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Preds begin post-Trotz era vs. Senators

Oct 9, 2014 - 3:11 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Nashville Predators are set to kick off a season of change.

For the first time in franchise history, the Predators begin a campaign without Barry Trotz behind the bench as they play host to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

Trotz had been the club's head coach since its inception in 1998, but was fired this past offseason by general manager David Poile after Nashville missed out on the playoffs for a second straight year. Trotz was replaced by Peter Laviolette, who is expected to bring a more up-tempo style of play to the Music City.

While Trotz was known for putting defensively-strong teams on the ice, Poile went out and got Laviolette an offensive weapon in James Neal, who the Predators acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a draft day trade.

Nashville also signed forwards Olli Jokinen, Mike Ribeiro and Derek Roy to one-year deals this summer to try and help ease the transition to a more offensive style of play.

Neal is the biggest name of the bunch and he has scored over 20 goals in all six of his NHL seasons. He had 27 goals and 61 points in just 59 games last season.

Those additions up front should help take some pressure off defenseman Shea Weber, who led Nashville last season with 56 points and was second on the club with 23 goals. He should also get some help on the blue line as Seth Jones, the fourth overall pick of the 2013 draft, enters his second season after posting 25 points over 77 games as a rookie.

Also helping the defense is the healthy return of Pekka Rinne, who ended up playing only 24 games last season -- the bulk of that coming after the start of March -- because of an infection in his surgically-repaired hip.

The 31-year-old is 2-3-0 against Ottawa in five career meetings with a 3.18 goals against average and .895 save percentage.

While Nashville is kicking off a new era behind the bench, Predators fans will be treated to the return of Senators forward David Legwand, the club's first ever draft pick.

Legwand is the franchise's all-time leader in goals (210), assists (356), points (566) and games played (956), racking up those numbers over 15 seasons before getting dealt to the Detroit Red Wings on March 5.

Legwand signed a two-year deal with the Senators this offseason to help replace center Jason Spezza, who Ottawa dealt to the Dallas Stars for a trio of young players.

Ottawa's former captain, Spezza led the team in scoring last season with 23 goals and 66 points over 75 games, but requested a trade.

Forward Alex Chiasson was the lone player that Ottawa received from Dallas to make tonight's roster and the 23-year-old former second-round pick notched 13 goals and 35 points in 79 games with the Stars last season.

The loss of Spezza also means Ottawa will have its third captain in as many seasons, with star defenseman Erik Karlsson taking over the role. Spezza wore the "C" last season after Daniel Alfredsson had left as a free agent.

Karlsson was named the ninth captain in team history and led all NHL blueliners last season with 74 points.

Forward Bobby Ryan also plays tonight for Ottawa having recently inked a seven-year contract extensions that eased fears of losing another star player this upcoming offseason. The 27-year-old Ryan had 23 goals in his first season with the Senators as he was acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on the same day -- July 5, 2013 -- that Alfredsson signed with Detroit.

Curtis Lazar, the 17th overall pick of the 2013 draft, could make his NHL debut at forward tonight for Ottawa.

Craig Anderson is slated to get the start for the Senators tonight after re- signing for three years this past offseason. He had just a 3.00 GAA last season despite a solid 25-16-8 mark and is 4-5-3 lifetime versus the Predators with a 2.94 GAA and .901 save percentage.

Ottawa is without defenseman Marc Methot due to a back injury, while the Predators open with Viktor Stalberg (lower body) and Matt Cullen (upper body) on injured reserve. Former Senator center Mike Fisher is also out for Nashville due to a Achilles tendon injury suffered over the summer.

The Sens are opening the season with three straight on the road, while the Predators begin the campaign with three in a row at home. Nashville is 7-9-1 all-time versus Ottawa, with the clubs splitting a pair of post-regulation decisions last season.