Ryan O’Reilly signed a four-year, $18M deal with the Nashville Predators last offseason.
During his first news conference, he wondered why Nashville couldn’t compete for a Stanley Cup. Now, one year later, the team seems ready to challenge for the Cup after signing three big-name free agents on July 1. These new additions include Steven Stamkos, who has won the Stanley Cup twice; Jonathan Marchessault, who has won it once; and defenseman Brady Skjei.
O’Reilly was overjoyed by these signings. “July 1, for myself — it was Christmas,” he shared with Sportsnet. “It was just kind of, ‘Oh my gosh, oh my gosh,’ with guy after guy. So excited.”
New Signings Boost Confidence:
With Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, and Juuse Saros already in their prime years , O’Reilly believes they have a real chance at winning the Cup now that they’ve added even more talent to their roster. He said they have a lot of faith in their ability to compete at the highest level.
Fans might be thinking this is exactly what the team needed to make a serious run at the championship.
The excitement around these signings is palpable among both players and fans alike. The mix of experienced champions and talented stars gives Nashville an edge they haven’t had before.
So what do you think? Will Nashville finally get their hands on that elusive Stanley Cup?
