Don’t look now, but the Nashville Predators are starting to show signs of life-and not just the kind that gets you out of the basement, but the kind that makes you wonder if there’s still time to salvage something from this season.
After a dominant 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, the Predators have now won three of their last four. That includes victories over the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks, and while none of those teams are setting the league on fire, wins are wins-especially for a team that, not long ago, looked like it was barreling toward a lottery pick and a shot at top prospect Gavin McKenna.
What’s changed? For starters, the offense is finally clicking.
Nashville has poured in 15 goals over those three wins-14 of them coming with a goalie in net. That’s a big step forward for a team that’s struggled to generate consistent scoring all season.
But perhaps the most encouraging development is the emergence of the young core. Ozzy Wiesblatt and Reid Schaefer both notched their first NHL goals in that win over Calgary.
And they didn’t stop there-each brought a physical edge, with Schaefer logging three hits and Wiesblatt two. Both even dropped the gloves, showing that they’re not just here to score-they’re here to compete.
That kind of energy is infectious, and it’s exactly what this team has been missing.
The offense was well-distributed, too. Thirteen different Predators found the scoresheet, with Michael Bunting and Nicolas Hague each posting multi-point nights.
And then there’s Steven Stamkos, who hit a major milestone with his 1,200th NHL point. That puts him in elite company-just six active players have reached that mark.
It’s a testament to his longevity and consistency, and even in a down year for the team, it’s a moment worth celebrating.
In net, Juuse Saros had one of his best performances of the season. He stopped 27 of 28 shots, with the only blemish coming on a third-period Calgary power play.
Saros has struggled this year-his .893 save percentage is well below his career average-but Tuesday’s outing was a much-needed confidence boost. If he can build off it, the Predators might just have a chance to keep this thing interesting.
Now, let’s talk standings. Yes, Nashville is still tied for last in the league with Calgary at 22 points.
But here’s the thing: the Western Conference is top-heavy. After the elite tier of Colorado and Dallas, there’s a whole lot of middle ground-and the Predators are only a few points out of that mix.
They’re just one point behind Vancouver, two behind St. Louis, and four back of Winnipeg.
Utah, Edmonton, and Chicago are all hovering around the wildcard bubble, too. It’s crowded, but not impossible.
So what does GM Barry Trotz do from here? That’s the big question.
Does he see this recent surge as a spark worth fanning into a flame? Or is it still time to sell off assets and play the long game?
Either way, the Predators are in a bit of a sweet spot. If they keep winning, they stay relevant.
If they don’t, they’re still in position to make moves at the deadline. And even if the playoffs remain a long shot, playing competitive hockey matters-especially when it comes to boosting the trade value of veterans on expiring deals.
Take Stamkos, for example. He’s been more active lately, and if he keeps producing, Trotz might be able to find a contender willing to take on his contract-though salary retention could be a sticking point.
Then there’s Jonathan Marchessault, who scored his fifth goal of the season against Calgary. He’s a name to watch.
If Nashville can find a trade partner-and if Marchessault is willing to waive his protection-he could be a valuable addition to a Cup hopeful.
The best-case scenario for Nashville? Keep stacking wins, keep showcasing trade chips, and give the front office options.
The worst-case? Well, that was already happening a few weeks ago.
This recent stretch shows there’s still some fight left in this group.
Next up, it’s a rematch with the Florida Panthers-a team that embarrassed the Predators just over a week ago with an 8-3 drubbing in Nashville. That game should still be fresh in the Preds’ minds, and while the Panthers are the defending back-to-back champs, they’ve stumbled out of the gate this season with a 12-12-1 record. It’s a chance for Nashville to exact a little revenge-and maybe keep this mini-resurgence rolling.
No one’s calling this a turnaround just yet. But if the Predators can keep winning three out of every four, like they’ve done lately, the conversation around this team could start to shift. Fast.