Preseason Double Header Showcases New and Veteran Talent
The Nashville Predators kicked off the 2025-26 season with a preseason double header against the Florida Panthers Sunday and came away with two wins.
The Preds were without Luke Evangelista as contract negotiations drag on, and Tanner Molendyk, Cameron Reid, and Zachary L’Heureux did not play.
Andrew Brunette talked on Saturday about what went into setting Sunday’s rosters.
Results (and do they matter?)
Nashville defeated the Florida Panthers in the 2:00 pm game by a score of 5-0. Justus Annunen and Matt Murray combined for the shutout.
Game two ended with a score of 5-3. Juuse Saros allowed 1 goal and Magnus Chrona came in partway through the game to take over in net.
Being the home team gave Nashville an opportunity to play many of the Predators veterans who were itching to get back to work in front of the Bridgestone crowd. Florida didn’t bring most of their veterans on the road trip, so the Panthers lineup was significantly less experienced. Only goalie Daniil Tarasov and defenseman Tobias Bjornfoot recorded time on last season’s Stanley Cup winning roster in Sunday’s games.
The preseason is about much more than a final score, so what did we learn about the Predators’ roster?
Growing Chemistry
The line of Michael Bunting, Erik Haula, and Jonathan Marchessault showed chemistry earlier in training camp, and the trio got the start for Nashville in game one of the day. Haula finished with two goals, Marchessault with two assists, and Bunting with one assist. The three veterans could be a potent potential line to start the season.
Andrew Brunette credited the three players for taking a leadership role in training camp.
“They’ve been our driving force our whole camp. They’ve kind of taken the leadership role and pushed the pace every scrimmage, every practice,” Brunette said.
“That’s a credit to those guys. They’re really pushing it right now.”
Andrew Brunette kept the likely top defensive pairings together to continue building those working relationship. Brady Skjei and Nick Perbix paired up in the first game while Roman Josi and Nic Hague played together in the evening outing until Hague left with less than a minute to go in the second period and did not return.
There was no official update on Hague’s status after the game.
Despite Hague’s absence in the final twenty minutes, Brunette got a good look at the new pairings and liked what he saw.
“I felt good,” Brunette said of the defensive pairs. “Just felt all the pieces kind of fit together. You kind of get excited, and the you lose [Hague] in the third period. Hopefully he’s OK.”
Brunette also complimented Justin Barron and Adam Wilsby’s work together and called out Spencer Stastney for his performance.
“We’ve got some competition back there which is a great thing,” Brunette said of the blue line.
Matthew Wood makes a strong case for NHL time
Matthew Wood played with center Brady Martin and winger Filip Forsberg and made one of the best passes of the day to Steven Stamkos for a power play goal. Wood finished his night with a goal and two assists earning him early but serious consideration for an opening night roster spot.
Confidence has been key for Wood as he made the jump to NHL minutes.
“He’s been really good all camp,” Andrew Brunette said of Wood. “I thought he’s around the puck. He was strong on the puck, and I think when he’s moving his feet, that’s when he’s kind of getting into those areas and his offensive instincts and hockey skills really take over.”
“It was pretty crystal clear tonight.”
Fil’s Mentoring Role
Forsberg finished the game with a goal and an assist. He liked what he, Martin, and Wood were able to do early.
“I thought we really got going in the second half of the first and carried through to the second period,” Forsberg said of his line. “Got a little cute from my side in the third period. A couple turnovers we definitely want to take back, but that’s kind of the preseason for you.”
Brunette spoke highly of Fil in a leadership role with Nashville’s young talent.
“I really like Fil’s leadership,” Brunette said in the postgame. “With that group [of Martin and Wood] it’s kind of fun for me to watch him have fun with that. It’s fun for me to watch him always be talking about it, encouraging them, patient with them at different times.”
“That reeks of leadership, and that’s fun to see from Fil. You can tell he’s enjoying it, and they’ve had success together.”
What’s next?
The Predators sent Hiroki Gojsic, Viktor Norringer, Alex Huang, and Jakob Milota to their respective CHL/USHL teams Monday morning. Alex Kostov and Hayden Barch were released from their ATOs.
The team has a day off today and will return to preseason action with a home game Tuesday night at 7 pm CT against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
We’ll wait and see if Zachary L’Heureux, Tanner Molendyk, Nic Hague, or Cameron Reid are healthy enough to pop back into the lineup and if a deal can be reached with Luke Evangelista in time to get him on Tuesday night’s roster.