19 Nashville Predators

David Poile had always run the Predators on a shoestring budget. In the franchise's first two seasons Nashville's payroll was the NHL's smallest, and last year's $19.6 million tab, though large by club standards, was the league's fifth-lowest. Yet in August, Poile persuaded owner Craig Leipold to commit $14 million—$1 million less than the entire roster made in the Predators' inaugural season of 1998-99—to re-sign Nashville's two most critical free agents, goaltender Mike Dunham (three years, $8.6 million) and winger Scott Walker (three years, $5.4 million). Of the 29-year-old Dunham, whose .923 save percentage last season was tops among starting goalies, Poile says, "I believe your highest-paid player should be your best player. Dunham gives us a chance to win almost every night. If we're going to be successful, he's going to be a big part of the team."

Unfortunately, the spending spree won't help if the Predators can't score. Aside from the 28-year-old Walker, whose 25 goals and 29 assists last year were career highs, and left wing Cliff Ronning (19, 43), Nashville's forwards lack firepower. The Predators have never had a 30-goal scorer, and their 186 goals last season were the NHL's third fewest. Coach Barry Trotz will hang his hopes for improvement on 21-year-old center David Legwand, the second pick in the 1998 draft, and 20-year-old winger Martin Erat, who had 82 points in 48 junior games last year and earned a roster spot thanks to a strong training camp. "These young guys have to realize that they have a chance to play a prominent role in the organization this year," says captain Tom Fitzgerald, a center. "I don't think they could ask for anything more."

Two people who haven't benefited from Leipold's newfound largesse, however, are Poile and Trotz. They, as well as the members of Trotz's staff, are in the last year of their contracts. Though the Predators are moving in the right direction—their points have increased from 63 to 70 to 80—Nashville is still at least a year from its first postseason berth, and the club's architects may not be around long enough to see their labors bear fruit. "Our conference is very, very tough," says Fitzgerald. "We know 80 points used to get you into the playoffs. Not anymore."

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