The Nashville Predators kicked off the 2024-25 season as one of the key contenders in the Western Conference. At the start of free agency, they invested heavily in several star players, including Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei, adding them to a core that already featured Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, and Juuse Saros.
With this almost dream team assembled in Nashville, expectations were sky-high. However, the season has not started well, as the Predators have struggled mightily.
Currently, their record stands at 7-12-5, and they are in the midst of a three-game winless streak. A significant factor in their difficulties is a lack of goal scoring, as they have one of the worst offensive performances in the NHL.
In 24 games, the Predators have scored a mere 56 goals, tying them for the lowest in the league with the Anaheim Ducks. Averaging 2.33 goals per game puts them just above the Bruins, who are at 2.32.
Stamkos, with 562 career goals, expressed frustration about the team’s scoring woes. “I have some thoughts on that,” he said, before considering his words. “We have guys who can score, but we need to find ways to create more opportunities.”
So far this season, Stamkos has netted seven goals, ranking second on the team, while Forsberg has nine. Josi also has seven goals but leads with 20 total points.
The drop in offensive production is the main hurdle for the team. Meanwhile, Saros has been performing well as the goaltender. Despite having the league’s highest number of losses at 10, he boasts a .912 save percentage and a 2.60 goals against average, including two shutouts.
Saros’s performance is an improvement over last season, when he finished with a .906 save percentage and a 2.86 goals against average. The goaltending is meeting expectations, but the skaters are not supporting him effectively.
With trades already happening around the NHL, the Predators may soon become active in the market. There is still time to improve their standings, but they need to boost their offense— and quickly.
“We’re not giving up,” Stamkos stated. “We need to find a way, myself included. It’s tough.”
