{"id":39165,"date":"2018-12-19T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2018-12-19T14:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=39165"},"modified":"2019-02-21T10:39:34","modified_gmt":"2019-02-21T15:39:34","slug":"nashville-predators-await-returns-of-viktor-arvidsson-and-p-k-subban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2018\/12\/19\/nashville-predators-await-returns-of-viktor-arvidsson-and-p-k-subban\/","title":{"rendered":"Nashville Predators Await Returns of Viktor Arvidsson and P.K. Subban"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

The Nashville Predators<\/a> have been racked by injuries in this part of the season. It\u2019s been bad, but it could be a whole lot worse. Nashville is 5-4-1 over the last 10 games and that\u2019s impressive considering not having Viktor Arvidsson<\/a><\/strong>, P.K. Subban<\/a><\/strong>, and Filip Forsberg<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Help is on the way and it\u2019s needed for a franchise looking to win its first championship.<\/p>\n

Viktor Arvidsson<\/a>, P.K. Subban<\/a> Close to Returning<\/h1>\n

Two Predators close to coming back to the lineup are Viktor Arvidsson and P.K. Subban. Both skated at Monday\u2019s morning skate prior to Nashville\u2019s game at the Ottawa Senators<\/a>. It\u2019s a welcome sight for fans of one of the early-season Stanley Cup favourites.<\/p>\n

Arvidsson is part of the celebrated \u201cJoFA\u201d line with Ryan Johansen<\/a> <\/strong>and Forsberg. \u00a0His speed helps Nashville make quick counterattacks. Ryan Hartman<\/a><\/strong> has filled in admirably during this stretch, but coach Peter Laviolette<\/a><\/strong> can\u2019t just plug anyone into the lineup replace the speedy Swede.<\/p>\n

Subban\u2019s absence has seen more ice time for Yannick Weber<\/a>, Matt Irwin<\/a> <\/strong>and Dan Hamhuis<\/a>.<\/strong> All three have are veterans are experienced and capable. However, Subban is one of the best defencemen in the league. He can make things happen on the ice and create offence for the Predators.<\/p>\n

Nashville has been forced to change their usually fast-paced style of play to a more conservative attack. The Predators may be just above .500 with the loss of the trio, but it\u2019s a testament to how beep their lineup is.<\/p>\n

The Waiting Game for Forsberg<\/h1>\n

Arvidsson and Forsberg are close to returning, but Forsberg\u2019s return is further away. He is projected to be out until at least January and that\u2019s another blow to the Predators\u2019 dynamic offence. Forsberg is another speedy Swede that provides plenty of scoring pop.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s potted 14 goals and handed out eight assists in 26 games this season. The former All-Rookie selection in 2014-15 is other winger on that dangerous top line.<\/p>\n

Kevin Fiala<\/a> <\/strong>has stepped onto the top line, but replacing Forsberg is a tall order. His return will make a great holiday present.<\/p>\n

Overcoming Injuries<\/h1>\n

Forsberg, Arvidsson and Subban aren\u2019t the only injuries that the team dealt with this season. Kyle Turris<\/a>, Pekka Rinne<\/a><\/strong> and Hamhuis have missed portions of the season. Nashville had $19 million of talent on the injured list<\/a> at one point.<\/p>\n

However, this opened opportunities for secondary players. Hartman has been fantastic and is now on the top<\/a> line with Johansen and Fiala. He already has nine goals this season after netting 11 in 2017-18. Colton Sissons<\/a> <\/strong>and others have also stepped up with all these injuries.<\/p>\n

Nashville may have lost the Central Division lead to the Winnipeg Jets<\/a>, but it could be worse. The Predators have treaded water with all of these injuries and that\u2019s the best anyone could ask for in this situation.<\/p>\n

What it Means for the Future<\/h1>\n

Championship-level clubs deal with adversity on their way to winning a title. It would be very easy for Nashville buckle and go into a funk. However, they haven\u2019t and are staying close with Winnipeg and the Colorado Avalanche<\/a> in the tough Central Division.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not been all sunshine as there have been losses to the Arizona Coyotes<\/a> and Ottawa. However, injuries can often change the odds of a game.<\/p>\n

All three returns will likely help the Predators have all the tools they need to defend their division crown. Nashville likely be at full strength at the halfway-point barring any more setbacks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 27: Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Nashville Predators plays against the Edmonton Oilers at Bridgestone Arena on October 27, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Nashville Predators have been racked by injuries in this part of the season. It\u2019s been bad, but it could be a whole lot worse. Nashville is 5-4-1 over the last 10 games and that\u2019s impressive considering not having Viktor Arvidsson, P.K. Subban, and Filip Forsberg. Help is on the way and it\u2019s needed for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2352,"featured_media":37918,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[300,1836,460,1445,770,243,253,459,1547,3009,1143],"class_list":["post-39165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-predators","tag-central-division","tag-colton-sissons","tag-filip-forsberg","tag-kevin-fiala","tag-kyle-turris","tag-nashville-predators","tag-p-k-subban","tag-pekka-rinne","tag-peter-laviolette","tag-ryan-hartman","tag-viktor-arvidsson"],"modified_by":"Ben Kerr","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2352"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39165"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39165\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}