Nashville Predators: Getting Some Media Love
The Nashville Predators are getting some much-deserved attention following their best season yet.
The Nashville Predators always expect to win the Stanley Cup every year, and while that is a nice scenario, that dream will usually not pan out for a team. With their deepest run in last year’s playoffs, the media-heads are giving the Preds more respect as demonstrated by a recent predictions article by NHL.com
Out of 20 experts, an equal number have picked the Nashville Predators to place first, second, or third( 6 each) with two placing the team in the Wildcard. Even more interesting, the Predators had the highest number of votes to win the Western Conference. One individual was bold enough to even say the Preds with the Stanley Cup.
While there has been plenty of chatter about Smashville’s ability to top 100 points this season and take the Central Division, the experts that predict the Preds to win the Western Conference predominantly have them doing so when they place 2nd in the division. Same goes for the Stanley Cup.
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It always feels like teams with high expectations tend to falter more so than not. Having the Nashville Predators finish 2nd in the division could prove beneficial ultimately – pretty darn good but not the top of the ladder – giving the team motivation without the emotionally draining us against the world mentality.
Yes, while the team had their best post-season in the Wildcard slot, the toll of having to travel so much ultimately bested the Preds. Of course, while things could have been drastically different had the Preds landed the other Wildcard spot, the teams would have been different, too. Secure home ice. Secure the Cup.
If you travel back in time just five years ago to the same NHL predictions for the start of the 2011 season, the Nashville Predators weren’t even on the radar. They were merely a blip in the regular season that Chicago might, possibly, maybe, probably not fall behind in the standings. Times sure have changed.
Even though the experts at NHL.com are giving this Preds team respect, the national audience largely won’t get a chance to see the team throughout the season. Only two games will be broadcast nationally. I guess everyone will have to wait until the playoffs to see how good the Preds are.
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