The Nashville Predators, who started the NHL championship as title contenders with Swiss captain Roman Josi, are far from meeting expectations. There is a certain perplexity.
11.03.2025, 04:30
11.03.2025, 06:48
SDA
Roman Josi and the Nashville Predators are experiencing a more than difficult season. To make matters worse, the defenseman from Bern has been injured since the end of February after Florida forward Sam Bennett checked him head first into the boards. The NHL only differentiates between upper and lower body injuries, but it is likely that Josi is suffering from a concussion again. In any case, it will be assessed from week to week when he will be able to play again.
There is no reason to rush his return. The Predators' chances of making the playoffs are slim. Although the team from the US state of Tennessee has won its last three games, only three teams in the best ice hockey league in the world have fewer points than Nashville. The activities before the transfer deadline show that even the organization no longer believes in a turnaround. One Predators expert accuses General Manager Barry Trotz of not having a plan.
Too long a search process
Nashville was expected to do a lot. With defenseman Brady Skjei and forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, three well-known players joined the team that had made the playoffs the season before. The latter two scored a combined 82 goals in the 2023/24 qualifiers. However, the reality is that only the Calgary Flames scored less often than the Predators.
"With new players, it takes time to find each other, but with us it took much longer than we wanted," Josi said in an interview with the Keystone-SDA news agency three days before he suffered the injury. "It's difficult to say why that is." For Josi, the higher demands from outside are no reason. "Nowhere are the expectations higher than with us in the team. We expect to make the playoffs every year. That's why not much has changed."
Cold start to the season
Nashville got off to a completely unsuccessful start to the season, losing all of its first five games. From the end of November to mid-December, there were even eight defeats in a row. And after the Predators had won five in a row in January, a run of six games lost followed. "We never found the consistency we needed. We're working on that," says Josi.
Is he more challenged as captain in a season like this? "It's different. When things are going well, everyone feels good. Now everyone is preoccupied with their own game, there's a certain insecurity in the team. As captain, it's important to keep trying to find solutions, stay positive and set a good example." The latter is not possible at the moment.
For Josi, it was "one of the most difficult seasons of my career even before the injury. I'm now 34 years old and still learning a lot". What specifically? "Keep at it, because it's very difficult mentally." Nevertheless, it is important to believe in the turnaround. How does he rate his own performances - after 53 appearances, he has nine goals and 29 assists? "Like the team. I had the feeling that I got off to a good start, but then I was inconsistent too. I can certainly play much better."
Weibel and Fischer pay a visit
When the Keystone-SDA news agency visited Roman Josi in Nashville, Lars Weibel, Director of Sport at Swiss Ice Hockey, and national coach Patrick Fischer were also there. They not only exchanged ideas with Josi over dinner, but also with the general managers of Nashville and the New Jersey Devils, the team of Swiss players Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler, who is also currently injured.
Josi greatly appreciates the fact that Weibel and Fischer travel to the USA every year. "The relationship with them is great." This is certainly one reason why everyone (Swiss in the NHL) is always motivated to come to the World Championship. For the 34-year-old, it is clear that he will strengthen the national team in Herning, Denmark, in May if his health permits. But there is now a big question mark over this.
