The predators hope that Kunin and Borowiecki will increase toughness and improve special teams

Following the NHL draft, free agency, and other offseason moves, NHL.com is reviewing where each team stands in preparation for the 2020-21 regular season, which is slated to begin January 1st. Today the Nashville Predators are:

The Nashville Predators ruled that they needed a reset after losing four games to the Arizona Coyotes in the best of 5 Stanley Cup qualifiers.

“Our goal at the independent agency was to convert our team a little,” said General Manager David Poile. “Strengthen our strikers in particular, play a tougher group of strikers and also improve our third defensive pair. I think we have achieved these goals with our signings.”

Among the additions is forward Luke Kunin, acquired in a trade from the Minnesota Wild for Forward Nick Bonino on October 7th. Kunin scored an NHL career high of 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) in 63 games last season and two goals in four postseason games.

“He plays in all situations, he plays in the middle, he plays the wing,” said Poile. “He plays what I would call a tough game, he has a lot of energy, a lot of bite, power play, penalty shootouts. I think he’s just a good all-round player who just keeps getting better.”

[RELATED: Complete Team Reset coverage]

defender Mark Borowiecki and forward Nick cousins and Brad Richardson were signed to add toughness and improve a penalty kick that finished 29th (76.1 percent) in the NHL last season.

“He has a level of graininess and physicality that we need to return to in order to play by a new standard,” said Poile of Borowiecki. “Also, when he sees him play and has a few conversations with him, it’s pretty obvious that he’s going to bring a lot of veteran leadership to our hockey club.”

This is what the Predators look like today:

Key arrivals

Mark Borowiecki, D: The 31-year-old signed a two-year contract on October 9. Last season he scored an NHL career high of 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 53 games for the Ottawa Senators. … Nick Cousins, F: The 27-year-old center, who signed a two-year deal on October 10, scored 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 65 games for the Vegas Golden Knights and Montreal Canadiens last season. He had five assists in 17 postseason games for Vegas. … Luke Kunin, F: The 22-year-old center finished fourth in the wild with 15 goals last season. … Brad Richardson, F: The 35-year-old right-winger signed a one-year deal on October 12. In 59 regular season games he scored 11 points (six goals, five assists) and three points (two goals, one assists) in nine postseason games the coyotes.

Key departures

Nick Bonino, F: Scored 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) in 67 games last season. … Mikael Granlund, F: Remains an unrestricted free agent after scoring 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in 63 games last season. … Dan Hamhuis, D: Retired on August 13 after having eight assists in 60 games last season. … Craig Smith, F: Signed a three-year deal with the Boston Bruins on October 10, after scoring 31 points (18 goals, 13 assists) in 69 games last season. … Kyle Turris, F: Had bought the last four seasons of his six-year contract on October 7th and signed a two-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers on October 9th. Last season he scored 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) in 62 games. … Austin Watson, F: It was traded to the Senators for fourth-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft on October 10. Last season he scored 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 53 games. … Yannick Weber, D: Remains an unconditional free agent after scoring three points (one goal, two assists) in 41 games last season.

At the top

Philip Tomasino, F: The 19-year-old center was fourth in the Ontario Hockey League last season with 100 points (40 goals, 60 assists) for Niagara and Oshawa. … Eeli Tolvanen, F: The 21-year-old right-winger scored two points (one goal, one assist) in seven NHL games from 2017 to 2019. He was runner-up in Milwaukee in the American Hockey League with 21 goals in 63 games last season. … Yakov train, F: The 23-year-old center scored six points (two goals, four assists) in 21 NHL games and 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists) in 32 AHL games last season.

Video: NSH @ LAK: Trenin distracts home food from Irwin

What else do you need

More of Matt Duchene. The center signed a seven-year contract on July 1, 2019 to improve the line-up behind Center No. 1 Ryan Johansen, but his 13 goals were the fewest of his 11 NHL seasons.

Video: NSH @ ARI, Gm4: Duchene distracts PPG from Kuemper

Fantasy focus

Duchene scored 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists) in 66 games last season, compared to 70 points (31 goals, 39 assists) in 2018-19 with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Senators. His shooting percentage (9.6 percent) was much lower than it was in 2018-19 (18.0 percent) and his NHL career average (12.7 percent), indicating a possible rebound season. Nashville’s offense is not laden with fantasy talent outside of the elite defender Roman Josibut Duchene should be a full-time center again this season and be among the front runners in the average ice age per game, which is worth picking in late rounds. – Rob Reese

Projected placement

Filip Forsberg – Ryan Johansen – Viktor Arvidsson

Eeli Tolvanen – Matt Duchene – Luke Kunin

Rocco Grimaldi – – Colton Sissons – Nick Cousins

Yakov Trenin – Brad Richardson – Jarnkrok Street

Roman Josi – Ryan Ellis

Mattias Ekholm – – Dante Fabbro

Mark Borowiecki – Matt Benning

Saros hair

Pekka gutter