The NHL Western Conference standings show the Nashville Predators near the bottom of the list with 20 wins and 23 losses along with 3 OTs. The season is still young, so there is time for the Predators to step up their game.
Trainers may be pouring over moves. Among the coaches working to lead the Predators to the top are head coach Barry Trotz, associate coach Brent Peterson, assistant coach Peter Horachek, goaltending coach Mitch Korn, video coach Robert Bouchard, coach of strength and conditioning David Good. Coaching staff members include Head Athletic Trainer Dan Redmond, Assistant Athletic Trainer Andy Hosler, Team Manager Pete Rogers, Assistant Team Manager Jeff Camelio, Assistant Team Brad Peterson, Locker Room Assistant Craig Baugh and operations manager Brandon Walker.
Along with the support of the coaches and training staff, the Predators have a host of team physicians available including team physician John Kuhn, assistant team physician James Carey, assistant team physician Charles Cox, Internal Medicine Physician Paul Rummo, Internal Medicine Assistant Physician Alex Diamond, Team Ophthalmologist Daniel Weikert, Team Plastic Surgeon Bruce Shack, Team Plastic Surgeon Kevin Hagan and Team Dentist Christin Wallace.
Although the Predators failed to get the win in their last game against the Devils, there is plenty of season and opportunity left starting with the two games the Predators will play against the Canucks and Flames in January. Then comes February with the Predators hosting games against the Coyotes, Ducks, Red Wings, Blues, Bruins, Senators, Blues, Blackhawks, Coyotes, and Red Wings again throughout the month. Road games will bring the Predators to the ice on the road in games against the Oilers, Wild, Stars, Red Wings and Blues throughout February.
More opportunities for the Predators may arise in March with home games hosting the Oilers, Blue Jackets, Capitals, Rangers, Ducks, Sharks and Kings. In addition to home ice games, the Predators will hit the road and play road games against the Flyers, Coyotes, Kings, Ducks, Sharks, Red Wings, and Blue Jackets. By April, the standings will be nearly complete with just five games to go in the season. Road games in April for the Predators include games against the Blackhawks, Red Wings and Wild; the latter of which marks the final game of the season on Friday, April 10.
Predators forward players on the roster include Jason Arnott, Wade Belak, Radek Bonk, JP Dumont, Martin Erat, Vernon Fiddler, David Legwand, Scott Nichol, Antti Pihlstrom, Jerred Smithson, Steve Sullivan, Jordin Tootoo, and Joel Ward. Defense players on the team include Dan Hamhuis, Kevin Klein, Ville Koistinen, Ryan Suter, Greg Zanon and Greg de Vries. The goalies are Dan Ellis and Pekka Rinne. Commendably speaking, neither of the Predators are on injured reserve right now, or is that just a coincidence?
Maybe that’s because some of the Predators have been injured and missed games. In all, the Predators have missed 110 games through injury or illness, but 40 of those games date back to the 2006-07 season.