NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Nashville Predators spent big on signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei in a spree that made them one of the Stanley Cup favorites a year ago.

Then the Predators flopped in a season to forget.

They stumbled from the start and limped to the finish with the NHL’s third-worst record. The top pick overall in the entry draft was closer than a playoff spot, though the Predators couldn’t even hold onto their slot in the draft lottery slipping to No. 5 overall.

“What’s happened in the last year?” Nashville center Fyodor Svechkov said with a smile. “I don’t remember. Looking forward to this year.”

The Predators open the season Oct. 9 hosting Columbus and look like they’re simply running everything back hoping it’s different this time aroun

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