Gina: Mavrik Bourque is officially a Predator, signed to a massive six-year deal, but does that mean he’s the face of the franchise? We’re breaking down the power rankings right now.
Wes: It’s not just about the contract, Gina. It’s about where Nashville sits in the Central Division with an eight-center logjam and Juuse Saros ready to start on October 2nd.
Gina: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, America’s number one daily sports podcast! I’m Gina Carano, and alongside me is the sharp-eyed analyst Wes Miller. Today is Sunday, September 14th, 2026.
Wes: Hey everyone. We are diving deep into the Nashville Predators’ power rankings. The preseason is heating up, training camps are open, and the headlines are flying.
Gina: That’s right. And we’ve got three big things to tackle today. First, we’re looking at where the Preds rank in the Central Division despite the 0-0-0 record. Second, we’re dissecting the strengths and question marks of this new roster construction. And third, we’re giving you a realistic season outlook and win projection based on the data we have.
Wes: Exactly. We’re going to look past the hype and get into the tactical reality of this team. So, let’s jump right into it.
Gina: Alright, Segment One: Where do the Nashville Predators rank in their division right now? We know they’re 0-0-0, so no games played yet. But standing-wise, the data shows they are currently listed as first in the Central Division. How do you interpret that?
Wes: Well, 'first' is a bit of a placeholder until the puck drops on October 2nd against the Minnesota Wild, but it reflects the pre-season expectations. The Central is tough. You’ve got Colorado, Dallas, maybe Winnipeg hovering. But Nashville has built a roster specifically designed to compete at the top.
Gina: And part of that building was the trade for Mavrik Bourque. Remember, the Stars sent him over along with Ilya Lyubushkin for a 2027 second-round and 2028 third-round pick. Then Nashville immediately signed him to a six-year, $33 million contract.
Wes: Right. And that’s a significant investment. Bourque had 20 goals and 21 assists in 82 games last year for Dallas. That’s solid secondary scoring. Getting him here, plus keeping Roman Josi anchored on defense, shows a commitment to maintaining that top-of-the-division status.
Gina: But Wes, isn’t there a risk? We talked about this yesterday—eight centers. Ryan O'Reilly, Steven Stamkos, Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Mavrik Bourque... who is sitting on the fourth line? Does that depth dilute the talent?
Wes: It’s a valid concern. Depth can become a liability if you don’t manage line matchups correctly. If you’re forcing a player like Adam Edstrom or David Edstrom into heavy minutes because you have too many skilled players, you might see defensive breakdowns. But if they can cycle them effectively, it becomes a strength. You wear teams down in the neutral zone.
Gina: So, for the power ranking, I’d say they are a Tier 1 team in the Central. High ceiling, but high maintenance on the forward lines. What’s your take? Are they the favorite to win the division?
Wes: I think they are co-favorites. With Juuse Saros starting the opener, the goaltending anchor is there. But the division is wide open. I’d put them in the top two spots, but not clear favorites yet. Not until they show they can handle the pressure of playing with house money.
Gina: Before we move to our next segment, I want to take a quick breath and ask for your support. This show is free for everyone, but creating these deep-dive analyses takes time and passion. If you’ve enjoyed our breakdown of the Bourque signing and the Central Division race, please consider chipping in via the link in the episode description. Your help keeps us daily and independent.
Wes: Thanks, Gina. Alright, Segment Two: Strengths and Question Marks. Let’s talk strengths first. What stands out to you about this roster heading into camp?
Gina: I love the versatility on the wings. You’ve got Filip Forsberg leading the charge, but then look at the depth. Jonathan Marchessault is back, adding that playoff experience. And then you have Joakim Kemell and Aiden Fink pushing hard. That creates real competition.
Wes: Marchessault is key. He knows how to win. But my biggest strength? It’s the defensive pairings. Roman Josi is still elite, obviously. But pairing him with Nicolas Hague or Justin Barron gives you size and mobility. And having Ilya Lyubushkin, who came over in the Bourque trade, adds that physical edge on the penalty kill.
Gina: I agree. The physicality on the backend is a huge upgrade from last year. But what about the question marks? We mentioned the eight centers earlier. Is that the biggest issue?
Wes: It’s the most obvious one. But I’d argue the bigger question mark is the goaltending tandem beyond Juuse Saros. We know Saros is the starter. But who is the backup? Andrew Gibson? Or is there someone else in the mix? If Saros gets hurt, can the team sustain that top-two division status?
Gina: That’s a fair point. We predicted Saros would start the opener, which he will, but the lack of a proven veteran backup is a vulnerability. Also, what about the power play? With all these skilled forwards like Stamkos and O'Reilly, is the unit cohesive yet?
Wes: The power play has star power, sure. But chemistry doesn’t happen overnight. You have eight centers trying to find roles. If the power play relies heavily on specific line combinations, and those combos are shifting daily in camp, you might see early struggles. I’d expect the PP to be mediocre until November.
Gina: Mediocre starts, strong finish? That’s the hope. But if the PP stalls early, it puts pressure on the even-strength game. And that’s where the forecheck comes in. Do you think this team can press the opponent in the offensive zone?
Wes: They have the speed to do it. Forsberg, Kemell, Bourque—they can push the pace. But it requires disciplined neutral-zone play. If they turn it over, you’re exposing that potentially thin goaltending situation. So, discipline is the key word here.
Gina: Discipline. Got it. So, strengths: defensive structure, wing depth, playoff experience. Question marks: center logjam, backup goalie, PP cohesion. Solid analysis. Let’s move to the final segment.
Wes: Segment Three: Season Outlook and Win Projection. We have some prior predictions to check in on. Back on September 11th and 12th, we predicted the Predators would win the opener against the Wild 4-2. And we also said they’d finish with approximately 97 points.
Gina: Right. And we’ve stuck by those numbers. Given the current roster construction and the 0-0-0 start, do you still feel 97 points is realistic? That’s a very strong total.
Wes: I do. Here’s why. If Saros stays healthy, he’s going to steal games. In the NHL, good goaltending wins close matches. Plus, the addition of Bourque adds ten to fifteen goals that might have gone elsewhere last year. That pushes the offense up. I think 97 is actually conservative if they stay healthy.
Gina: Conservative? Wow. So you’re seeing this team hitting 100 points?
Wes: If they navigate the center logjam well—if O’Reilly and Stamkos mesh smoothly with the younger guys—yes. They have the talent to go 50-25-7 or something similar. That’s roughly 107 points. But I’ll stick with 97 as a safe bet. It accounts for some early PP struggles.
Gina: I like that confidence. It shows faith in the management’s job with the Bourque trade. And what about the playoffs? If they’re 1st in the Central, that’s a favorable path, right?
Wes: Home ice advantage is huge in the first round. If they secure that, yes, the path is clearer. But remember, the Wild are coming to town on October 2nd. That’s the litmus test. If they drop that series early, the 97-point projection looks shaky.
Gina: So, the opener against Minnesota is everything. We’ll be watching closely. Any final thoughts on the Evangelista trade impact? We discussed that recently, but it bears repeating.
Wes: Evangelista moving on opened a spot, but more importantly, it signaled flexibility. The front office is willing to make moves to optimize the roster. That Bourque acquisition was a statement. They want to score. And with Forsberg and Marchessault, they can.
Gina: A statement made. Alright, Wes, thanks for the breakdown. We’ve covered the division rank, the strengths/weaknesses, and the 97-point projection. Let’s wrap it up.
Wes: Great chat, Gina. The Predators are poised for a big year. Let’s see if they can deliver.
Gina: To recap: The Nashville Predators are ranked first in the Central Division with a 0-0-0 record, boasting a deep forward group and strong defense, though they face questions with their center logjam and backup goaltending. We project 97 points and a win in the season opener against Minnesota.
Wes: If you enjoyed this power rankings episode, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite platform. It helps more fans find the show.
Gina: Share this with a fellow Preds fan! And remember, keep your sticks on the ice and your heads in the game. Go Preds!