Season Review 2013/14 - Roman Josi

Roman Josi

- Nationality: SUI
- DOB: 1990/06/01
- 186 cm (6'1") / 87 kg (192 lbs)
- Position: D

- NHL Team: Nashville Predators
- NHL Draft: 2008 (2/38) by the Nashville Predators
- Contract: 7 years / $28 million until 2019/20
- 2013/14 Salary: $2.5 million

Here a quick overview of Roman Josi's stats since his arrival in the NHL. Last season marked his third in the NHL, all with the Nashville Predators:

Arguably the most talented and skilled Swiss defenseman of all time Roman Josi has established himself as one of the best young defensemen in just his third NHL season. His coming out party was at the 2013 IIHF World Championship in Stockholm where he sensationally led the Swiss team to 9 consecutive victories. Switzerland went home with a silver medal after losing their only game, the gold medal game to Sweden 5-1. Personally Josi received consolation in winning the MVP award for his outstanding performance with 4 goals and 9 points in 10 games. A restricted free agent in the summer after the World Championship the Swiss defenseman cashed in by signing a 7 year and $28 million contract with the Nashville Predators. Only a year later one could say he signed the long term contract a little bit too early. Imagine what he would have been able to command after this great past season. Nevertheless Josi paired with Shea Weber - who probably is the best defensemen of the NHL at the moment - form a tandem considered to be one of the best in the league.

Season Review 2013/14

The Predators missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Nashville lacked great offense and were hit hard by the injury to number 1 goaltender Pekka Rinne. The tall Finn only started 24 games this season due to hip surgery. In a disappointing season Roman Josi was one of the positives in having a career year. After signing the long-term contract last summer he proved he's worth it. Head coach Barry Trotz relied heavily upon his Swiss silver medal winner as Josi averaged over 26 minutes a game, good for 5th in the league just behind Ryan Suter (29:25), Erik Karlsson (27:04), Brian Campbell (26:57) and Shea Weber (26:54).

Josi was 5th in the league in average ice time per game.

Barry Trotz, the longest serving active NHL coach, was relieved of his duties at the end of the season after 15 seasons (1,196 regular season games) and after being the only head coach in Nashville Predators' history. Trotz' successor will be able to count on a 23-year old Swiss who will only get better.

The Olympics: One big disappointment

The whole country of Switzerland had high hopes in their NHL stars. Never before did the Swiss have more NHL players than this season. Especially after winning the silver medal at the Worlds in 2013 and Roman Josi being the tournament's MVP even the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation thought they could compete for a medal at every tournament. Noteworthy: the last medal the Swiss national team won before the surprising silver in 2013 was in 1953.

Disappointing Olympics for Josi and his Swiss team in Sochi.

The country's dream came to an end even before the quarterfinals. Latvia stunned the Swiss in the qualification playoff game and sent them home packing early in the tournament. For Roman Josi it was a tournament to forget. After carrying the team on his back in 2013 he wasn't able to repeat his MVP performance and left Sochi with no points in 4 games.

The future is bright

The experts say successful teams are built from the goalie out. The Predators have one of the best goalies in the NHL and a lot of young and skilled talent on their blueline. If general manager David Poile is able to load his team with more offensive firepower Nashville will be capable to have a long playoff run in the coming years.
The 23-year old Roman Josi is going to be a key building block of the Predators' success in the future. He will only get better and better.

Notes

- Funny fact: this season Josi earned $2.5 million compared with Shea Weber's $14 million...
- Roman Josi will be heading to the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Minsk, Belarus
- Josi wore defensive partner Shea Weber's Team Canada golden jersey after the Olympics (https://twitter.com/rjosi90/status/440601259348078592/photo/1). He indeed lost a bet.

Roman Josi wearing Shea Weber's Team Canada jersey after losing a bet.

Follow me on Twitter: @HNISwitzerland