NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Just two weeks from the Oct. 9 season opener against the Ottawa Senators, the Predators' forward lines remain a work in progress.
The mixing and matching shall continue for an upcoming stretch of four exhibition games in five days -- with one notable wrinkle to the schedule: The Preds will host the Florida Panthers for two games on Saturday (day-night doubleheader).
"I don't think anything will be set in stone after a game or a period or one time together," new Predators coach Peter Laviolette said of finalizing the forward pairings for an offense that has been scoring-challenged the past several years.
"We've seen practices. We've seen scrimmages. We've seen power-play units.
"Again, the more exhibition games we play, and the more time we spend together, will sort that out."
But the natural pairings of linemates cannot be ignored, either. Scoring ace James Neal, the free-agent signee (Penguins), is in line to be reunited with center Mike Ribiero.
They once were linemates for the Dallas Stars before Neal was traded to Pittsburgh, where he scored 40 goals two seasons ago. Neal has tallied at least 20 goals six straight seasons.
Filip Forsberg, the 2012 first-round draft pick of the Capitals with huge scoring potential, remains one of the wing options to run opposite Neal.
"I'm just trying to play as good as possible with whomever I am playing with each and every practice and game," said Forsberg, who turned 20 last month.
"So, I'm just trying to do my best every day out there to prove I am worth a spot on the team. We just come in during the morning and you see who you're playing with, and then you just try to have as good chemistry as quick as possible. It changes every day."
But playing on the same line with veterans Neal and Ribiero wouldn't be the worst of pairings for Forsberg. "It has been an almost new line every other practice, so it's kind of hard to tell," said Forsberg. "Those two guys (Neal and Ribiero) are really, really good, so I can't say I don't want to play with them."
Prior to training camp, new Predators center Derek Roy had been working with forwards Colin Wilson and Craig Smith, and that trio has continued to work together some in practice.
Smith led the team in goals (24) last season and was third in points (52) -- both career highs.
Wilson, the club's 2008 first-round draft pick, played in 81 games last season and set career highs in assists (22), hits (49) and blocked shots (35). On the flip side, he needs to show more consistency around the net.
The third line recently has had young center Calle Jarnkrok, who turned 23 Thursday, in between veterans Olli Jokinen and Viktor Stalberg. But the latter will be out several weeks, after suffering a lower-body injury on Monday.
A trio of veterans -- center Paul Gaustad and forwards Eric Nystrom and Rich Clune -- have been skating together, while a younger line of forwards Gabriel Bourque and Taylor Beck has been centered by Matt Cullen.
"You come in and you play with who you are playing with," Nystrom said of the mixing and matching of lines by Laviolette and staff.
"They have a game plan. That's their job. Our job is to go out, no matter who you are playing with, to do what you are supposed to do. There is a reason why they put you with somebody, because they want you to play a certain way.
"That's how it works. Sometimes, you have chemistry right away. And sometimes, it takes a little while. But it's just one of those things that's not in your control."
Indeed, it is way too early to count current line pairings as ones the Predators will use in the Oct. 9 opener against the Sens.
The team has essentially been split into two teams, meaning who's working together one might not come together the next.
"Things may work," Laviolette said. "They may not work. Things may bounce around in camp, and we may try different people in different spots. I think we will figure it out as the exhibition games move on."
While it is an oft-used definition of what coaches are seeking, chemistry between line pairings is paramount. Just how that is defined by Laviolette, though, depends upon a variety of components.
"Ultimately, you see what they are doing and what they are generating on the ice," Laviolette said of potential forward line pairings.
"If there doesn't seem to be any rhythm to what a line is doing, and you can't seem to get out of your own zone, or you can't seem to make any noise in the offensive zone, you might look at it and think maybe it doesn't work, or you give it another shot and see for sure it doesn't work."
Adding to the mix is a bevy of young forwards trying to make an impression, even if it means not making the final roster: Kevin Fiala, the 2014 first-round draft pick (11th overall), Austin Watson, Colton Sissons and Mikka Solamaki.
"We have a lot of new faces here," Laviolette said. "So, we are looking at it to figure it out as well. A lot of young players, it seems they want to challenge for positions, so we need to look at that and how all that plays out."
