Matt Duchene Signing Can Completely Revamp Nashville's Offensive Identity

It's no secret that a key component of the Nashville Predators early first-round exit last season was their inability to score goals. For a team that ranked 18th in the NHL with just 2.9 goals per game last season, finding offensive production was a necessity for Nashville this free agency.

The Predators were able to do just that, signing one of the most talented free agent forwards on the market in Matt Duchene to a seven-year deal that will surely boost their overall scoring numbers.

Duchene joins Nashville a season after he tied his career high with 70 points, as well as 10 points in as many playoff games. The Predators desperately could have used that performance during the first round against Dallas last season, and will hope that Duchene's future playoff performances will replicate last years.

Duchene's impact will likely be the most significant in the Predators' power play, giving Nashville a much-needed offensive weapon that will hopefully increase the predators league-worst 12.9% success rate on power plays from last season.

Picking up Duchene is a great fit for Nashville, one that puts them in a position to make another long run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season.