cup as Washington Capitals coach in 2018. A great hockey mind plus 13 picks in the 2023 NHL Draft? Sounds like a great combination to start the Trotz era as GM.
Juuse Saros: The Predators are continuing their ability to find great Finnish goalies with Saros, who's taken over the mantle from Pekka Rinne just fine. Saros is 32-23-7 with a 2.69 goals-against average, .919 save percentage and two shutouts in 63 games (62 starts). The great goaltending trend continues for Nashville.

Tommy Novak: The forward played 27 games for the Predators last season, finishing with seven points (one goal, six assists). This season has been more of a breakthrough. The 25-year-old has 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 49 games. Coaches always say that with injury comes opportunity for others, and Novak, who is signed through next season, is someone who took advantage of his chance.