Who Are The Preds? | Making Sense Of Predators Season That Came Up Short

The Locked On Predators podcast reflects on a season of stark contrasts for the Nashville Predators, who narrowly missed the playoffs after a dramatic turnaround from being the worst team in the NHL in November. Host Jack Williams dissects the team's identity, highlighting a remarkable improvement in special teams—particularly a top-10 penalty kill and a power play that rose to 12th in the league—while acknowledging persistent flaws: a slow start to games, a defense that ranked among the worst in goals allowed and shots faced, and a general lack of speed and consistency. Despite standout individual performances from Stephen Stamkos (40 goals, 63 points), Phillip Forsberg (73 points), Roman Yossi (55 points in 68 games), and a career-best season from backup goalie Eustace Anand, the team’s rollercoaster nature—winning one, losing one—cost them playoff positioning. Williams emphasizes that while the team showed flashes of being a contender, they lacked the sustained effort and depth needed to clinch a spot, especially in the final stretch when they failed to string together wins. Looking ahead, he calls for a complete defensive overhaul, more accountability from underperforming veterans, and a push for younger players to step up in key roles. The episode concludes with a call to action for fans to join the Everyday Club for ad-free listening and exclusive access, while teasing upcoming deep dives into coaching and front-office changes. Williams stresses that the season, though disappointing, wasn’t a total loss—there were clear signs of progress and potential—but the team must address its fundamental flaws to avoid repeating the cycle of near-misses. The overarching takeaway is that the Predators are not a bad team, but a flawed one that needs structural changes to become consistently competitive.