Nashville Predators PREDictions: Johansen Leads Team Scoring
The Nashville Predators are entering their first full season with a true number-one center and the impact will be noticeable.
The Nashville Predators changed the future of their franchise when they made a blockbuster trade near the midpoint of last season, exchanging future stud defenseman Seth Jones for the first true number-one center the Preds have ever had on their roster, Ryan Johansen.
Putting Johansen in gold immediately looked like a match made in heaven, as he roofed a powerplay goal against division rival Colorado Avalanche in his first shot attempt as a Predator. From there his presence evened out a Nashville offense, helping to take the team deeper into the playoffs than ever before.
The 24-year-old went on to finish the season with 60 total points (14 goals, 46 assists) split between his time in Nashville and Columbus. Though certainly a successful output, the numbers were down for the former Blue Jacket who had marked 71 points (26 G, 45 A) and 63 points (33 G, 30 A) in his two preceding seasons.
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But now with an entire offseason under his belt in Peter Laviolette’s system, Johansen should be primed to shine. The sweet-handed center is slated to once again start games in the dot for the opening faceoff, and with the age of the centers playing behind him, he will be leaned upon to carry first-liner minutes. All the more time to score.
No matter how the Nashville Predators choose to orchestrate their lines, RyJo will be flanked by wingers with the ability to score. Be it Filip Forsberg, James Neal, or Craig Smith, Johansen will make their scoring touches more dangerous.
In preseason action Johansen has been lined up with Forsberg and Kevin Fiala, the former first round draft pick who’s hoping to make this his first year as a full-time NHL winger. Fiala has been described by scouts as a potentially ‘game-breaking’ offensive force, and beside the talent of Forsberg and RyJo, they may just figure out the key to unlocking that potential.
But where Johansen has the opportunity to do the most damage will be where he began his impact in Nashville- on the powerplay. The unit should see wholesale improvement with new superstar defenseman P.K. Subban, making the opponent cover more ice, more movement, and creating more opportunity for RyJo to take advantage of space like he did on his first goal with the Nashville Predators.
This is Ryan Johansen’s opportunity to take on a leadership role with a franchise, and he can begin by leading in scoring on the ice. 2016-17 will mark RyJo’s return to the 70 point plateau, coming in just shy of 30 goals while filling up the rest of the scoresheet by feeding the talent around him.
The Nashville Predators open their season with back to back matchups against the rival Chicago Blackhawks on October 14th and 15th. Expect Johansen to make himself known early and often.
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