If the Nashville Predators are to make the postseason for a fifth straight season, they will likely have to do so without one of their top performers from a year ago.

Minus Alexander Radulov, Nashville begins its 2008-09 season with a road test against the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center.

Despite a roster overhaul and uncertainty in ownership last year, Nashville skated to a 41-32-9 mark (91 points), good enough to claim the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs while marking the franchise's fourth straight postseason appearance. Though the club was ousted by the top-seeded and eventual Stanley Cup winning Detroit Red Wings, Nashville performed better than anyone could have thought.

So it came as a surprise when 26-goal scorer Radulov jumped ship to the Kontinental Hockey League of Russia despite having a year left on his NHL contract. The two leagues have agreed to a binding arbitration to determine where Radulov will play, but until then the 22-year-old forward has been suspended indefinitely by Nashville.

Unlike last offseason, when the Predators were forced to trade away or let go via free agency a handful of talented players, Nashville actually locked up some of its own this summer. The team handed out contract extensions to head coach Barry Trotz, winger Martin Erat (7 years, $31.5 million) and defenseman Ryan Suter (4 years, $14 million).

Erat, who matched a career-high with 57 points for the second straight season in 2007-08 and tallied a personal-best 23 goals a year ago, will join Jason Arnott (28 goals, 44 assists) on Nashville's top line. Meanwhile, left wing J.P. Dumont had one of the best offensive outputs of his career, as the 30- year-old posted a career-high 29 goals.

The Predators will also get forward Steve Sullivan back after he missed all of last season because of an ailing back.

Nashville's young blueline took a bit of a hit when Marek Zidlicky was dealt to Minnesota in the offseason, but the club still has 25-year-old Dan Hamhuis and 23-year-old Shea Weber back on D in addition to Suter.

The Preds used a two-headed monster between the pipes in the form of Dan Ellis and Chris Mason last year, with Ellis starting 37 games to Mason's 45. The 28- year-old Ellis is the starter this year, however, after Mason was dealt to the Blues. Ellis went 23-10-3 with six shutouts and a 2.34 goals against average in 2007-08.

While Nashville will have to adjust without Radulov, St. Louis begins the season without its top young defender in Erik Johnson, who could miss the entire season due to a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. The 20-year-old American skater posted five goals and 28 assists in his first NHL season last year.

That will put more pressure on the likes of Eric Brewer, Barret Jackman, and Jay McKee on defense. Brewer will likely quarterback the power play in the absence of Johnson.

Offensively, the Blues, who finished 33-36-13 (79 points) last year despite a strong start, will hope Brad Boyes can extend his breakout season from a year ago. The 26-year-old forward, who scored 26 goals with Boston in 2005-06, broke out for 43 goals in his first full season with the Blues last year.

Also hoping to get the Blues going on offense will be Paul Kariya (16g, 49a), Andy McDonald (18g, 34a with the Ducks/Blues) and Keith Tkachuk (27g, 31a).

Blues veteran goaltender Manny Legace made the Western Conference All-Star team last year thanks to a strong first half of the season, but then struggled after the All-Star break.

Legace was 17-13-4 with a 2.28 GAA in his first 37 games, but was 10-12-4 with a 2.57 GAA over his final 29 outings. Still, he heads into this season as the team's No. 1 netminder despite the fact that he'll make $500,000 less than backup Mason, who the Blues hope will help keep Legace fresh down the stretch.

The Blues won the first three meetings between these Central Division foes last season, but the Predators took the final five tests in the series. Nashville is an outstanding 20-3-1 against St. Louis since the start of the 2005-06 campaign, which includes a 9-3-0 mark at the Scottrade Center.

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