Nashville Predators Retool After Missing Playoffs Again

The Predators missed the playoffs for the second straight season and brought in a new general manager to fix it. Chris MacFarland, hired in early June from Colorado, moved quickly to add depth at center and on the wing while shedding some salary. The moves address roster balance but do not solve the team's biggest problem: a defense that allowed too many goals and a goaltender who posted his worst save percentage in years.

Last season in review

Nashville finished 38-34-10 for 86 points, sixth in the Central Division and well out of the playoff picture. The offense was respectable at 247 goals, led by Filip Forsberg (40 goals, 35 assists) and Steven Stamkos (42 goals, 24 assists). Ryan O'Reilly chipped in 25 goals and 49 assists for 74 points. But the Predators allowed 269 goals, a minus-22 goal differential that tells the story. Juuse Saros posted a .894 save percentage across 58 games, the lowest mark of his career as a full-time starter. The defense in front of him struggled to limit chances, and the goaltending did not bail them out.

Ins and outs

MacFarland made a flurry of moves after taking over, according to nhl.com.

• In: Jack Drury (acquired in trade, signed to five-year, $22.5 million extension)
• In: Nils Hoglander (acquired from Vancouver)
• In: Adam Edstrom (acquired from the New York Rangers)
• In: Alexander Kerfoot (signed to two-year, $7 million contract)
• In: Mavrik Bourque (acquired from Dallas)
• In: Ilya Lyubushkin (acquired from Dallas)
• In: Jack Ahcan (signed to two-way contract)
• In: Hunter Skinner (signed to two-way contract)
• In: Vukie Mpofu (hired as assistant general manager)

The Predators also selected eight players in the 2026 NHL Draft, per nhl.com. No major departures have been confirmed in reporting, though the trades with Dallas and Vancouver involved draft picks going out.

The big question

Can Juuse Saros bounce back? A .894 save percentage is not good enough for a team that wants to compete, and the Predators have no clear backup plan if he does not return to form. The defense added Lyubushkin, a physical presence, but the group still lacks a true shutdown pair. If Saros posts another sub-.900 season, Nashville will be watching the playoffs from home again.

X-factor

Jack Drury. The 24-year-old center arrived in a trade and immediately signed a five-year extension, a signal that MacFarland sees him as a core piece. Drury brings two-way ability and can slot in anywhere in the middle six. If he takes a step forward offensively and shores up the defensive zone, he gives Nashville the depth down the middle it has lacked. His performance could determine whether this roster pushes for a wild card or finishes in the middle of the pack again.

Bold prediction

The Predators finish fifth in the Central Division and miss the playoffs by fewer than five points. The additions improve the depth, but the goaltending and defensive issues are not fixed overnight. They will be in the race longer than last season, but it will not be enough.

The outlook

MacFarland inherited a team that was not far off but had clear weaknesses. He added pieces that should help, particularly at center and on the wing, and brought in a veteran defenseman in Lyubushkin. But the Predators are still banking on a Saros rebound and hoping the defense can limit chances better than it did in 2025-26. The Central Division is tough, and Nashville looks like a team that will compete for a wild card spot but may come up short. The offseason moves were solid, not spectacular, and the results will likely reflect that.