Top Predators News
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Predators' Dante Fabbro: In action Saturday
Fabbro (face) was back in action for Saturday's World Championship clash with Germany.
Fabbro likely won't see a ton of ice time in the tournament, but fantasy owners will be happy to see the defenseman healthy after taking a puck to the face in his previous appearance. Despite the club not having any blueliner's set to hit free agency this offseason, the 20-year-old Fabbro should still have a decent shot at securing a spot on the 23-man roster for Opening Night.
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Predators' Dante Fabbro: Suffers injury at Worlds
Fabbro was hit in the face by a puck during Team Canada's clash with Slovakia on Monday and won't return to the game, Brent Wallace of TSN.ca reports.
Fabbro's status for the remainder of the tournament is certainly in doubt, especially if the Predators feel it's best of he returns to Nashville to be evaluated by team doctors. The blueliner broke into the lineup for the final 10 games of the 2018-19 season, in which he tallied one goal, one assist and eight shots while averaging a mere 12:20 of ice time. Barring anything significant, Fabbro should be ready for training camp this fall and will likely compete for a spot on the 23-man roster.
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Predators' Roman Josi: Looking at big raise this summer
GM David Poile will be discussing a contract extension with Josi and his agent July 1.
Before leading the team in scoring with four points in the first round of this year's playoffs, Josi played in all 82 games of the regular season, scoring 15 goals and 41 assists -- the fifth time in the last six seasons he has posted at least 50 points. Furthermore, his 274 points (70G, 204A) over the past five seasons leave him tied with Victor Hedman for third in scoring among all NHL defensemen over that span. The 28-year-old has one year left on his current seven-year, $28 million contract and is due for a hefty raise this offseason. Given his impressive stats, he's worth every penny.
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Predators' Rocco Grimaldi: Likely to be re-signed
Predators GM David Poile said he has every intention of re-signing Grimaldi before next season.
Grimaldi had just 13 points in 53 games during the regular season, but led the team with three goals in five games during their first-round playoff loss to the Stars. The 26-year-old California native will become a restricted free agent July 1, but you should expect to see him back in a Preds uniform next season and return to his usual bottom-six role.
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Predators' Mathieu Olivier: Signs entry-level deal
Olivier inked a two-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on Wednesday.
Olivier didn't produce eye-popping numbers in the AHL this season, notching four goals and 12 points in 54 games, but the Predators don't expect him to develop into an offensive force, and are likely far more interested in what he might be able to bring to the table as a bottom-six grinder. The 22-year-old American will undoubtedly spend the majority of the 2019-20 campaign in the minors, and he'll never produce much offense at the NHL level, so there's no reason for fantasy owners to have him on their radars.
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Predators' Eeli Tolvanen: Miserable season concludes
Tolvanen failed to record a point in five playoff contests for AHL Milwaukee.
The Admirals were eliminated by Iowa on Monday. To characterize Tolvanen's season as a disappointment would be a massive understatement. He played just four games with the Predators and managed just 15 goals in 58 games for Milwaukee. Tolvanen has always been able to score, but the rest of his game needs a ton of work. The good news is that he is still just 20 years old and has time to make the necessary fixes. He seems likely to begin the 2019-20 campaign right back in Milwaukee.
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Predators' Wayne Simmonds: Fails to return to lineup
Simmonds (lower body) wasn't able to overcome his injury prior to the Predators getting bounced from the playoffs.
Simmonds missed the final four games of the series after getting hurt early in Game 2. The winger managed just three points in 17 contests with Nashville after making the move to the Music City at the trade deadline. The 30-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and will likely have a handful of suitors looking to add a gritty, bottom-six veteran.
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Predators' Brian Boyle: Collects helper
Boyle had an assist, two shots and two hits in Monday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 6.
Boyle set up fellow fourth-liner Austin Watson for the goal early in the first period. Boyle managed a pair of assists as well as seven hits and seven shots in three appearances in the series. He missed Games 2 through 4 with an abdominal injury, but recovered enough to make an impact late in the series, even though his team lost. The center isn't known for his playmaking, having scored 18 goals while adding six assists between the Devils and Predators in 73 regular-season appearances.
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Predators' P.K. Subban: Sacrifices body in overtime loss
Subban registered an assist and seven blocked shots in Monday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 6.
Subban provided the secondary assist on Austin Watson's opening tally in the first period, but his big contribution came defensively, as his seven blocks trailed only teammate Dan Hamhuis' nine in the game. Subban managed a goal and two helpers in the series, along with 18 shots and 15 blocks.
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Predators' Austin Watson: Hit machine tickles twine
Watson scored a goal on four shots and dished out 14 hits in Monday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 6.
Watson was a physical force of nature, scoring the opening goal and then running rampant with the lofty hit totals. Watson produced 16 points and 109 hits in 37 regular-season appearances, and has added a goal and a helper along with (32) hits in six postseason outings.
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Predators' Pekka Rinne: Strong in season-ending loss
Rinne stopped 49 of 51 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Stars in Monday's Game 6.
Rinne had his ups and downs in the series, allowing 17 goals over six games, including nine goals over Games 4 and 5. This was arguably his best performance of the playoffs, but it wasn't enough to save the Predators' season, as they lost the series 4-2.
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Predators' Wayne Simmonds: Out Monday
Simmonds (lower body) will not play in Monday's Game 6 road tilt against the Stars, Adam Vingan of The Athletic reports.
Simmonds hasn't played since Game 2 and his absence is surely being felt with Nashville down 3-2 in the series. His status is unclear for Wednesday's potential Game 7 matchup.
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Predators' Pekka Rinne: Guarding crease for Game 6
Rinne will draw the start in Dallas for Monday's Game 6 matchup, Mark Stepneski of the Stars' official site reports.
After allowed just six goals in the first three games of the series, Rinne has been drilled for nine goals on 34 shots over the last two contests. The Predators have their backs against the wall down 3-2 in the series but they'll continue to rely on their longtime netminder.
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Predators' Ryan Johansen: Must do more to give team chance
Johansen scored a goal in Saturday's 5-3, Game 5 loss to the Stars, who now lead the Predators 3-2 in the series.
It's his first goal of the postseason and just his second point. Johansen is supposed to be one of the offensive leaders in Nashville, but he's being outscored by fourth-liner Rocco Grimaldi. He needs to ratchet his game up to new heights if there is to be a Game 7.
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Predators' Pekka Rinne: Needs some help from team
Rinne made 21 saves in a 5-3 loss to the Stars on Saturday in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
The Stars' top line dominated the Predators. Tyler Seguin had a goal and assist, Alexander Radulov had two snipes, and Jamie Benn set up three. The loss wasn't on Rinne -- the Preds' forwards have gone silent, except for fourth-line sniper Rocco Grimaldi. Rinne can't do it all, but he may have to if Nashville is going to advance. Dallas now leads the series 3-2 heading home for Game 6.
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Predators' Rocco Grimaldi: Best Pred once again
Grimaldi scored a goal in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Dallas in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
Grimaldi has been great this series. This was his third goal of the postseason and it came on a pretty move that turned stud-rookie defender Miro Heiskanen inside-out. But for as good as Grimaldi has been, the rest of the Preds haven't. He leads Nashville in goals and sits second in team scoring with three points. No offense, but they just can't win with a fourth-liner as their best forward. However, Grimaldi's strong play has cemented his spot for 2019-20.
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Predators' Wayne Simmonds: No-go Saturday
Simmonds (lower body) wasn't on the ice for warmups ahead of Saturday's Game 5 against the Stars, Robby Stanley of NHL.com reports.
While Simmons has effectively been ruled out for the latest playoff contest, the fact that his status came down to warmups suggests that he may not be all that far away from a return. It's not all doom and gloom for the Predators in the way of injuries, though, as Rocco Grimaldi (undisclosed) is set to return.
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Team Statistical Rankings
| GF AVG | GA AVG | Power Play | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team |
2.86 (11th) |
2.65 (15th) |
18.9 (16th) |