Ryan O’Reilly predicts Predators a step away from ‘competing for the Cup’

Bold predictions tend to be an off-season habit, especially when you are a team’s recently signed free agent. But did Ryan O’Reilly go a step too far in stating that his new team — the Nashville Predators — are a step away from competing for the Stanley Cup? Bold predictions tend to be an off-season habit, especially when you are a team’s recently signed free agent. But did Ryan O’Reilly go a step too far in stating that his new team — the Nashville Predators — are a step away from competing for the Stanley Cup? “I think the veteran players that are here right now, the way they impact the game is so impressive,” O’Reilly said Thursday, in a story by John Glennon for NHL.com. “I think, too, watching last year and the youth, and what they do, there’s a great balance of both. Me coming here, I think it was something I look forward to. I think we can take a step and be right there competing for the (Stanley) Cup.” SiriusXM Signature Live Performance concert at GLOBL JAM Catch the SiriusXM Signature Live Performance concert featuring renowned Canadian artists ROCHESTER & Tara Lord after the women’s GLOBL JAM tournament finals this Sunday beginning at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT on Sportsnet. More info O’Reilly, 32, signed a four-year, $18-million deal on July 1 with the Predators as an unrestricted free agent, after being shipped at the trade deadline to the Toronto by Maple Leafs the St. Louis Blues. The Predators finished 42-32-8, good for 92 points and fifth place in the Central Division last season, but not good enough to make the post-season. It marked just the first time in eight seasons the team failed to qualify for the playoffs, though the last time Nashville won a round was in 2018. The Predators lost to Pittsburgh in the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals, which will be seven years ago next spring. The Predators have a new head coach in Andrew Brunette and a new GM in Barry Trotz, who was the franchise’s inaugural coach and led them for 15 seasons. More from Sportsnet Predators sign defenceman Luke Schenn to three-year deal Predators buy out Matt Duchene as NHL teams prepare for the start of free agency