Predators season preview: Forsberg fuels optimism

The 2018-19 NHL season begins Oct. 3. With training camps open, NHL.com is taking a look at the five keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lines for all 31 teams. Today, the Nashville Predators.

Coach: Peter Laviolette (fifth season)
Last season: 53-18-11; first place Central Division, lost to Winnipeg Jets in Western Conference Second Round
RELATED: [Complete Season Preview coverage]

5 KEYS

1. Young players must emerge

The Predators are counting on younger players, including forwards Eeli Tolvanen, 19, and Kevin Fiala, 22, to be key contributors offensively in their top nine. Fiala had 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists) last season. Tolvanen played three NHL games late in the regular season after he had 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists) for Jokerit of the Kontinental Hockey League, and must adjust to the speed and physicality of the NHL.

2. Dominate on defense

Nashville has had arguably the best top-four group of defensemen in the NHL since P.K. Subban was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on June 29, 2016. Subban and Roman Josi each finished in the top seven in Norris Trophy voting last season; Ryan Ellis signed an eight-year, $50 million contract extension Aug. 14; and Mattias Ekholm, who has developed a reputation as a strong NHL defenseman, scored an NHL career-high 10 goals last season.
With the addition of Dan Hamhuis as a free agent, Nashville's defense could be even better.

3. Keep Pekka Rinne fresh

Rinne, who won the Vezina Trophy last season, was 42-13-4 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in the regular season, but things went awry in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In 13 postseason games, he was 7-6 with a 3.07 GAA and .904 save percentage.

Juuse Saros played 26 games last season and had a 2.45 GAA and .925 save percentage. The 23-year-old has the trust of his teammates and Laviolette, and he should continue to improve and gain more starts. That will help keep Rinne, who will turn 36 on Nov. 3, fresh throughout the regular season and into the postseason.

4. Elite jump for Filip Forsberg

Forsberg missed 15 games last season because of injury or suspension but led the Predators with 64 points (26 goals, 38 assists) in 67 games. He also led them with 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 13 playoff games.
Nashville's depth at forward is perhaps as good as it has ever been, but if the 24-year-old can continue his development into one of the elite players in the NHL, it could make that group even stronger.
"I want to become better," Forsberg said. "I mean, obviously, if you look at the points, they're looking good. But at the same time, that has to come up."

5. Breaking through the window

The Predators believe they're in the middle of their window to win a Stanley Cup. They lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final and won the Presidents' Trophy last season, and feel they have the depth and experience to finally break through.
"I think we've taken some steps in the right direction," Laviolette said. "I think Filip Forsberg probably said it best: We haven't done anything. There's some good things that we've done. There's some positive things that we've done. But at the end of the day, it's about winning that last game and being ahead until the last minute of a season ticks off."

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut

With forward Austin Watson serving a 27-game suspension for unacceptable off-ice conduct, Tolvanen and Frederick Gaudreau have an opportunity to make a push to be in the lineup when the Predators open the season against at the New York Rangers on Oct. 4. Tolvanen is the top prospect in the Predators organization, and Gaudreau, 25, can play center or wing, which makes him a valuable piece who can move throughout the lineup.

Most intriguing addition

The Predators didn't make many additions during the offseason because the players stressed to general manager David Poile that they wanted to return with the roster intact. However, the addition of Hamhuis, who signed a two-year contract July 25, could prove to be an important addition. He should fit in nicely on the third defense pair and could adequately step into a larger role should injuries occur.

Biggest potential surprise

Though Subban and Josi receive most of the attention for Nashville in the Norris Trophy conversation, don't sleep on Ellis. After missing 38 games while recovering from knee surgery to begin last season, he had 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 44 games. If he can stay healthy for a full season, the 27-year-old could be in the Norris conversation as well.

Ready to break through

The Predators believe Saros is the goaltender of the future, and he could probably be a starting goaltender now if Rinne wasn't in front of him.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Kevin Fiala
Calle Jarnkrok -- Kyle Turris -- Viktor Arvidsson
Eeli Tolvanen -- Nick Bonino -- Craig Smith
Ryan Hartman -- Colton Sissons -- Miikka Salomaki
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Dan Hamhuis -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros