Stanley Cups: 0

2008-'09 record: 40-34-8, 88 points (5th in Central, 10th in West)

2008-'09 playoffs: Did not qualify

General manager: David Poile (958-817-215, 26th NHL year, 2nd team)

Coach: Barry Trotz (364-363-93, 11th NHL year, 1st team)

Captain: Jason Arnott

Top returning scorer: RW Jean-Pierre Dumont (16 goals, 49 assists, 65 points)

Top returning goalie: Pekka Rinne (29-15-4, 2.38, .917)

Key additions: C Ben Guite; C Marcel Goc; D Francis Bouillon.

Key subtractions: D Greg Zanon; LW Vernon Fiddler; RW Jed Ortmeyer; C Scott Nichol; LW Antti Pihlstrom; C Radek Bonk; D Greg deVries; D Ville Koistinen.

Top line: LW Steve Sullivan, C Jason Arnott, RW Jean-Pierre Dumont

Top defensive pairing: Ryan Suter, Shea Weber

Goaltending: Rinne unseated Dan Ellis as the Predators' No. 1 netminder, posting 20 of his 29 wins in the second half. Led all rookies with a .917 save percentage. Confident, athletic butterfly goalie with tremendous poise and resiliency. Among the league’s best at foiling breakaways and shootout attempts.

Player to watch: RW Colin Wilson. Preds’ 2008 top draft choice helped the Boston Terriers to the NCAA title, earning a Hobey Baker nomination as a sophomore. Son of former NHLer Carey Wilson produced nine points in six games for United States at world juniors. Wins puck battles with his strength and buries goals with his soft hands.

Icing: Arnott established a team record by scoring 33 goals, doing it in only 65 games last season. That equaled his career-best goal total set when he was a rookie with Edmonton during the 1993-94 season. Arnott missed 11 games, but came back to reach the 20-goal mark for the 10th straight season and 12th time in 15.

Outlook: For years, they did it with mirrors in Nashville and found ways to overcome personnel losses while still contending for playoff berths. That magic formula wore off last season and they’re still searching for a new elixir.

Prediction: 82 points (5th in Central, 13th seed in West)

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?

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