Predators ready to take advantage of new rules

The Predators reported Monday for physicals and testing before hitting the ice Tuesday. This team always has been built around speed and hard work, and coach Barry Trotz thinks the rules changes will benefit his team.

How much? No one knows for sure in a league that suddenly has parity to spare.

“Everybody asks me who’s the best team in your conference? I have absolutely no idea,” Trotz said. “If you do it by paper, it could be two-three teams, yes, they should be number one. If you’re a coach you realize … it’s about togetherness and it’s about commitment.”

But Nashville should benefit from the host of changes: expanding the offensive zone by four feet, decreasing the amount of space behind the goal, keeping goaltenders out of the corners, eliminating hooking and tripping of the puck carrier, smaller gear for goalies, shootouts to decide overtime and tag-up offsides.

Left wing Paul Kariya’s decision to join the Predators last month came in part because he believes the team is suited to take advantage of the changes. But he said the Predators will have to adapt quickly.

“It’s going to be a huge adjustment for everybody in the league. … I think it plays into our team because we do skate well. You’re going to have to do that. There’s going to be no clutching and grabbing, hooking and holding,” Kariya said.

The 10-year veteran with 705 points is looking forward to the wider offensive zone, especially with the goal pushed back two feet closer to the boards.

“You can’t score from behind the net, or least most guys can’t. (Wayne) Gretzky could, and Mario’s done it a few times,” Kariya said of Lemieux. “But pushing the goal back, it gives more opportunities to score because it gives more angles.”

The biggest challenge for the Predators will be paring down their roster during the preseason that starts Sept. 21 at St. Louis and before the season opener on Oct. 5 against San Jose. Trotz has been drawing up different line combinations and said that’s still a work in progress.

“It looks great on paper. I could probably give you about 15 different lineups of different people, and they’d be good lineups. At the same time, I don’t know which one will be the best one,” Trotz said.

That means Trotz still isn’t sure who he will pair with Kariya on the first line and whether that will be Steve Sullivan or Scott Walker. Captain Greg Johnson played with Kariya for Canada in the Olympics, but that chemistry might not have lasted.

Nashville also would like to see its first-ever draft pick play to his potential in center David Legwand. He was at his best in 2002-03 before breaking his collarbone and missing the final 18 games.

Trotz is feeling pretty confident about his deepest, most talented team going into the franchise’s seventh season. He isn’t alone, with preseason polls making Nashville a popular pick, but he refuses to pay close attention.

“All those are just paper, and we don’t play any games on paper,” Trotz said.