It’s no surprise that former New York Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei is already experiencing greys at just 30 years old. To be fair, his hair began to gray in his 20s, but it doesn’t help that his current team, the Nashville Predators, is the only NHL team yet to earn a point this season.
Despite signing Skjei, along with stars Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault to significant free-agent deals this offseason, the Predators are off to a shocking 0-5-0 start. The only other winless team, the San Jose Sharks, at least have gained two points by losing twice in overtime. Considered a strong contender for the Stanley Cup before the season, the Predators not only remain winless but have also gone 0-4-0 at home, despite having a seemingly favorable schedule with seven of their ten games this month on home ice. They’ll try to break this streak with a home game against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
For Skjei, who signed a seven-year, $49 million deal this summer after a career-best 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) with the Carolina Hurricanes, he has scored one goal in five games but possesses a disappointing minus-six plus/minus rating during that span with Nashville.
“We have to move past this and change our fortunes quickly,” Skjei commented last week. “You don’t want to linger in this feeling.”
Skjei’s early struggles are evident, as his expected goals for percentage (xGF%) of 34.81 is the lowest on the team per Natural Stat Trick. The Predators have been outshot 43-29 with him on the ice, and 19-11 in high-danger chances.
Skjei is not alone; several former Rangers players are also facing tough starts this season. Patrick Kane of the Detroit Red Wings has two assists in five games, while teammate Erik Gustafsson has already been scratched twice after a strong previous season with the Rangers.
Colorado Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev is struggling too, with a high 4.99 goals-against average and an .811 save percentage. However, he did secure his first win on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. It’s been a challenging road for Georgiev and the Avalanche as well.
As for Skjei, he isn’t the only issue in Nashville. Stamkos scored his first goal recently but has a minus-six rating, Marchessault has one goal, and Roman Josi is at minus-five. Meanwhile, Michael McCarron and Colton Sissons are both minus-eight, and Juuse Saros has a 3.64 goals-against average with an .875 save percentage.
Skjei spent four seasons with the Rangers before being traded to the Hurricanes before the 2020 deadline, where his performance improved significantly. His best overall season was 2023-24, highlighted by scoring the game-winning power-play goal against the Rangers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Second Round, initiating a Carolina comeback in the series, although the Rangers made a stunning comeback in Game 6 to advance.
But that’s behind him now; Skjei faces the challenge of overcoming a rough start while carrying the weight of high expectations on a talented new team, along with a hefty $7 million salary cap hit.
Fortunately for Skjei—and the Predators—five games do not define a season. There is ample time for him to turn things around and create a more positive narrative for his first year in Nashville.
