Predators 31 IN 31: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects | Behind the numbers]
Roman Josi, D (NHL.com rank: 35) -- He had NHL career highs in goals (16), assists (49) and points (65) last season and finished as the most valuable fantasy player at his position and among the top 15 overall (13th) in standard leagues. He led the Predators in scoring, led NHL defensemen with 260 shots on goal, and was second among defensemen in points, behind John Carlson of the Washington Capitals (75). Josi was in the top seven among NHL defensemen in goals (tied for second with Alex Pietrangelo, then with the St. Louis Blues, now a member of the Vegas Golden Knights after signing a seven-year contract on Oct. 12), power-play points (23, fifth) and plus/minus (plus-22, tied for seventh), and is ranked among the top five fantasy defensemen again this season.
Filip Forsberg, LW(88) -- He has scored at least 63 points three times in his NHL career and was on an 82-game pace for 62 points last season, when he was second on the Predators with 48 points (21 goals, 27 assists) in 63 games. Forsberg's 10.6 percent shooting percentage was his lowest in his six full NHL seasons and well below his NHL career average of 12.3 percent, so he has room for improvement while likely skating on a line with either center Ryan Johansen or Matt Duchene. Forsberg is a two-time 30-goal scorer (33 in 2015-16, 31 in 2016-17) who could return to top 100 overall form this season.
Ryan Ellis, D (150) -- He scored 38 points (eight goals, 30 assists) in 49 games last season and was tied with Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks and Tony DeAngelo of the New York Rangers for seventh among defensemen at 0.78 points per game (minimum 20 games played). Ellis brings valuable exposure to Josi on the top pair at even strength and is a safe bet each season for a strong plus/minus; he was plus-16 last season and is plus-113 in his nine NHL seasons. Ellis scored nine power-play points last season, the second-highest total of his NHL career, after the 11 he scored in 2016-17. He's worth targeting as a third or fourth fantasy defenseman outside the top 120 overall in a standard draft.
