Predators can make it 'our year' under Return to Play Plan, GM says

The NHL's Return to Play Plan could be the fresh start the Nashville Predators need after an up-and-down regular season, general manager David Poile said Wednesday.

"I guess what I'm hoping [for] and feeling is that, the inconsistent year we've had to this point, which was still good enough to get us into the [Western Conference Qualifying Round], that there's room to improve," Poile said. "Maybe teams will not look at us as highly as maybe they did a couple of years ago, and maybe a combination of that and how some individuals improve their play, maybe it could be our year."

The Predators (35-26-8) were eighth in the West when the NHL season was paused due to concerns about the coronavirus on March 12. The regular season ended Tuesday with the announcement of the Return to Play Plan and a 24-team format to compete for the Stanley Cup. Nashville would play the Arizona Coyotes in the best-of-5 qualifying round.

The Predators were 19-15-7 and 11th in the conference when Peter Laviolette was fired as coach Jan. 6. John Hynes replaced him the next day, and Nashville went 16-11-1 under him.

Some key Predators forwards struggled this season. Ryan Johansen had 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 68 games; he had 64 points (14 goals, 50 assists) in 80 games last season. Viktor Arvidsson had 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) in 57 games this season after finishing with 48 points (34 goals, 14 assists) in 58 games last season. Filip Forsberg had 48 points (21 goals, 27 assists) in 63 games this season but went 16 games without a goal from Feb. 1-March 3.

"When we win games, I feel really good and usually we have most players contributing at a very high level," Poile said. "I think we're near the top of the League in terms of skill. I don't think we're losing because we don't have enough skill but there are different areas in our game, both from an individual and also a team standpoint that haven't been as good as they should be or have been in past years."

Poile said the Predators would be healthy for training camp, which could open in mid-July as part of Phase 3 of the Return to Play Plan. Defenseman Dan Hamhuis, day to day with a lower-body injury, was their only injured player prior to the pause. Poile said he hopes the Predators, who qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs each of the past five seasons and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, can find their game immediately when play resumes.

"We've had some good success for the last four or five years," Poile said. "Having said that, this has not been a perfect year, and it's not been without its ups and downs, both on and off the ice. A coaching change, a lot of top players, specifically our forwards, have not lived up to what I would say their potential was, as simple as just on their stats, just not as good. Possibly this break allows us to have a little reset with our players, our coaches, and maybe a little more heart-to-heart in terms of their thought process in terms of how we play and what it's going to take to make a difference."