5 Things The Nashville Predators Must Do To Make 2015-16 NHL Playoffs

By Darrell Samuels

5 Things The Nashville Predators' Must Do To Make 2015-16 NHL Playoffs

Nashville Predators — The city of Nashville was introduced to the NHL with an expansion team and played their first season in the 1998-99 season. After the 2004-05 NHL lockout, the Predators developed into a successful franchise finishing with campaigns of 100 points or more five times since that horrible time in hockey history. The following five things have been observed and be fine tuned in order for the team to not only make the playoffs.

5. Goalie Carter Hutton Has To Get His Starts

Carter Hutton, Nashville Predators

5. Goalie Carter Hutton Has To Get His Starts

Carter Hutton, Nashville Predators — If anything happens to starting goalie Pekka Rinne, his backup Hutton has to be fantastic. If Rinne is out due to injury for an extended time, they could also be proactive prior to the February 29 NHL trade deadline. Hutton won six of his 18 starts last season and 26 of his 59 career starts for the franchise, but he could be a hidden key in dictating the success of the franchise if Rinne has to spend time on injured reserve.

4. Seth Jones, Roman Josi Have To Show Steady improvement

Roman Josi, Nashville Predators

4. Seth Jones, Roman Josi Have To Show Steady improvement

Roman Josi, Nashville Predators — The blue line is a definite strength of the franchise. Roman Josi and Seth Jones are great young men on the defensive corps. Defenseman Shea Weber is the cornerstone of the franchise, and him teaching the youngsters Josi and Jones to be better players can only help the Nashville franchise.

3. Pekka Rinne Must Stay Healthy

Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

3. Pekka Rinne Must Stay Healthy

Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators — Rinne started 64 games for the Predators, winning 41 contests, and skated off with four shutouts last year. Rinne has won 204 regular season games and has 36 career shutouts, but he has not really elevated his talent to the caliber of some of the other great goalies in the game. This team can be extremely dangerous to go against, but they need Rinne to be a great netminder.

2. Filip Forsberg Needs To Ascend To Elite Status

Forsberg

2. Filip Forsberg Needs To Ascend To Elite Status

Forsberg — Forsberg had a great, healthy season a year ago for the Nashville Predators. He played the full 82 games and had 63 points. As good as that is, the Preds will need at least that production, and maybe a bit more, to elevate the franchise into being considered a serious threat in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

1. James Neal and Mike Ribeiro Have To Step Up Scoring

James Neal - Mike Ribeiro, Nashville Predators

1. James Neal and Mike Ribeiro Have To Step Up Scoring

James Neal - Mike Ribeiro, Nashville Predators — Ribeiro had a healthy, complete season a year ago for the Predators and put up 62 points, but Neal scored only 37 points in 67 games. The Predators should make the playoffs this spring in the Western Conference, but these two need to step up even more to provide some scoring.

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Nashville Predators

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