Nashville Predators Odds - No goals, no hockey after April in Music City
Nashville Predators odds had supporters in NHL betting circles over the last few years. The Preds kept defying the odds, winning bettors money by exceeding projected win totals. They were the little team that could. However, with so many former Western bottom dwellers improving, the Predators are about to become the little team that can’t.
Nashville Predators Odds: Preds can’t score enough to keep up in West
- Forced to rely on aging vets for “offense”
- Shea Weber has matured into a perennial All-Star defenseman
- Can Pekka Rinne break the Nashville goalie curse
Nashville Predators odds maker breakdown: OFFENSE
Nashville can’t score. One player topped 60 points last season. One player topped 23 goals. Worse yet – Nashville’s only sources of offense are veterans who won’t be around forever: Jason Arnott, J-P Dumont and Steve Sullivan. Martin Erat is a solid playmaker and Shea Weber chips in more than most defenders can from the point, but the Preds really miss Alexander Radulov.
Nashville Predators odds maker breakdown: DEFENSE
Nashville does a respectable job keeping the puck out of the net under Barry Trotz’s conservative system. Arnott and David Legwand are solid two-way forwards. Shea Weber has emerged as an elite NHL defenseman, Ryan Suter is getting better by the day and Dan Hamhuis is a solid minutes eater. The Preds’ defense isn’t a huge strength but it’s not a weakness either for their online sports betting chances.
Nashville Predators odds maker breakdown: GOALTENDING
Pekka Rinne was a revelation for Nashville last season, almost singlehandedly carrying the Predators into the playoffs. However, we’ve seen this movie before. Mike Dunham, Tomas Vokoun, Chris Mason, Dan Ellis – every single year in Music City, the backup goalie steals the job only to lose it to another backup the next season. Rinne seems like the real deal, but we have to temper our expectations for him given Nashville’s bizarre goalie history.
Nashville Predators odds maker breakdown: SPECIAL TEAMS
Nashville’s special teams are a microcosm of their strengths and weaknesses. Naturally, its sturdy, defensive-minded group kills penalties well. Naturally, the Preds struggle on the power play. Losing Radulov to the KHL left Nashville without a trigger man; right now, Weber fills that role as best he can from the point. Maybe prospect Colin Wilson can make the team and jumpstart the offense?
Nashville Predators odds maker breakdown: SEASON OUTLOOK
Fellow fringe playoff teams like Edmonton and Los Angeles are improving. The teams Nashville chased last year. St. Louis and Columbus, have better young nuclei. The top West contenders aren’t going anywhere. Nashville will remain tough to play against, but there’s no room for the Preds in the playoff picture.
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