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1999-2000 Stat Leaders Stat  Leader  No.  Goals  Cliff Ronning  26  Assists  Cliff Ronning  36  Points  Cliff Ronning  62  +/-  Viatali Yachmenev  32  Shots  Cliff Ronning  248  Ice Time (F)  Greg Johnson  19:13  Ice Time (D)  Drake Berehowsky  25:20  Faceoff Pct.  Sebastien Bordeleau  54.35  Hits  Bob Boughner  207  PP Pts  Cliff Ronning  24  SH Pts  Tom Fitzgerald  4

Don't look now, but there's an outside chance the Predators could find themselves knocking on the playoff door. Not bad for a franchise just two years removed from expansion status.

Nashville improved by seven points (63 to 70) last season, finishing 17 points out of a postseason position. If more things fall into place this year -- young players like David Legwand continue to grow, a shaky defensive corps jells -- coach Barry Trotz may get the playoff exposure he desires.

The team must improve upon a league fourth-worst 199 goals. Most of the production came from the top line of Greg Johnson, Patric Kjellberg and Cliff Ronning (60 goals, 92 assists). Forwards Sebastien Bordeleau, Legwand, Ville Peltonen, Randy Robitaille, Scott Walker and Vitali Yachmenev will have to lessen the load.

For more on the Predators, bookmark this page and check back Wednesday, Oct. 11 for a Sports Illustrated Scouting Report.

BRIGHT SPOTS		GRAY AREAS
The power play came to life in the first 50 games, registering a 17.3 percent success rate. Much of it had to do with defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who quarterbacked the attack. The goaltending duo of Mike Dunham and Tomas Vokoun, who are also tennis buddies, gives the team a chance to compete every game. Not sure how to interpret this, but only four players remain from the team's expansion draft. Hey, they have gotten better. Nashville's 3-3-1 record in the exhibition season is cause for optimism. OK, so it's not much to be excited. But it is something.		The Predators operated at an eight percent success rate on the power play over the final 30 games -- even with Timonen sidelined intermittently with injuries. Besides defensemen Bill Houlder and Cale Hulse, there isn't much experience on the blue line. Ronning led the team with 26 goals, followed by Kjellberg's 23. Eight players finished in the teens. The Predators scored 41 fewer goals than they gave up (245). Every playoff team had a positive ratio. Timonen's unsigned, although the Predators did recently offer him a new deal.

Comings
Player	Pos.	From	Via
Sean Haggerty	LW	Nashville	Re-signed
Greg Johnson	C	Nashville	Re-signed
Chris Mason	G	Nashville	Re-signed
Marc Moro	D	Nashville	Re-signed
Brantt Myhres	RW	San Jose	Free agent
Petr Sachl	C	Fort Wayne (UHL)	Trade/re-signed
Mike Watt	LW	Nashville	Re-signed

Goings
Player	Pos.	To	Via
Eric Bertrand	LW	Montreal	Free agent

Prospect Watch
Brian Finley, G, 6'2", 180
Born: July 3, 1981 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Acquired: 1999 draft, first round (No. 6 overall)
A potential franchise player, the 19-year-old Finley has a résumé that virtually ensures his "can't miss" status. In '98 he earned a place on the OHL All-Rookie Team and was named the OHL Goalie of the Year. He's a butterfly-style netminder who has top-notch reflexes.

Get the Highlighter
Sat., Oct. 7 at Pittsburgh: Season opener is a matinee session at Pittsburgh. Teams split the series last year (1-1).
Mon., Dec. 4 at Vancouver: Begin a four-game trip out West that sees them play three games in four nights.
Mon., Jan. 8 at Vancouver: Less than a month off their first trip West, the Predators do it again. This journey again starts in Vancouver and ends in San Jose, with four games in seven days. Ouch.
Tues., March 6 at Phoenix: Five-game West Coast trip could decide team's playoff fate.

Quoteworthy
"One little guy asked if we had cars in Canada, or if we just used snowmobiles and dogs."
--Tough guy Brant Myhres, who was on a caravan through Tennessee to promote the Predators

Team-by-team previews compiled by CNNSI.com's Ken Klavon, Jamie MacDonald and Jimmy Traina.

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