"Barry Trotz called it a "stigma" attached to the Nashville Predators.

Yet the head coach made it clear that he is not in a hurry to change anyone's perception of his team as being offensively challenged.

"All I know is that the two teams playing in the [Stanley Cup] final were the No. 1 and No. 2 defensive teams in the National Hockey League," Trotz said Wednesday at the team's prospects conditioning camp. "We were third.

"So we don't want to get away from that idea."

Thursday is the final day of the NHL contract year and the new free agency period begins 11 a.m. (CDT) Friday.

Given Trotz's assessment of things, it seems unlikely that the Predators will make a big splash in free agency by adding a major offensive talent.

"Our offense has been pretty good in the last couple years, although in some of the special teams areas we could be a little more productive," Trotz said. "We're growing that area."

"Obviously, we do it collectively. We don't have a 50-goal scorer in our lineup as of yet — I think we're capable of that down the road.""