Gina: Steven Stamkos is in Nashville. Jonathan Marchessault is wearing purple. And the center ice battle just got a whole lot more complicated with Mavrik Bourque officially on the hook for six years.
Wes: It’s not just about star power anymore, Gina. It’s about who earns the shift when the whistle blows on October second against Minnesota.
Gina: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, home of daily Nashville Predators coverage! I’m Gina, and this is Wes. We are three days out from opening night, and the roster construction is finally taking shape.
Wes: That’s right. Today we’re doing a deep dive into the position battles that will define the first month of the season. We’ve got the forward group reshuffled, the defense corps expanded, and two goalies fighting for survival.
Gina: Here is your roadmap for today: First, we’re breaking down the new top-six center dynamic with Stamkos, O’Reilly, and our guy Mavrik Bourque. Second, we’re looking at the wing matchups—Forsberg, Marchessault, and the kids like Kemell and Wiesblatt. And third, we’re predicting which players are likely heading to Milwaukee and who is locking in their spot.
Wes: We also need to address the backup goalie situation between Justus Annunen and Isak Posch, something we’ve been tracking since August thirty-first. But let’s start with the biggest question mark on the ice: Center Ice.
Gina: Okay, Wes, let’s talk centers. You have Ryan O’Reilly bringing that veteran leadership, Steven Stamkos bringing the scoring punch, Ross Colton providing grit, and then you’ve got Mavrik Bourque signed to that massive six-year, thirty-three million dollar deal.
Wes: Right. And remember, Bourque wasn’t just some prospect; he posted twenty goals and twenty-one assists in eighty-two games for Dallas last year. That’s proven production. The question isn't if he makes the team—it's where he plays.
Gina: Exactly. So how does the line matching work? Do you put Bourque next to Stamkos to start, or do you save him for a checking role against the Wild's top line?
Wes: I think you look at the defensive zone starts. If you want Bourque to score, you give him favorable matchups. But O’Reilly is your shutdown center. He’s going to be on the other line, grinding against Minnesota’s big guys.
Gina: So Stamkos gets the offensive firepower, O’Reilly gets the defensive responsibility, and Bourque... where does he fit? Does he play alongside Colton?
Wes: Colton brings energy. Bourque brings skill. Together, they could be dangerous in the neutral zone. But don’t forget Alexander Kerfoot and Tyson Jost. They are the glue guys. They might be playing on the fourth line, but they need to win faceoffs and kill penalties.
Gina: And what about Adam Edstrom? Big man, big presence. Does he get any time up top?
Wes: Edstrom is a project. In preseason, if he shows he can handle the speed of the NHL, maybe he sees ten minutes a night. But right now, the depth chart is stacked. Bourque, O’Reilly, Stamkos, Colton, Kerfoot, Jost—that’s six reliable centers. Edstrom is pushing for a seventh spot.
Gina: It’s crowded. It’s competitive. And that’s good for us. We talked about Bourque potentially hitting twenty-five goals before. With this much talent around him, do you still see that number?
Wes: I do. Twenty-five goals is realistic. He’s young, he’s restricted free agent material turned long-term asset, and he needs to justify that contract. The opportunity is there.
Gina: Let’s move to the wings. Filip Forsberg is the captain. Jonathan Marchessault is the wildcard. And you’ve got Aiden Fink, Joakim Kemell, Ozzy Wiesblatt, Chase Bradley, Isaac Ratcliffe, Nils Hoglander, Reid Schaefer, Cole O'Hara, and Matthew Wood.
Wes: That is a lot of names, Gina. It’s a lot of bodies. Marchessault is coming off a Vezina-level playoff run elsewhere. He’s here to win. Forsberg is the engine. But who is playing on the third line?
Gina: That’s the battle. Kemell has speed. Fink has size. Wiesblatt twins are both listed as centers but playing wings here? Or are they versatile?
Wes: They’re listed as centers, but if the top six centers are locked in, they might slide to wing. Kemell is the most NHL-ready winger here. He’s fast, he shoots well. I think he starts on the third line.
Gina: What about Hoglander? He’s known for his forecheck. Does that earn him a spot over someone like O'Hara?
Wes: Hoglander is a grinder. He fits the Predators identity. But O'Hara is bigger. If you’re facing Minnesota’s physical forwards, you might go with O'Hara. It’s a stylistic choice by the coaching staff.
Gina: And Ratcliffe? Bradley? These are younger guys trying to prove themselves.
Wes: They’re on the bubble. Unless someone gets injured, it’s hard to make this team with so many options. Schaefer and Wood are also in camp, but they’re likely depth calls.
Gina: So, Kemell seems like the safest bet for a regular spot. What about the left wing side? Forsberg, Hoglander, Ratcliffe, Bradley...
Wes: Forsberg is locked in. Then it’s a mix of speed and size. I think you’ll see a lot of shuffling in training camp until November. But Kemell and Hoglander feel like the most likely candidates for the bottom six.
Gina: Alright, let’s talk defense. This is where things got interesting this offseason. You have Roman Josi, obviously. Brady Skjei, Nicolas Hague, Justin Barron, Nick Perbix, Ilya Lyubushkin, Jack Ahcan, Kevin Gravel, Christoffer Sedoff, Hunter Skinner, Ryan Ufko, and Adam Wilsby.
Wes: Wow. That is a huge group. Josi and Skjei are your top pair. They log heavy minutes. Hague and Barron are your middle pair. But then you have eight other defensemen competing for two spots.
Gina: Eight! That’s a lot of bodies. Let’s start with the newcomers. Ilya Lyubushkin came over from Dallas with Bourque. What does he bring?
Wes: Lyubushkin is a stay-at-home defenseman. He’s physical. He blocks shots. He’s perfect for killing penalties. If you’re worried about Minnesota’s power play, you want Lyubushkin on the ice.
Gina: And Justin Barron? He’s young, he’s mobile. How does he compare to Perbix?
Wes: Barron is an offensive defenseman. He wants to join the rush. Perbix is similar but more polished. Both are right-handed shots. That’s a problem. You usually want one lefty on the second pair to balance the flow.
Gina: So where does the lefty come in? Hague is lefty. Ahcan is lefty. Wilsby is lefty. Gravel is lefty.
Wes: Exactly. So Hague is almost certainly playing. He’s big, he’s experienced. The battle is for the fourth spot. Ahcan, Wilsby, Gravel, or even Sedoff if he’s healthy.
Gina: Sedoff? He’s a rookie. Is he ready for the NHL?
Wes: He’s talented, but he’s raw. He might start in Milwaukee. Skinner and Ufko are also in the mix. It’s a mess, Gina. A good mess, but a mess.
Gina: A good mess means competition. And competition makes us better. Who do you trust in crunch time? Josi, obviously. But who is your second pair partner for Skjei?
Wes: I’d say Hague. He’s steady. He doesn’t make mistakes. In the playoffs, you don’t want fancy. You want safe. Hague is safe.
Gina: And Lyubushkin?
Wes: Lyubushkin is your penalty killer. He’s special teams material. If the Predators want to kill penalties effectively, he’s on the ice. But can he play fifty minutes a week? Maybe not.
Gina: So the depth chart is Josi-Skjei, Hague-Barron, and then Lyubushkin/Ahcan/Wilsby fighting for the last two spots. Isak Posch and Justus Annunen are waiting in the wings for goalies.
Wes: Right. And Juuse Saros is the starter. No doubt there. But the backup job... that’s the story of the summer.
Gina: Let’s talk about that goalie battle. Justus Annunen vs. Isak Posch. We’ve discussed this for three days straight. Who wins it?
Wes: Annunen has more experience. He’s played in the NHL. Posch is younger, flashier, but less tested. If I were the GM, I’d go with Annunen to start. He’s reliable.
Gina: But Posch has upside. If he plays well in camp, can he steal the job?
Wes: If he plays well, yes. But Annunen is the safer bet. I predict Annunen opens the season as the backup. Posch goes to Milwaukee to dominate the AHL.
Gina: Okay, so who else is trending down? Who is in danger of being cut?
Wes: I think Christoffer Sedoff is the most likely casualty. He’s a rookie, he’s unproven, and there are too many veterans ahead of him. Also, maybe Adam Wilsby if he struggles in camp.
Gina: And who is trending up? Who is making a statement?
Wes: Mavrik Bourque. If he scores in preseason, he locks in a top-six spot. Also, Joakim Kemell. If he shows speed, he’s in. And maybe Justin Barron if he defends well.
Gina: So, final predictions. Who makes the final roster? Give me twelve forwards and seven defensemen.
Wes: Forwards: Stamkos, O’Reilly, Bourque, Colton, Kerfoot, Jost, Forsberg, Marchessault, Kemell, Hoglander, Fink, and... maybe Edstrom if he impresses. Or Ratcliffe. I’ll take Ratcliffe for size.
Gina: Defense: Josi, Skjei, Hague, Barron, Lyubushkin, Ahcan, and... Perbix? Or Wilsby?
Wes: Perbix. He’s smoother than Wilsby. I think Perbix edges out Wilsby for the seventh spot.
Gina: Goalies: Saros and Annunen. Posch to Milwaukee.
Wes: Agreed. It’s a strong group. High skill, good size, solid goaltending. The prediction stands: Ninety-seven points. Playoffs.
Gina: There you have it. The Predators are loaded, the battles are fierce, and the countdown to October second has begun. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network wherever you listen.
Wes: See you at the Bridgestone Arena. Go Preds!