HOCKEY'S HERE: NASHVILLE PREDATORS

It's time to air out your gear, sharpen your skates and tape your stick -- it's hockey season. Sure, your team flat-out ached last season, but there's hope, unless you're an Islanders fan. In that spirit, Out of Left Field offers looks at all 30 NHL teams. Presenting: The Nashville Predators.

Last season: 106 points, 2nd in Central Division; lost in first round to San Jose
Coach: Barry Trotz
Young gun: Dan Hamhuis
Store this name away: Alexander Radulov (UPDATE: Will be starting season in AHL)
Hey, get a load of the new guys: Jason Arnott, J.P. Dumont, Josef Vasicek
Blogs (including but not limited to): Smashville, USA, The Upper Bowl
Pop culture moment: Country music stars regular turn up for Preds home games

Nashville lost eight regulars off last year's team, which had the best season in the franchise's brief history. If goalie Tomas Vokoun (who would have been a deserving Vezina Trophy winner) had been healthy for the playoffs, they likely would have advanced past the opening round for the first time. Instead, Vokoun was sidelined with blood clots, backup Chris Mason went in, and the Preds were ousted in six by San Jose. One suspects the Big Hockey Fan in the Sky was working overtime to prevent a Carolina-Nashville Stanley Cup final.

Nashville's a little deficient in hockey history, and chemistry is up in the air, what with eight regulars from last year being gone and a lot of newcomers to work in, including the much-travelled Arnott. Still, they will have three legit offensive lines and centre Josef Vasicek, plucked away from Carolina over the summer, is poised for a breakout season.

Kimmo Timonen is probably the best defenceman you've never heard of, since a) he's European and b) plays for Nashville. Beyond him, though, Nashville's blueliners are a pretty nondescript bunch, although Hamhuis, Ryan Suter and Shea Weber possess excellent potential.

Again, the Preds can probably make a push for top spot in the Central, and once in the playoffs, are capable of winning at least two rounds. Whether or not they have the quote, unquote intangibles is anyone's guess.

Also in Central Division: Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues

Back with more later. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca