Blog Playoff edition #6: Nashville "SMASHING" their way to history

With their 3-1 victory over the Blues last night, the Nashville Predators will be playing in their first ever Western Conference final. It is a HUGE step for an organization that has slowly started to make strides in the league.

The Predators have always been a solid team. Since 2003-04 they have only missed the playoffs three times. However, they have not been a team that has been able to take that next step. They were close, but always ran into some hockey walls during the playoffs, and their season would come to a halt. That is no longer the case, and it is due to several factors.

First of all, Peter Laviolette has installed a more upbeat, high offensive style of game. Something that was a complete change from the way Barry Trotz managed his team. Laviolette guided the Carolina Hurricanes to a Cup win, and a Cup finals appearance with the Philadelphia Flyers using this high tempo system of play. Good on him, the system is working, and teams are having a hard time defending against the speed and determination. Add the fact that Pekka Rinne is on fire, and you have a team that currently looks unstoppable.

The Predators have been a team that has always focused on their defensive core. Just look at some of their draft choices throughout the years:

-Dan Hamhuis (2001)

-Ryan Suter (2003)

-Kevin Klein (2003)

-Shea Weber (2003)

-Roman Josi (2008)

-Ryan Ellis (2009)

-Mattias Ekholm (2009)

-Seth Jones (2013)

That is alot of homegrown talent! All those years of developing their blueline has paid off! The Predators arguably have the best defensive core in the league. (Josi, Subban, Ellis, Ekholm, Irwin, and Yannick Weber) Try finding a better core than that. Those 6 defenseman have combined for 9 goals, and 18 assists in 10 playoff games this season. Not only that, but their forwards are playing damn good as well. Victor Arvidsson, Filip Forsberg, and Ryan Johansen have combined for 7 goals, 15 assists and 22 points during the playoffs.

When you sit back and look at the Predators, they have become one of the most complete teams in the league. Their is no reason why this team can''t make it to the Finals, and possibly hoist their first ever Stanley Cup.