Blackhawks Central Division Opponent Preview: Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators had the Chicago Blackhawks number this past season. Chicago captured just one point against the Preds in an shootout loss last December. Could this season be different? Let’s dive in with the divisional rival preview.

Blackhawks 2024 Central Division Opponent Preview: Nashville Predators

Nashville and Chicago are in two different positions this season. The Predators finished the 2023-24 NHL Season with a loss in the first round, Chicago had already held locker room clean out missing the postseason once again. The Hawks had a good offseason, adding plenty of talent to play alongside Connor Bedard. If Chicago had a good offseason, Nashville had a great one.

The Predators signed forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault this summer. Those two players alone add a lot to the organization’s top six just from the jump. Additionally the Preds signed defenseman Brady Skjei in free agency. Adding Skjei does wonders to the blue line. Skjei could play alongside Josi to create a solid top pairing unit.

Last Season Matchup:

As previously mentioned, the Blackhawks captured just one point against the Preds last season. In the two franchises four meetings, Chicago went 0-3-1, losing 4-2 on Nov. 18, 4-3 on Dec. 5 (in a shootout), 3-0 on Jan. 2, and 5-1 on April 12. The Preds had the Hawks number last season, and that needs to change this year.

The Hawks gave up too many goals last year against the Predators and that cannot be the case this season. Better play in the defensive zone could help lead Chicago to victory in one of the Hawks three matchups with the Predators. Over the course of the past three seasons, the Hawks are 2-7-2 in matchups with the Predators overall. That is not great, and the numbers get worse if we cant the season prior in 2021 when the Hawks played them eight times due to the pandemic scheduling. Chicago went 1-5-2 that season against Nashville bringing the total record over the last four years to 3-12-4.

Season Outlook:

The Predators made some big additions this offseason, but is it enough to get Barry Trotz’s team over the hump and out of the first round? With Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei being 34, 33 and 30 respectively. The Predators did not exactly get younger with their moves. It will be interesting to see how things go.

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