Fabbro on Top Pairing, Glass on Third Line? First Look at Predators Lineup With THN's New Depth Charts

The Hockey News has expanded to provide fans and viewers with the first look at projected lineups and depth charts for all 32 teams, spearheaded by former CapFriendly depth charts manager Tim Hiebert.

The Nashville Predators made some very significant changes to their lineup this season and the first look takes an interesting approach in showing what the lineup for this much improved team could look like next season here https://thehockeynews.com/lineups/central/nashville-predators-projected-lineup-and-depth-chart

Logically, Dante Fabbro and Cody Glass should be everyday players for the Predators as they are both on contracts with cap hits of $2.5 million AAV. Both have proved their worth in the past, but this is a different looking team with much higher expectations. Some can argue both may be in the press box opening night while others think each deserve a look in positions to succeed to begin the 2024-25 season.

Fabbro Should Be Given Last Good Look

Fabbro saw minutes on the top pair in the past beside Roman Josi and that is where the projected lines by THN has the young d-man slotted in to kick off next season. If the Predators want to go with three right-shot defensemen on the right side and three left-shot defensemen on the left side, Fabbro does have to get in the starting lineup. Otherwise, this is where the pairings might be scrambled a little bit.

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By keeping Josi and Brady Skjei apart, it does make the overall defense core deeper and stronger. But by doing this, it also splits up a solid and trusted pairing in Jeremy Lauzon and Alexandre Carrier.

Nashville needs Fabbro to be the player he was in his first three seasons, but this will only come if he is given the opportunity to play. I'm not at all against giving the 26-year-old the chance to demonstrate his value once again and stick in the lineup with a bigger role, even if it means some of the other d-men have to form new chemistry. Fabbro is a UFA after next season, so it is a make or break season with the Predators coming up.

Can Glass Bounce Back?

Glass had the best season of his career in 2022-23 and it seemed like a long-awaited breakout for him. He went from one assist in eight games in his first season with the Predators to 13 goals and 35 points in 72 games in his second season with the team. He also had an excellent goals for % of 61.8% in his best season.

Nothing seemed to go right last season though. He played just 41 games, scoring six goals and 13 points. His GF% dropped to a horrible 37.8%, being on the ice at 5-on-5 for a lot more goals against than for. Even the average pickups at the trade deadline got more time than Glass in a very important time of the season during a playoff push and playoffs.

THN's lineup projection for the Predators has Glass on the left wing of the third line. This is where he should fit in if he gets in the lineup. His style of play isn't suited for fourth line grinding, despite his 6'2, 192 frame.

Like Fabbro, it would be huge for the Predators to have Glass bounce back and provide the team with another option to slot in and be effective in the lineup every night.

The Predators need big things from Fabbro and Glass and both players have to take advantage of any opportunity they get in the last year of their contracts. We will see how the roster and lineup further shakes up in training camp.

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