Stanley Cups: 0

2011-'12 record: 48-26-3-5, 104 points (2nd in Central, 4th in West)

2011-'12 playoffs: Def. Detroit Red Wings 4-1; lost to Phoenix Coyotes 4-1

Coach: Barry Trotz (503-424-139, 15th NHL year, 1st team)

Top returning scorer: RW Martin Erat (19 goals, 39 assists, 58 points)

Top returning goalie: Pekka Rinne (43-18-8, 2.39, .923)

Key additions: G Chris Mason; G Sebastien Caron; D Scott Hannan.

Key subtractions: D Ryan Suter; LW Andrei Kostitsyn; C Kyle Wilson; G Anders Lindback; RW Jordin Tootoo; D Francis Bouillon; RW Alexander Radulov.

Goaltending: Rinne signed a seven-year, $49-million deal last season, and then delivered a club-record 11-game winning streak. At 6-5, he’s the third largest goaltender in the NHL, but is as nimble and quick as a smaller netminder, making it doubly tougher to beat him.

Player to watch: D Mattias Ekholm. The latest strong defensive prospect to roll of the Predators’ assembly line, Ekholm was named the Borje Salming Award winner as top defender in the Swedish Elite League last season. He’s big at 6-4 and skilled, but still needs work in the areas of defensive play and grit.

Icing: Another team that had minimal off-season changes and should find instant chemistry during the shortened season, but Suter will be difficult to replace . . . Team is counting on second-year D Roman Josi taking another step forward . . . Predators matched 14-year, $110-million offer sheet from Flyers to keep captain Shea Weber in the fold.

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