The Nashville Predators have announced multiple long-term injuries to key players as Monday’s trade deadline approaches. Eeli Tolvanan and Dante Fabbro are both week-to-week with upper-body injuries while Mathieu Oliver is out 4-6. Filip Forsberg has also been moved to injured reserve. The team announced the updates Friday afternoon.
#Preds injury updates: Eeli Tolvanen (lower body) and Dante Fabbro (upper body) are both week-to-week; Mathieu Olivier is out 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury. The Preds have also placed Filip Forsberg on injured reserve.
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 9, 2021
Predators Announced Multiple Injuries
It’s not hyperbolic to say that these four injuries are devastating. Forsberg is the team’s top scorer with 11 goals and 29 points in 34 games. Tolvanen is fifth, Fabbro is 12th, and Oliver is 18th. The four have combined for 26 goals and 64 points in 2020-21. That is almost 25 percent of the team’s goals this year. It leaves the team with a significantly diminished offence after a strong stretch of play in the last weeks.
Of the four, Forsberg is the most notable. He has the most experience after the Washington Capitals drafted him 11th overall in the 2012 Draft. He has been a reliable top-six scorer with 177 goals and 382 points in 492 games across nine seasons. Tolvanen is also an exciting player as the team’s top rookie following his selection with the 30th pick in the 2017 Draft. Finally, Fabbro has the upside of a top-four defender despite Nashville’s tremendous focus on defensive depth. It’s not an easy quartet to replace.
Nashville’s Next Steps
Nashville may be forced to spend some of its draft pick capital as the deadline approaches. They do have players including Michael McCarron on their taxi squad, but their system lacks both depth and NHL experience. However, the team could also promote some of their older AHL options including Patrick Harpur or Sean Malone. The only safe assumption at this point is that the Preds may need to be very creative with this surge in injuries. They are clinging to a playoff spot in the Central Division, but the Chicago Blackhawks remain within striking distance. Every little boost and obstacle will be huge down the stretch.
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