Frustrated former Rangers defenseman trying to ‘move past’ winless start with new team
It’s no wonder why former New York Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei is turning grey already at the age of 30. OK, to be fair, his hair color began to turn in his 20s but it can’t help that his new team, the Nashville Predators, is the only one in the NHL without a single point in the standings so far this season.
That’s right. Incredibly, even after signing Skjei, Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault to big free-agent contracts this offseason, the Predators are 0-5-0 to begin the season. Only the lowly San Jose Sharks are also winless, though they have two standings points by virtue of losing twice in overtime.
A popular preseason pick to win the Stanley Cup, the Predators not only are winless, but they’re 0-4-0 on home ice after a seemingly favorable schedule to begin the season. Seven of their 10 games this month are on home ice. They’ll look to get off the schneid with another home game Tuesday against the visiting Boston Bruins.
As for Skjei, who landed a seven-year, $49 million contract this summer after producing an NHL career-high 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) with the Carolina Hurricanes, he’s got one goal in five games and sits with an unsightly minus-six plus/minus rating through five games with Nashville.
“We’ve got to move past this and get on the other side of this as fast as possible,” Skjei explained last week. “You don’t want to keep this feeling going.”
It’s been a tough start for Skjei, who’s xGF percentage of 34.81 percent is worst on the team, per Natural Stat Trick. The Predators are outchanced 43-29 with Skjei on the ice, 19-11 in high-danger opportunities.
“It just hasn’t been good enough” Skjei said. “Just got to be a lot better in a lot of areas.”
Related: Rangers star impressed with role players’ ‘dedication to just being ready’
Several former Rangers off to slow starts with other teams this season
Skjei is one of several former Rangers players off to a difficult start this season. Patrick Kane of the Detroit Red Wings has two assists in five games, and teammate Erik Gustafsson already was scratched twice after a solid showing with the Rangers last season.
Colorado Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev carries a heavy 4.99 goals-against average and poor .811 save percentage into this week. He did, though, pick up his first win Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. But it’s been a rough go for Georgiev and the Avalanche.
As for Skjei, he is far from the only problem in Nashville. Stamkos scored his first goal over the weekend and is minus-six. Marchessault has one goal. Roman Josi is minus-five. Michael McCarron and Colton Sissons are somehow minus-eight already. And Juuse Saros has a 3.64 goals-against average and .875 save percentage.
Not an ideal start to say the least.
Skjei played four seasons with the Rangers before he was traded to the Hurricanes ahead of the 2020 deadline. His game reached new heights with the Hurricanes, at both ends of the rink. His best all-around season was 2023-24, and one of his highlights was the game-winning power-play goal against the Rangers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Second Round.
That goal started a Carolina comeback in the series, though the Rangers stemmed the tide with an incredible rally in Game 6 to move on to the Eastern Conference Final.
But that’s in the past. Now Skjei must navigate a difficult start amid massive expectations with a talented new team, all the while carrying a heavy $7 million salary cap hit.
Fortunately for him — and the Predators — five games does not a season make. So, there’s plenty of time to write a better story for his first season in Nashville.
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