The arrival of the Nidriter empowers predators | NHL.com

The Nashville Predators narrowly missed the Western Conference playoffs last season. The team finished last in the wild card after winning 45 games and scoring 97 points during the regular season.

Once in the Stanley Cup playoffs, he had, as he is known, a quick break after 0-4 in games against the Colorado Avalanche. But the essence of predators – roman joussiAnd the Juuse SarosAnd the Matt Duchene And the Philip Forsberg – stay strong. And for next season, they will be joined by another striker who excels at the net: Citizen Josie Nino Niederretter.

The 30-year-old Swiss, who was drafted by New Yorkers to fifth in 2010, signed a two-year contract totaling $8 million with the Predators on July 21.

Niederretter knows he is coming to a club where expectations are high.

Video: Forsberg’s top 5 goals in 2021-22

Sure, but it’s fun to be part of a team that’s really invested in moving forward, Niederretter told NHL.com/sv on the European Player Media Tour, which took place at the end of August in Paris.

– It was something I really enjoyed last year (with the Carolina Hurricanes). Knowing that you were playing with one of the favorites to win the title and you knew it was going to be a long season.

The Swiss, who had 44 points (24+20) in 75 games for the Hurricanes during the regular season and five points (4+1) in 14 playoff games, was clear that he saw Nashville as a team that still had it take it all — and that was exactly a priority. When he picked his next club after becoming an unrestricted free agent (UFA) over the summer.

– It’s a team on its way to the top. It wasn’t long before they played in the final. They always make it to the playoffs, they are always there and sniffing. It was important for me to go to a team that has the potential to win. I mean, I was fortunate enough to be part of a team that was seen as a contender last season and I know the pressure that comes with that. But it’s just about getting to the playoffs and then anything can happen.

Video: NSH-COL, M4: Forsberg gives Predators the lead

Especially for a team that has an offensive look for Filip Forsberg’s caliber in the squad. Just weeks before Niederretter signed with the Predators, Forsberg agreed with the club a new eight-year contract worth $68 million ($8.5 million per season) – that’s after a season in which the Swede saw his best new personal goals (42), and assists. (42) and the result (84).

Niederreiter is unlikely to spend as much time in the same series as Forsberg – both playing left-forward – but should see time with the Swede in numerical superiority.

And of course Niederreiter is looking forward to becoming a Forsberg teammate:

“He’s a great goalscorer and a fun player to watch,” said the Swiss. He’s very creative and it’s great to play in the same team he’s in. His work ethic and willingness to work hard is also excellent.

He (Forsberg) can take dangerous shots wherever he’s on the ice. His skill is at a level where he can spot matches – essential to go far.

Something else needed to go far is breadth in the team and diversity in scoring, something the Predator didn’t have enough of last season when a large portion of the team’s goals were scored by either Forsberg (42), Duchenne (43) or winner Roman Josi. In the internal league of the team (23). Ryan Johansson Contribute 26 full results during Tanner Guinot represent 24.

At Niederreiter, Predators are again leading the way with the ability – and proven ability – to score 20 or more goals per season. The striker’s personal best is 25 (2016-17), but he has also hit 24 on two occasions and reached the 20 mark in five of his 10 seasons in the world’s top hockey league.

Video: NSH-MIN: Forsberg pushes a free puck into goal 40

It remains to be seen if the extra width will be enough to overtake the Colorado Avalanche and other Stanley Cup favorites, but the competitive Niederreiter is at least looking forward to the challenge:

It’s a fine line between winning and losing, but in the end it’s all about consistency and doing the job every night. When you do that, you can build something big together. Now with Nashville we will face Colorado on several occasions in the future and it will be a good opportunity to learn from them, challenge them and push ourselves to take the next step.