Are the Predators slowly building a dominant team in the Western Conference, or will the new season bring more of the same unfulfilled promise for a team that rarely takes risks?

• Key losses: F Jason Arnott, D Dan Hamhuis, G Dan Ellis

• Overview:

The Predators missed out on a tremendous opportunity in April, when they blew a 2-1 series lead against the Blackhawks in the first round. Nashville is still looking for a playoff series win, and it is difficult to tell how their roster additions will impact a team in desperate need of scoring depth. The defense looks solid with a franchise cornerstone in defenseman Shea Weber and young goaltender Pekka Rinne. The Preds will miss the offense and leadership of Jason Arnott; will new forwards Matthew Lombardi and Sergei Kostitsyn be enough up front?

• What they’re missing:

Scoring depth. Lombardi is expected to be a first or second-line center, which will ease the burden on David Legwand. Kostitsyn could add to their firepower, or he could become a cancer in another locker room – here’s hoping he doesn’t become the latter.

• Players to watch in camp:

Rookie Jonathon Blum will be fighting for a spot on the blue line during camp; the Preds hope their 2007 first-round pick could someday replace what was lost with Hamhuis. G Chet Pickard will give Mark Dekanich a run for his money in the competition to be Rinne’s backup. And it will be interesting to see how the Predators welcome Kostitsyn, after his well-publicized feuds with the Canadiens last year.

HPT is counting down one team each day before NHL training camps open on Sept. 17. Tomorrow: New Jersey Devils.

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