NHL Preview 2019-20: Nashville Predators

(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's Nashville Predators first line winger Filip Forsberg.)

GM: David Poile (since 1997). 9.5/10
Coach: Peter Laviolette (since 2014). 8.4/10

2018-19 record: 47-29-6, 100 points (1st in Central Division, 3rd in Western Conference). Lost to Dallas Stars 4-2 in Round 1.

Departures: P.K. Subban (D), Wayne Simmonds (LW), Brian Boyle (C).

Arrivals: Matt Duchene (C), Steve Santini (D), Daniel Carr (RW).

Top forwards: Filip Forsberg (30-some goals, 60-65 points), Ryan Johansen (60-70 points), Viktor Arvidsson (55-70 points), Nick Bonino (30 points playing on a second line all season), Mikael Granlund (50-60 points), Craig Smith (30-40 points), Calle Jarnkrok (25-35 points), Kyle Turris (20 goals and 30-35 points).

Must-improve forward: Everyone at centre. Johansen gets paid like an 80-point player; Turris gets paid like a 60-70-point player; Bonino gets paid like a 60-point player - neither of them get close enough to those marks.

Top defensemen: Roman Josi (45-55 points), Ryan Ellis (usually good for 35-45 points, though he will start the season on LTIR), Mattias Ekholm (20-30 points), Dante Fabbro (20-30 points),  Colton Sissons (20-25 points), Yannick Weber (10-20 points, maybe a few powerplay goals now that Subban's gone).

Goalies: Pekka Rinne (90/100), Juuse Saros (81/100).

Top rookies: Dante Fabbro (21, D, 2016 first-round draft pick), Vladislav Kamenev (23, C), Eeli Tolvanen (20, RW).

Analysis:
Did the Preds get better of worse this offseason? Does leadership and team chemistry count?

The Preds' biggest problem the past couple of years has been the sub-par performance of their centre line; they addressed it by going for Duchene, a player who has also never hit the 80-point plateau.

They also gave up term to depth players like Scissons for some reason.

But they're still better than their immediate competition, i.e. the rest of the Central. But if they don't take advantage of their window soon, it will close, because a lot of their players are nearing the age of 30, so they're a couple of years away from the start of a sharp decline.

Prediction: 1st in the Central Division, 3rd overall.