Season Preview: Nashville Predators depth chart

The Nashville Predators improved significantly in one fell swoop when general manager David Poile acquired P.K. Subban from the Montreal Canadiens for Shea Weber.

If Pekka Rinne can rebound from a disappointing season, the Predators should contend for the Central Division title, but that's a big "if."

Here's how their roster looks heading into 2016-17:

Forwards

LW	C	RW
Filip Forsberg	Ryan Johansen	Craig Smith
Colin Wilson	Mike Fisher	James Neal
Calle Jarnkrok	Mike Ribeiro	Viktor Arvidsson
Austin Watson	Colton Sissons	Miikka Salomaki

• Unlike the blue line, not much will change up front for Nashville barring a last-minute move. The top-six is solid, and the only real weakness is the fourth line.

Defense

LD	RD
Roman Josi	P.K. Subban
Mattias Ekholm	Ryan Ellis
Anthony Bitetto	Yannick Weber

• Subban gives the Predators a younger, more mobile, and more productive version of Shea Weber, which should pay dividends at even strength and on special teams.
• Another Weber, Yannick, signed a one-year deal with Nashville on July 1.

Goalies

G
Pekka Rinne
Marek Mazanec

• Rinne is still the starter, but the 33-year-old appears to be on the decline after struggling last season.
• Mazanec has the edge in the battle for the backup job due to his experience, but Juuse Saros could eventually work his way into the role. Carter Hutton left to become Jake Allen's backup in St. Louis.

NHL Depth Charts

ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF | CGY
CAR | CHI | COL | CBS | DAL
DET | EDM | FLA | LA | MIN
MTL | NSH | NJD | NYI | NYR
PHI | PIT | OTT | STL | SJ
TB | TOR | VAN | WSH | WIN

Copyright (C) 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.