from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

- Nashville’s top-four defense of P.K. Subban, Mattias Ekholm, Roman Josi, and Ryan Ellis is the biggest reason for the team’s achievements. This iteration required refreshing that appeared painful at the time: Ryan Suter signing a megadeal with Minnesota, Seth Jones being traded to Columbus for Ryan Johansen, and Shea Weber being moved to Montreal for Subban. The clock, however, is already ticking on this setup. Ellis will be unrestricted after 2019. The right-shot defenseman will at least double his current average annual value of $2.5 million. By then, Dante Fabbro could be ready to succeed Ellis. Fabbro, Nashville’s 2016 first-round pick, will be a Boston University sophomore this fall. Depending on his performance, Fabbro could turn pro in 2018-19. When Ellis reaches unrestricted status, Fabbro will be 21, perhaps groomed enough by then to be in Nashville’s lineup.

- Carolina’s breakthrough is coming, perhaps as soon as 2017-18, when former Chicago backup goalie Scott Darling takes over the starting job. Darling will be behind a blue line that could be the next version of Nashville’s setup. Justin Faulk is already a go-to defenseman. Jaccob Slavin is close. Norwood’s Noah Hanifin continues to learn. Former University of New Hampshire defenseman Brett Pesce is coming off a 2-18—20 season. Faulk is the group’s graybeard at 25, while Hanifin is only 20. Slavin, Hanifin, and Pesce will remain on their entry-level deals in 2017-18, giving Carolina serious bang for the buck on the back end. The Hurricanes also have prospects Haydn Fleury (No. 7 overall, 2014) and Jake Bean (No. 13, 2016) pushing for pro work.

GM Ron Francis could trade one of his young defensemen for up-front help, just like Predators GM David Poile did with Seth Jones to land Ryan Johansen.

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