Michael McCarron spent the first four games of the 2023-24 season as a healthy scratch for the Nashville Predators but made his season debut against the New York Rangers on Thursday night. McCarron's style of play suited the game plan head coach Andrew Brunette needed more of from his team.
Brunette spoke last week on wanting the team to fight for space in front of the net and battle for those greasy goals. McCarron's physicality and 6-foot-6 frame are made for that kind of net front presence.
"It's a little bit of a work in progress," Brunette said after Friday's practice about establishing net front presence.
"I thought we got a big goal with Big Mac being inside in front of the net and creating a little havoc."
That is definitely McCarron's turf. He is a big presence in front of the blue paint and battles for every inch of real estate available there. He earned his first point of the season with an assist on Cole Smith's opening goal Thursday night in front of the net.
"That's where I create most of my offense," McCarron said. "I'm not going to dangle a guy at the blue line and get a breakaway, so I've gotta find ways to get offense, and that's where I can create. My offense is in front of the net."
McCarron had a solid training camp highlighting his gritty skill set — a style of play that the Predators haven't been doing quite enough of in recent games according to Brunette.
Getting back on the ice Thursday night felt great for McCarron.
"It felt good to get back in there with the boys," McCarron said. "We had a good game last night. Honestly, everybody was chipping in. It was a great team win, and it feels good to win in the Big Apple."
McCarron's first game of the season was a solid start for the forward who is coming off of a 2022-23 season in which he played 32 games and scored just two goals and four points. McCarron stepped away from the ice for personal reasons in mid December and returned to play with the Milwaukee Admirals for a conditioning stint. McCarron returned to Nashville in March to finish the season.
After the Predators missed the playoffs, McCarron headed to Milwaukee once again to help the Admirals in their deep postseason run. In his 15 playoff games, McCarron score four goals and seven points as Milwaukee battled all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
McCarron will be back in the lineup tonight again against the San Jose Sharks and looking to take charge of that net front area once again. McCarron played on a line with Yakov Trenin and Cole Smith on Thursday night, but there will be some line up shifts as Cody Glass is out and Samuel Fagemo comes in.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm CT at Bridgestone Arena.
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