Star center believes Predators are now Stanley Cup contenders

During his introductory news conference after signing a four-year, $18M deal with the Nashville Predators last offseason, center Ryan O’Reilly asked why can’t Nashville compete for a Stanley Cup.

Well one year later, the answer to that question seems to be that Nashville can, in fact, compete for a Cup after the trio of star-studded free agents it signed on July 1, which includes two-time Stanley Cup winner Steven Stamkos, one-time Cup winner Jonathan Marchessault and defenseman Brady Skjei.

“July 1, for myself — it was Christmas,” O'Reilly said , via Sportsnet. “It was just kind of, 'Oh my gosh, oh my gosh,' with guy after guy. So excited. I think we have a window in Nashville with (Filip) Forsberg and (Roman) Josi and (Juuse) Saros, getting him done, and all these guys in their prime that, you know, we have an opportunity I think to compete for a Cup and you add these other guys. ... We have a ton of belief that we can compete for a Stanley Cup.”

The Predators spent $111.5M on the first day of free agency between Stamkos (four years, $32M), Skjei (seven years, $49M), Marchessault (five years, $27.5) and goaltender Scott Wedgewood (two years, $3M), and they locked up two of their own to extensions in goaltender Juuse Saros (eight years, $61.92M) and defenseman Alex Carrier (three years, $11.25M).

After the first wave of free agency, Nashville’s odds of winning the Stanley Cup surged from 35/1 to 16/1 — the second-biggest jump of the offseason — and it opened with 4/1 odds of winning the Central Division.

Predators GM Barry Trotz has been adamant about players not coming to Nashville to retire but rather to win a Cup, and his trio of big-name signings prove he’s all-in on the team’s now suddenly open championship window.

“There's that confidence that the organization has in us that, you know, last year we worked hard and I think we found an identity,” O'Reilly continued. “To see them, and to talk with them and bringing in some pieces that can help us and elevate that, it just shows that confidence that we feel excited. I think everyone is just like, let's get this thing rolling.”