Summer Coolers – Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators may finally be positioned to make the run many expected two years ago. After finishing sixth in the Central with 86 points, Nashville enters 2026-27 with Chris MacFarland reshaping the roster through one of the NHL’s more aggressive offseasons. Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Maverick Bourque, Ilya Lyubushkin and several other additions give the Predators considerably more depth. But Neil Smith and Vic Morren see another major storyline developing: Andrew Brunette may now have to prove to his new GM that he deserves to remain Nashville’s head coach.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00:00] Nashville finishes sixth in the Central, 10th in the Western Conference and 23rd overall with 86 points.

[00:00:20] Neil and Vic revisit the enormous expectations surrounding Nashville two years earlier after the Predators signed Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei.

[00:00:45] Those headline additions never produced the results many expected, but Neil believes this offseason feels different.

[00:01:00] New GM Chris MacFarland adds what Neil calls “real meat to the bone,” strengthening the existing roster rather than attempting to completely rebuild it.

[00:01:20] MacFarland immediately targets players he knows well, including Ross Colton and Jack Drury from his previous organization in Colorado.

[00:01:35] The pressure now shifts toward Andrew Brunette. Neil believes the coach must demonstrate to MacFarland that he deserves to remain behind the Nashville bench.

[00:01:55] Nashville improved by 18 points last season and briefly pushed into playoff position before fading down the stretch.

[00:02:00] MacFarland raids his former organization, adding Colton, Drury and defenseman Jack Ahcan from Colorado.

[00:02:20] Nashville acquires Adam Edstrom from the Rangers for a 2026 fifth-round pick and Nils Höglander from Vancouver for a 2029 third-round selection.

[00:02:35] Maverick Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin also arrive from Dallas, further strengthening a roster clearly being constructed to win now.

[00:02:50] Bourque signs a six-year contract worth $5.5 million per season, giving Nashville another important long-term piece.

[00:03:00] Alex Kerfoot arrives as a free agent from Utah, while Hunter Skinner joins from St. Louis.

[00:03:15] Neil agrees that Nashville is significantly improved, but the Central Division presents a major obstacle.

[00:03:30] Utah has improved as well, while Minnesota, Dallas and Colorado remain formidable. The Predators must determine which established playoff team they can actually surpass.

[00:03:50] St. Louis could potentially be vulnerable, but Neil still sees Nashville facing a difficult path into the postseason.

[00:04:00] Vic believes as many as five Central Division teams could qualify for the playoffs because the division appears considerably deeper than the Pacific.

[00:04:25] Neil agrees that the Central possesses a greater quantity of strong teams, increasing the importance of every divisional matchup.

[00:04:45] One notable departure is Erik Haula, who signs with the Los Angeles Kings.

[00:05:00] Nashville’s prospect group includes Brady Martin, the fifth overall selection in 2025, who appeared in three NHL games last season.

[00:05:15] Forwards Ryker Lee and Egor Surin provide additional young talent as Nashville attempts to balance its veteran roster with future contributors.

[00:05:30] Most of the Predators’ important personnel is now locked up contractually, giving MacFarland stability as he attempts to build a contender.

[00:05:45] Ryan O’Reilly is the most significant player approaching unrestricted free agency after the season.

[00:06:00] Neil believes O’Reilly is reaching the stage of his career where he can decide whether to finish in Nashville or pursue one final opportunity elsewhere.

Nashville looks substantially stronger than it did a year ago. MacFarland has aggressively added depth and talent without tearing apart the existing core. The question is whether Brunette can turn those moves into results—and whether the Predators can survive a loaded Central Division and finally become the contender everyone expected them to be two years ago.