Top NHL insider believes Predators' star-studded first line is at the root of their concerning 7-3 loss at home vs. Kraken

The Nashville Predators are off to a rough start in the 2024-25 season, and it didn't get any better with an alarming 7-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken the other night. They have lost more recently than that, but they are 0-4-0 to start the year. That won't get them into the playoffs and that's concerning for a team that finished fourth in the league with 99 points.

Elliotte Friedman said via Sportsnet that he blinked and a 3-3 tie became a 7-3 Kraken.

"You don't think about Seattle having the kind of offensive firepower that they could do that to someone, but Nashville just broke down over and over and over again," he said (00:22:00).

Friedman added:

"To me, I can see it. You know, the Predators they have that they have that great first line, right? They have O'Reilly, they have Forsberg, and they have Nyquist, and they're keeping that together. And where you can really see the problem is, is sorting out how it's going to work."

The Predators must find an answer soon, as they have yet to record a win for the season.

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NHL analyst discusses slow start for Predators

The Nashville Predators were one of the NHL's best teams last year. This year, they might contend for the first overall pick in next summer's draft. Things will have to change quickly.

The Preds are off to a slow start (Imagn)

TSN analyst Pierre LeBrun said:

“I spoke with GM Barry Trotz on Thursday who said listen, what’s he’s seeing, is that ‘I think we’re trying to outscore our problems.' And his point is that the Predators can’t forget who they are."

“Their 5-on-5 game, their pressure game is what gave them great success last year. Yes, they added Stamkos and Marchessault, but that’s doesn’t mean that suddenly they’ve completely changed overnight what their DNA is. So, this is about remembering who they are and getting back to basics for Nashville.”

Nashville has the talent to turn things around and will likely do so once they remember who they are. They may look back on this 0-4-0 start and laugh someday.