Whether the Nashville Predators survive in Music City or seek greener pastures, GM David Poile’s ability to draft and develop a never-ending stream of quality defensemen will stand out as a major achievement.

Shea Weber, 24, drafted in 2003, is knocking on the Norris trophy’s door after scoring 23 goals, second only to Mike Green among defensemen (Edmonton’s Sheldon Souray also netted 23 in 08-09). Ryan Suter, also 24, was chosen in the first round of that same draft (seventh overall), enters his fourth NHL season and is making a name as a solid physical defenseman. Dan Hamhuis, 26, drafted in 2001, would be a top-four D-man on any club in the NHL.

Greg Zanon departed to Minnesota with the club receiving nothing in return. The fact that Zanon is approaching his prime makes it all the more unfortunate. Greg de Vries, 36, remains unsigned and will also have to be replaced. Poile will now look toward Cody Franson, 22, Teemu Laakso, 22 or 25-year-old Alexander Sulzer, 25, from Milwaukee (AHL). Long Beach, CA, native Jonathan Blum is scratching at the door, looking to become an NHL Predator. Blum, who appeared in the 2006 film In the Crease, hails from the California Wave program and made history as California’s first first-round NHL draftee.

The club’s preeminent prospect, however, is Boston University’s Colin Wilson, a center who stands 6’1”, 213 lbs. and at 20 years of age is ready to provide some jam and scoring touch for a club in need of both.

While the defense is always solid in Nashville, the offense has always lacked the explosiveness needed to climb the ladder to the NHL elite. The Preds have some good pieces, but never seem to be able to acquire or develop real playmakers, game-breakers or dominators. Only two Predators forwards scored more than 20 goals last season. Jason Arnott had 33 despite missing 17 games to a concussion and various other injuries, and Dave Legwand, who scored 20.

The offensive wild card for the Preds will be Masterton tropy winner Steve Sullivan, who scored 11 goals in 41 games after missing two years after back surgery. Whether he can return to being the player who scored 20 or more goals in every season from 1997-2007 is a key question.

Left wing Martin Erat, 28, is one of the finest skaters in the game, but must improve on his 17 goals. Joel Ward was a nice early-career free agent signing (2008) by Poile, and earned a two-year deal after netting 17 goals of his own. J-P Dumont, paradoxically, was the team’s points leader (65) but slipped to 16 goals. It was only the second time in the last nine seasons that Dumont failed to score 20.

Goaltender Pekka Rinne (2.38GAA/.917SV%) wow’d ‘em with 29 wins in 52 contests, the 6’5” netminder supplanting Dan Ellis (2.93GAA/.900SV%) as starter midway through last season.

Overall, the lack of offense will derail the Predators, who always manage to be in the playoff hunt until the bitter end. Look for a second consecutive non-playoff year in Nashville. One plus: The club has tons of room under the salary cap for late trades.