Gina: Mavrik Bourque is officially a Predator, the roster is locked in, and we have a lot of ground to cover before puck drop. But first, let’s talk about where this team actually stands right now.
Wes: It’s a pivotal moment for Nashville. We’ve got six years on the table for Bourque, new faces on the blue line, and a Central Division that isn’t going to hand us anything.
Gina: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, I’m Gina Carano, your lead host.
Wes: And I’m Wes Walz, here with the tactical breakdown. Today, we’re doing our daily power rankings episode for the Nashville Predators.
Gina: Here is what we are tackling today. First, we look at the Predators’ standing in the Central Division—fifth place—and what that means for their playoff push. Second, we break down the biggest strengths and question marks on this roster, specifically looking at that center logjam. And third, we give you a realistic season outlook and win projection based on the current landscape.
Wes: We’re also checking back in on some predictions from last week regarding Bourque’s goal output and the team’s point total. Let’s get into it.
Gina: Okay, Wes, let’s start with the hard numbers. Where does Nashville sit in the NHL hierarchy right now?
Wes: Currently, they are fifth in the Central Division. It’s a tough spot because the Central is arguably the deepest division in hockey. You’ve got Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, and Minnesota all vying for those top spots.
Gina: Fifth place sounds precarious, but it’s also a position of opportunity if they can climb. How much room is there to move up?
Wes: Plenty, provided they execute on special teams. The gap between fifth and first in the Central is often just five or six points over an eighty-two game season. It’s not insurmountable.
Gina: Right. And we know who the anchor of this defense is. Roman Josi is still out there logging minutes like a man possessed.
Wes: Absolutely. Josi is the engine. But the defense corps has changed significantly. We added Justin Barron, Ilya Lyubushkin, and Ryan Ufko. That brings size and physicality that wasn’t as prominent last year.
Gina: Lyubushkin was part of the trade for Bourque, remember? So Nashville essentially traded some defensive depth for offensive upside at center.
Wes: Exactly. They gave up Lyubushkin and picks to get Bourque. It’s a clear statement: they want more offense from the middle. But does that hurt them defensively against teams like the Wild?
Gina: That’s the key matchup. Their next game is against the Minnesota Wild on October 2nd. If they can’t handle the Wild’s forecheck, that fifth-place standing could slip quickly.
Wes: The Wild are relentless in the neutral zone. If Nashville’s new defensemen, like Barron or Perbix, make a mistake in their own zone, it’s going to be punished. They need to be disciplined.
Gina: So, fifth place is the starting block, but the ceiling is much higher if the defense tightens up. Let’s talk about the roster construction itself. What are the obvious strengths here?
Wes: The top end. Filip Forsberg is still a force. Steven Stamkos brings that elite playmaking and shot. And Jonathan Marchessault adds versatility on the wing.
Gina: And now, add Mavrik Bourque into that mix. Six years, thirty-three million dollars. That’s a massive commitment. Do you think he fits with Stamkos?
Wes: I think it creates a terrifying top-six. Bourque had twenty goals and twenty-one assists last year in Dallas. He’s young, twenty-four, and he knows how to finish.
Gina: We predicted back on August 27th that Bourque would score twenty-five plus goals this season. This lineup change makes that prediction feel even more likely.
Wes: If he gets even half the opportunities Stamkos does, twenty-five is a floor, not a ceiling. But that leads us to the question marks.
Gina: Which brings us to Segment Two. The center logjam. We have Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Adam Edstrom, Tyson Jost, Alexander Kerfoot, Ryan O’Reilly, Stamkos, Bourque, and Wiesblatt. Who is playing where?
Wes: It’s crowded, Gina. Really crowded. O’Reilly is the veteran stabilizer. He’s going to be on the third line, killing penalties, and shutting down opponent centers.
Gina: O’Reilly is a workhorse. But where does Bourque fit? Is he sliding him onto a line with Stamkos?
Wes: That seems the most logical. Pairing two skilled centers together allows them to share the puck-handling load. Stamkos doesn’t have to do everything; he can focus on the net-front presence and the shot.
Gina: What happens to Ross Colton then? He’s been a staple here.
Wes: Colton moves to the second line, probably with Forsberg. That keeps Forsberg’s chemistry intact while giving Colton a clear role as a two-way forward.
Gina: And Jack Drury? He’s a smart player, but does he have enough speed to keep up with this accelerated pace?
Wes: Drury might find himself battling for fourth-line minutes. Or, if he struggles, he could be a healthy scratch early on. The competition is fierce.
Gina: That’s brutal for Drury fans. But it shows how serious the coaching staff is about maximizing offense. What about the goaltending situation? We have Juuse Saros, Justus Annunen, and Isak Posch.
Wes: Saros is the starter. No doubt. But Annunen is pushing him hard. In our mailbag episodes last week, we talked about the backup battle extensively.
Gina: Right, and we mentioned that Saros needs support. If he gets injured, can Annunen hold down the fort?
Wes: Annunen has the tools. He’s big, he’s athletic. But consistency is the issue. Posch is the wild card—he’s young, unproven at this level. If both Saros and Annunen struggle, the team’s standing takes a huge hit.
Gina: So the strength is clearly the offensive skill, particularly with the Bourque addition. The weakness is the depth at center and the potential inconsistency behind Saros.
Wes: Exactly. If the top six clicks, they score enough to win games even when the defense lapses. But if the middle six gets shut down by teams like Vegas or Edmonton, they’re in trouble.
Gina: Let’s pivot to Segment Three. A realistic season outlook. Last week, we predicted the Predators would make the playoffs and finish with ninety-seven points. And we said Bourque would hit twenty-five goals.
Wes: Those were bold calls. With the current roster construction, do we stand by them?
Gina: I absolutely do. Ninety-seven points is a solid playoff number in the Western Conference. It’s not a Stanley Cup guarantee, but it’s a postseason berth.
Wes: Agreed. The Central is tough, but ninety-seven points usually gets you in. Maybe as a sixth seed, maybe as a four seed. It depends on how the rest of the league plays out.
Gina: And Bourque? Twenty-five goals feels very achievable. He’s getting a contract extension because the organization believes in his ceiling.
Wes: Twenty-five is conservative. I’d bet on twenty-eight or twenty-nine if he stays healthy. His drive and edge fit perfectly in Nashville.
Gina: What about the rest of the team? Can Filip Forsberg replicate his previous production?
Wes: Forsberg needs to stay healthy. When he’s on the ice, Nashville is a different team. He’s the primary creator. If he puts up sixty-plus points, the offense flows.
Gina: And Roman Josi? He’s aging, but he’s still elite.
Wes: Josi is the heartbeat. As long as Josi is playing at an All-Star level, Nashville remains a threat. The new defensemen need to complement him, not replace his workload entirely.
Gina: So, final verdict. Ninth-seed vibes? Or legitimate contender status?
Wes: Legitimate contender. Not the favorite, but a dangerous team that can upset anyone on any given night. The Bourque acquisition was the catalyst.
Gina: I love that energy. They’re coming for that fifth place spot and they’re taking it to the top.
Wes: Just don’t forget, their first test is the Minnesota Wild on October 2nd. That will tell us a lot about how this new lineup functions under pressure.
Gina: To recap: The Predators are fifth in the Central, bolstered by Mavrik Bourque’s six-year deal, with high hopes for a ninety-seven point season and a playoff run.
Wes: If you enjoyed this power rankings breakdown, please subscribe, rate, and review the show on your favorite platform. It helps us get the word out to more Predators fans.
Gina: Share this with your friends, join the conversation online, and let us know what you think about the Bourque signing.
Wes: Go Preds!