Alexandre Carrier – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:58:08 +0000

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 19: Nashville Predators center Thomas Novak (82) is shown during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers, held on December 19, 2022, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire)

Review: The Predators have rarely been listed among the main contenders for the Stanley Cup in any given year, but they have managed to stay consistently competitive, making the playoffs for eight straight campaigns from 2014-15 through 2021-22. They nearly reached nine consecutive seasons but came just short with their 42-32-8 record last year. Juuse Saros deserves most of the credit for keeping Nashville close. He’s one of the most reliable goaltenders in the world, and he stayed strong in 2022-23, posting a 33-23-7 record, 2.69 GAA and .919 save percentage in 64 contests. Consider that Nashville ranked 28th in 5-on-5 expected goals against (199.01), suggesting the Predators were among the league’s worst teams defensively and would have consequently been easy to score against if not for some stellar netminding. Saros’ role was even more important because Nashville didn’t do much offensively. None of the Predators reached the 60-point mark, though it didn’t help that Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen and especially Roman Josi missed meaningful chunks of the season. The silver lining is Saros is just 28, and the Predators have two more seasons left at a team-friendly $5 million cap hit, so there’s still time to build around him.

What’s Changed? Deciding major turnover was necessary, Predators GM Barry Trotz bought out Matt Duchene’s contract and traded Ryan Johansen to Colorado. Nashville leveraged that freed cap space to ink top-six forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Gustav Nyquist. They also added defensive defenseman Luke Schenn, which might make life a little easier on Saros.

What would success look like? The Predators could absolutely make it back into the playoffs, but their push needs to start with another great campaign from Saros. Assuming they have that, an injury-free year out of Josi would do a lot to make up the rest of the gap. Meanwhile, it will be the first full NHL campaign for forwards Thomas Novak, Luke Evangelista and Juuso Parssinen, who could combine to make Nashville a significantly better team offensively than they were in 2022-23.

What could go wrong? Whenever a team relies so much on a single player, as Nashville does with Saros, the nightmare scenario is always an injury to said player. Although Nashville does have a sufficient backup in Kevin Lankinen, but being forced to rely on him for an extended period would be far from ideal. It’s also not clear how much offensive help O’Reilly and Nyquist will be. Both had up-and-down campaigns last year, so if Nashville was hoping to swap Duchene and Johansen for safer bets, they may end up disappointed.

Top Breakout Candidate: After scoring 17 goals and 43 points in 51 games last season, Novak is perhaps too easy of a choice, so instead let’s focus on one of his projected linemates, Evangelista. The 21-year-old also had an encouraging, albeit much shorter, stint with Nashville in 2022-23, contributing seven goals and 15 points in 24 contests. Evangelista also excelled in the AHL with 41 points in 49 outings and turned pro with plenty of offensive upside. He’s a big part of why Nashville has reason for optimism about the long-term outlook of its forward core.

Forwards

Filip Forsberg - LW

Looking to follow up a fantastic 42-goal season, Forsberg started off a little slow with only two goals in the first month of the season. He hit his stride over the winter, scoring at a point-per-game pace in November and December before a concussion in early February sidelined him for the rest of the season. Streaky scoring isn’t out of the ordinary for Forsberg, as he is the type of player who will run hot, and he was on-pace to match his typical season totals before getting hurt. Talent eventually shows through with most players, and he is the type you can always count on to go on a scoring tear at some point. Terrific at generating offense on his own, Forsberg is one of the most creative shooters in the league. He can test goalies despite being covered or tricking defenders by passing at the very last second to set up a breakaway or a lay-up goal for his linemates. He had fantastic chemistry with Matt Duchene in 2022 for this reason and while they struggled to repeat that last year, Forsberg still found a way to get on the scoresheet with a revolving door of linemates. His 42-goal campaign might have been an aberration, but at the end of the day the Preds will be happy with what they get out of Forsberg.

Ryan O’Reilly - C

Nashville shook up their forward corps this summer, shipping off veterans Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen and bringing in Ryan O’Reilly as their new centerpiece. Whether you’re a contending team or navigating a rebuild, O’Reilly is a good player to build your forward group around. He can handle the big minutes and the tougher matchups, which will make life easier for the Tommy Novaks of the roster. Nashville’s blue line will also benefit from him, as he acts like a third defenseman with how deep he plays in the zone and how good he is at starting breakouts. This along with his strength in making plays on his backhand are his calling cards. He has also made the most out of playing with some of the scraps in the St. Louis’ forward corps, as the more talented players were moved to more scoring lines. Last year he formed an excellent checking line with Josh Leivo and Brandon Saad. O’Reilly is the type of player whose line will usually dominate territorially even if they aren’t scoring a lot of goals, so this bodes well for what he can do in Nashville. Very high floor, but a lower ceiling than there used to be with him.

Tommy Novak - C

The former Minnesota Gopher might have been the best player in the second half of the season that you’ve never heard of (unless you’re a Nashville fan or a fantasy hockey player). Known primarily as a playmaker and a pass-first player, the 17 goals in 50 games Novak scored last year was one fewer than his career total in four years at college and more than he scored in any season in the AHL. It wasn’t the “playing out of the string” type of production either, as Nashville was fighting for a playoff spot in the second half and three of Novak’s goals were scored in overtime. He showed signs that he could be a good player during his first cup of coffee with the Preds. He has excellent hands and was very good at making safe plays to keep offensive zone shifts going. What changed last year was that he really started poaching for more offense and began shooting more. Some of that is from getting endless breakaway opportunities but he also worked his way into the slot to create his own shot instead of reverting to the point or passing it off to someone else. At 26, this was probably Novak’s last chance to prove he belongs in the NHL and to say he proved that is an understatement.

Gustav Nyquist - LW

Every team needs a player or two like Nyquist, a decent scoring forward who isn’t a top-liner but can keep up with your big dogs if you need someone to fill-in. Nyquist has that Swiss-Army Knife toolset where he can do just enough to help everyone his line without being the main driver of it, not being the first one on pucks, but usually being in the right spot to receive a pass or setup a give-and-go. Uses his stick well in the defensive zone and was a regular on Columbus’ aggressive penalty kill for years, scoring seven shorthanded goals in three years with Columbus. Had no real consistent linemates with the Jackets last year and didn’t see any action with Minnesota until the playoffs where he played on a line with Ryan Hartman. Doesn’t have the shot or the game-breaking skill to be the driver on his line, or a consistent offensive threat, but will pitch-in enough to help any line that he is on. Modern day utility player and a nice placeholder for the Preds.

Cody Glass - C

Spending all of 2021-22 in the AHL, Nashville made it a priority to fix Cody Glass’ development after getting him from Vegas. The former third overall pick had a rocky start in the NHL and his first full season with the Predators was a major step forward. Finding his way as a middle-six center, Glass seemed to find his niche as a goal-scorer and a net-front guy on the power play. Scoring six of his goals with the man advantage, Glass is more of the “goal/point vulture” mold right now, he hangs around the net most of his shifts and has slowly figured out the ins-and-outs of scoring a lot of dirty goals. He has terrific hands but slow feet, so this is a good way for him to make an NHL career. It makes him more of a secondary player on his line, as he doesn’t play with a lot of pace, or handle the puck much, but it’s also something you can work around since he will do the little things away from the puck. His defensive game was especially encouraging, always in the right spot in coverage to help generate easy exits. Great things were expected for Glass when Vegas took him with their first ever pick and a detour to Nashville seems to be just what he needed to get his career back on track.

Yakov Trenin - LW

Appropriately nicknamed “The Yak,” the Nashville winger is probably most known for being one of the only players to fight Zdeno Chara twice. What they might not know is that he’s become one of Nashville’s more reliable players since then. Scoring double-digit goals in back-to-back seasons, he found a home on what was dubbed “The Herd Line” by Preds fans. He was one of the straws that stirred the drink on that line because he is very direct in how he plays. He shoots the puck at every opportunity and will lay a shoulder into any player that is along the boards. The more skilled parts of his game showed out a little last year, carrying the puck into the zone more and surprising defenders with his puck-handling. He still doesn’t drift too far from his bread and butter, always hanging around or behind the net to set up shop in the offensive zone and being a nuisance to play against. Also, a fixture on Nashville’s penalty kill alongside Colton Sissons. Trenin should continue to be a regular middle-sixer for Nashville even with The Herd Line disassembled.

Denis Gurianov - RW

Dallas finally decided to cut bait with their former first round pick, sending him to Montreal in exchange for Evgenii Dadonov. Far removed from his 20-goal rookie campaign, Gurianov struggled to find the scoring touch after that and hasn’t found a niche in the other parts of the game. His last year in Dallas was his low point, with only two goals in 43 games. If you tuned into their games, you know it wasn’t for a lack of trying, as he averaged more shots per 60 minutes than almost any of their other forwards and the blistering one-timer is still there. Being able to get it on the net has been the issue and his game went from one-dimensional to zero-dimensional as a high-shot volume player who couldn’t score. A fresh start in Montreal helped for a pinch, scoring four goals in five games after the trade but they ultimately let him become a free agent. He brings some qualities that Nashville could use, especially as a triggerman for their second power play unit and someone who plays with a high-motor and will at least work hard in his minutes. It’s tough to say if he will get regular playing time with so many players from Milwaukee looking for full-time jobs too.

Colton Sissons - C

A hero from their 2017 Stanley Cup run, Sissons has been a mainstay in Nashville’s bottom-six for years, centering The Herd Line with Trenin and Jeannot. He was one of a few players that had their role increased last year due to injury, playing close to 19 minutes some nights and even getting some prolonged time with Filip Forsberg in the top-six at times. Sissons is typically the “next man up” for Nashville in these situations because of how reliable his game is as a defensive player and that he has the stamina to play bigger minutes if needed. Most of the time he has a pretty thankless role as the center who takes most of the defensive zone faceoffs and the main job is surviving the shift before even thinking about making a play with the puck. It’s a tough, but necessary role on most teams and you can do worse than Sissons. He usually finds a way to get to the 25–30-point range despite that, though. Last year was his highest goal total since 2019, as the extra ice-time allowed him to poach for more offense at times. He can also play the wing if needed, so should continue to be a fixture in Nashville’s lineup next year.

Phillip Tomasino - RW

After spending all of 2021-22 in the NHL, the former first round pick wasn’t called up to Nashville until February. This decision was met with the refrain of “it’s about time,” as he was a sleeper pick for some people last year. Not setting the world on fire but showing some flash as a playmaker and looking like he belonged in the NHL at the very least. His play down the stretch was more of the same, Tomasino getting more of a run in the top-six and showing some of that creativity that got him drafted so high. Why he was in the AHL for so long is tough to say. Either Nashville didn’t want to have one of their top prospects stuck as a checker or they felt his overall game needed more work. Regardless, it looks like he did enough to be on the opening night roster this year. He was a decent weapon on the second power play unit, setting up a lot of plays from the right faceoff circle and scoring a few “surprise” goals off deflections. The lack of goal-scoring and his spotty play-driving are legitimate concerns, but hopefully he will get a full-season to iron those out this time around.

Defense

Roman Josi - D

Following up a record-setting season is tough. Perhaps it’s even more difficult when someone on another team breaks your own record, which was the case for Nashville’s star defenseman. He was the first defenseman to top 90 points, something that hasn’t been done post-lockout, until Erik Karlsson scored 101-points this year. There wasn’t a lot that changed about his overall game this year except the puck went into the net less often, mainly on the power play where he had 13 fewer points. Josi was the same, roaming player he has always been, always looking to push for offense. Nashville’s forwards not scoring as many goals as they used to is what hurt his point total more than anything. The same passing plays he created in 2022 weren’t as freely available last year, so the points didn’t come as easily for him. The main difference for the Nashville captain this year was adjusting to a new partner in Ryan McDonagh, pairing him with another lefty for the first time in a while and someone who is a little tougher around the edges than Dante Fabbro. It made breakouts a little easier, as Josi didn’t have to go the full 200 feet to create offense and could get up in the play more with a steady partner back. Still projects to be the team’s best player for the upcoming season.

Tyson Barrie - D

Some players are a product of the situations they’re in and Tyson Barrie has been living his best life running the top of the umbrella of the Oilers power play. His vision and deception from the point made him a good fit for that spot, as he can do more than just distribute from the point and find the soft spots in the penalty kill. Nashville got to see glimpses of that during his audition with the team after the trade deadline. He’s also a decent goal-scoring threat for a defenseman, tallying 10 last season. He has some utility at 5-on-5 but was used primarily on the third pair during his final year with Edmonton, as he doesn’t handle forecheck pressure well and has trouble translating his strong puck-skills when the game gets quicker. Most of his value is attached to what he does on the power play, which was a lot with the Oilers. 54-percent of his points with Edmonton were with the man advantage. He could see a bigger role in Nashville but will have a tough time unseating Roman Josi as the team’s power play quarter back.

Ryan McDonagh - D

Few players deserved the “underrated” tag more than Ryan McDonagh in his prime. He did everything you want out of a top-pairing defenseman and could control 5-on-5 play better than almost anyone. As he has gotten older, he’s gotten less concerned with putting up points and more with taking care of his own zone first. He’s a strong skater still and will jump in for a splash play occasionally, but he’s not the one-man breakout he used to be. Pairing him with Josi made sense on paper, as McDonagh can still be effective with taking hits and killing the play along the boards so Josi can scoop the puck up, but there is only so much you can do as a defenseman playing this style. You’re making the first play, but everything else is out of your control, so the downside is you might have a season like McDonagh where you spend most of the time blocking shots and preventing damage in your own zone. There’s a role for these players, but it’s a taxing style on their bodies and McDonagh already has a lot of miles on his tires at 33-years old. His skating is still strong enough to keep him a viable option on the penalty kill and the top-four.

Alex Carrier - D

The young defenseman suffered two setbacks, first was having his season derailed by an injury, second was losing Mattias Ekholm, Carrier’s defense partner for most of his brief career. His game isn’t too different from top-pairing defensemen around the AHL or in other leagues, just needing a chance to finally get a chance in the AHL. He’s a good skater that uses his stick to disrupt plays without taking penalties and was a great fit for John Hynes’ system where the right defensemen step up in the neutral zone regularly. Very good with the puck even if it doesn’t translate to a lot of points, as exiting the zone with control is a strength of his. Could be in a tough roster situation this year with Nashville having four right-handed defensemen under contract and his regular partner now playing for another team. Mobility and willingness to play anywhere in the lineup should be enough to keep him a regular, although maybe with a different role depending on how the roster shakes out.

Goaltending

Juuse Saros - G

The Nashville Predators missing out on the postseason last year was hardly goaltender Juuse Saros’ fault. The undersized – but remarkably well-positioned and hard-to-shake – number one put up one of the league’s best performances last year, despite the raw numbers showcasing nothing more than an overworked (but better than average) starter on an underperforming team. No goaltender in the NHL made more saves above expected last year than he did, with the 28-year-old keeping his team not just in games, but close to the playoff hunt quite literally down to the bitter end. The Predators missed the postseason by a mere three points last year, and it’s hard to believe they would have been anywhere but the league basement without Saros’ steady presence in more than two-thirds of their games.

Of course, there’s only so long that the team can continue to trot out Saros for over sixty games a year. It’s hard to imagine they don’t want to split the workload more evenly, and there’s a chance that he’ll be able to take some breaths of relief with prospect Yaroslav Askarov looking more and more ready for regular NHL action. But ultimately. Saros is a smaller goaltender who has to rely on picture-perfect precision in his game to keep the team from backsliding; if they keep playing him with the kind of workload they’ve asked of him for the last few years, it’s hard to imagine it won’t start to show up in the form of fatigue errors before they’re ready to get Askarov into regular game action. The Predators have to find the balance between treating their current starter right and avoiding any kind of rush job for their goaltender of the future – and right now, they’re toeing that line a little too closely for comfort.

Projected starts: 60-65

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – NHL Player Profiles

Corey Sznajder – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 20:09:35 +0000

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 05: Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) skates during a timeout during the NHL game between the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators on March 5, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Filip Forsberg

It might surprise some folks that last year was only the third time Filip Forsberg eclipsed the 30-goal mark and the only season where he was a point-per-game player. Widely considered one of the league’s stars, it was always a struggle for him to have the point production that matched his talent. That changed in 2021. Forsberg had the golden touch, scoring on almost 20% of his shots, benefitting from Nashville playing more off the rush than in past years. For years, the Preds were a team that created off long, sustained possessions with Forsberg pulling the puck off the wall, using his great hands to create chances with minimal space. This was still part of Nashville’s game, but there was more of a direct approach with Forsberg this year. He attacked the net more frequently after entering the zone, taking more shots instead of looking and being selective. It made a lethal combination with Matt Duchene, as the two frequently set each other up on give-and-go plays. Forsberg is such a gifted player that he can play any style and be effective, but the rush-based approach did a lot for making him more of a game-breaker, giving Nashville a huge spark in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. His playmaking also came a long way, ranking as one of the best players in the league in assists on scoring chances. With goal-scoring on the rise, Forsberg is set to have another good year. Will it be the heights he reached last year when everything went right, or will he settle back into being the 25-30 goal guy he’s been for most of his career?

Nino Niederreiter

A player like Niederreiter is always going to be useful because even if he’s in a scoring drought, he is going to do something to help his line. He has the top-six skill with a fourth line mentality. He’s very smart with how he forechecks and disrupts plays without taking penalties and can keep pucks pinned below the goal-line for an entire shift. It made him a vital member of Carolina’s shutdown line with Jordan Staal last year, as he was the “skill guy” on the line, creating looks off the rush and being the first one on pucks to wear down defenders. The interesting thing about him is that while he’s productive, a lot of the goals he scores are of the “odd” variety. You’ll see a lot of bank shots off the goaltender or goals from impossible angles. Not many players will have back-to-back 20-goal seasons scoring goals like this, but that’s been the case for him. There’s a lot of different things Nashville can do with him. He would fit right in with Tanner Jeannot on the checking line, but he was moved around in Carolina before settling in on Staal’s wing, so he brings some versatility there. Special teams’ ice-time is the one thing to look for with him, as he produced with limited usage on the Carolina power play and didn’t kill penalties either. He could be more of a fixture on both in Nashville.

Matt Duchene

One year removed from being available in the expansion draft, Matt Duchene had the type of season Nashville fans were waiting for. It was his most productive season in his long NHL career and the first time he reached the 40-goal mark. Nashville changing their approach to more of a transition team and pairing him with Filip Forsberg was the main cause. He always created a lot of shots but would often find himself too close to the goaltender or at too weird of an angle to make any moves or use his great shot. Most of that is from the Preds expecting Duchene to drive his own line with other checkers instead of pairing him with another elite talent like Forsberg. Skill works with skill and the duo were unstoppable for the Preds, Duchene getting the full benefit of playing more off the rush and using his speed as a weapon more. He created less offense in volume, but the chance quality was at another level because of how much time and space he would have to shoot. This also applies to the power play because while he still played the net-front role, the Preds set him up with more diagonal passing plays, giving him space for one-timers at the side of the net instead of looking for rebounds and deflections. There is some concern on if Duchene can produce without Forsberg by his side, but the Preds likely won’t mess with a duo that gave them such great results last year. They figured out how to cater to their best players strengths, which is an encouraging sign for the team going forward.

Ryan Johansen

Johansen was another player who had a renaissance season in Nashville, reaching the 20-goal mark for the first time since his Columbus days, although his rebound season wasn’t talked about as much. His game isn’t as flashy as it used to be. Hips surgeries have impacted how much power he can get behind his stride and while his strength is still there, he isn’t the same player who can setup shop in the offensive zone like in the heyday of the JOFA Line. His hands, however, are still as strong as ever and you saw that with how great he was as a goal-scorer. Nashville set him up in a lot of ways from the bumper position on the power play, he might have been Josi’s favorite passing target with his precision on tip plays and how he could get himself open for one-timers. It’s a different look from his old days of quarterbacking the power play from the wall, but goal-scoring is where he was the most effective and it caught some teams off-guard. He still had more of a pass-first mindset, especially after getting bumped up to the Forsberg line, it just wasn’t as extreme as it was in previous season, and it was rare for him to be the one driving a line. Someone else had to set the table for Johansen to get into the zone or create a chance and it was up to him to make the final play. It worked last year, but it’s clear that he is more of a specialist than he was in previous years. Most players have to adapt and change their games as they get older, and Johansen is going through that right now.

Tanner Jeannot

It’s hard not to love watching Tanner Jeannot play. He is very easy to notice anytime Nashville is on because of how aggressive he is anytime the puck is in the offensive zone. He’s always the first one to deliver a big hit or get in on the forecheck, which is always going to be part of Nashville’s DNA. His 24 goals were a bonus with everything else he brought to the table, leading all rookies in that department. He scored a lot of “dirty” goals off deflections and rebounds where the puck took an odd bounce, or he found himself behind the defense. Jeannot had some very good offensive seasons in Moose Jaw, but not many had him pegged as a 20+ goal-scorer, especially in the role Nashville had him in. His line with Colton Sissons and Yakov Trenin played in more high-leverage situations as the season went on and Jeannot’s penchant for going to the net for tip plays made them more of a dual threat than just a line that forechecks. Repeating that next year might be tough, as his line didn’t create a lot of shots unless it was coming off Trenin’s stick and Jeannot was more of an opportunistic scorer than someone who drove play. Although Nashville will be happy if they got even half of what Jeannot produced last year with how good he is at being an agitator.

Mikael Granlund

Granlund is one of the tougher players to project on Nashville’s roster. He plays a lot of important minutes, which includes killing penalties and centering Forsberg/Duchene, but when you look at what he does on his own, it’s not much. He had another good season in terms of points, with 25% of them coming off secondary assists and was a mainstay on their top power play unit. It’s just that he’s more of a support player now and his production will mirror whoever his linemates are. If that’s Forsberg and Duchene again, he’s in for a good season. If he’s centering another line, he might go back to the 40–45-point player he was before. That’s not to say he’s a bad player, because he wears a lot of hats for Nashville and helps facilitate the rush offense for Duchene and Forsberg by doing most of the work away from the puck. His endurance and lower body strength make him a key part of the Preds but he kind of struggled against quicker opponents and made him more of a power play specialist than in years past. That said, he should be the 1C for Nashville unless someone else dethrones him.

Phillip Tomasino

The young winger had a solid rookie season in Nashville despite not having a clear role. His linemates were inconsistent with Nashville not trusting him on the second line just yet and the Jeannot line playing more third line minutes. Tomasino ended up getting the leftovers and he did surprisingly well with a rotating cast of linemates, producing more primary assists per 60 minutes than any other Nashville forward. He has the tools to make the jump to a top-six role, as he’s more of a shoot-first player despite the boxcar stats and has a deceptive release. He’s also a smooth skater and showed some ability to create off the rush, although it didn’t lead to many goals. Tomasino was pigeon-holed into more of a shoot-first role last year because of who his linemates were (Johansen, Cousins, Novak) and while he did fine, he was better as a playmaker in junior and the long stick he uses made it awkward for him to get the shot he wanted even if he was in good position. His passing was still a threat, but Nashville has a lot of similar forwards that they needed a finisher on his line. This will likely be the next step in his development. He had a good season with limited minutes and should be in line for a bigger role next year.

Eeli Tolvanen

While Tolvanen has struggled to be the force he was in junior, he has found a niche as a defensive-forward for Nashville, although it’s not always obvious when watching him play. He still has the bomb of a one-timer and shows flashes of high-end skill, but it’s been tough for him to produce at the NHL level even with decent minutes. However, he made himself an everyday NHLer by finding other ways to be productive. He was an excellent forechecker and was very good at using his stick to force turnovers, setting the table for the Jeannot line to follow it up with offensive zone shifts. Sometimes this is what you have to do if you’re skill isn’t producing results like you’d hope, and it showed some maturity in Tolvanen’s game. It could make him a nice fit with Nino Niederreiter in the middle-six or on the penalty kill if they want to use him there. That said, Nashville is hoping for more offense out of him if they’re going to continue to give him power play time. We’ve seen how good of a shooter he is in spurts and making his shot more of a threat is one thing the Preds can do to take Tolvanen’s game to the next level.

Yakov Trenin

You can take one look at the monstrous Yakov Trenin and have a good idea of how he plays. He is there to crash bodies, shoot the puck and be a general pain to play against. He was the catalyst of Nashville’s “Herd Line” with Jeannot and Sissons, usually the one taking most of the shots or hitting Jeannot for a deflection. It’s easy to forget that Trenin was a good goal-scorer at other levels, including fairly recently in the AHL, so his 17 goals weren’t totally out of left field. He shoots from everywhere in the offensive zone and isn’t a one-trick pony with taking empty calorie shots off the rush. He will go to the net and is skilled with getting deflections off point shots. It was just a perfect marriage of playing styles with him and Jeannot, as the duo spent a lot of time in the offensive zone and Trenin could play to his strengths more with playing a straight-line game and getting ga lot of shots on goal. He is the most likely member of The Herd Line to repeat his production from the past season.

DEFENSE

Roman Josi

The biggest catalyst of Nashville’s newfound offense was their best player, Roman Josi. The Norris runner-up was a few goalposts and mishits from being the first defenseman to reach 100 points since Brian Leetch. Better scoring from the forwards was part of it, but something else was a change in approach in how they used their star. Nashville tried to keep Josi out of the defensive zone as much as possible, sending him on the ice off opposing line-changes and having his partners retrieve the puck more, allowing Josi to get up in the play and create off the rush without expending as much energy. It also allowed him to play longer shifts in the offensive zone, which already catered to his strengths. He could treat five-on-five play like a power play and attack off the rush on more “re-load” type of plays against tired defenders rather than going the full-200 feet. Nashville already knows what they have in Josi, now they wanted to maximize how gifted he is with the puck rather than have him carry the entire defense on his back. Safe to say they got the result they wanted. It didn’t matter which forwards he was paired with because he can make anyone dangerous with how much attention he draws from defenders. Someone usually gets open and Josi is one of the best passing defensemen in the league. It was showcased even more on the power play, where he set career highs with 37 points and scored 11 goals, more than he has had in the past three years combined. Josi will get his offense, but it will be tough to replicate the gaudy point total he had this year, as so few defensemen have been able to replicate the type of season he had.

Mattias Ekholm

The workhorse of the Preds defense, Ekholm played more of a pure shutdown role than he ever has before. He started the bulk of his shifts in the defensive zone against top lines and did a lot of the heavy lifting when it came to limiting damage. There were few defensemen in the league who had more successful puck retrievals in the defensive zone, both to kickstart breakouts and to clear the zone. It was a bit of a thankless role, as Ekholm didn’t get to be up in the play much at all and his offense took a small hit. They were also very taxing minutes, and he doesn’t get enough credit for avoiding as many hits as he does because he’s so quick to make the first play after going back to get the puck. Killing other team’s forechecks is an underrated skill for a shutdown defenseman, as most are concerned with blocking shots and delivering hits. He fits the mold of a modern defenseman but doesn’t have the flashy plays that a Jaccob Slavin or Devon Toews, so he gets overlooked in that discussion. It also shouldn’t be overlooked that he took on these minutes alongside a rookie partner in Alex Carrier, who slowly picked up on some of Ekholm’s traits with protecting the puck from forecheckers to move it out of the zone. The downside is that this type of workload eventually catches up. Always playing on your heels, clearing pucks and swimming upstream has a trickle-down effect on the rest of your shifts if you’re not creating any offense. Ekholm managed to do well but it’s a tough role to play every year.

Dante Fabbro

Ending the previous year as a healthy scratch in the playoffs, Fabbro got his career back on track by solidifying himself as Roman Josi’s right-hand man. He had the less desirable job of the duo, going back to get most of the pucks and being the safety value while Josi did his usual roaming in the offensive zone. It had its perks. Fabbro got to play a little more on offense, utilizing the more skilled part of his game we saw at Boston U. Before then, he looked like a player who could eat a lot of minutes but not really do anything to shift the tides of the game. While that’s still somewhat true, Fabbro did show he can hang with the stars on the team, being a productive member of their top defense pair isn’t anything to scoff at. Especially since you’re going to deal with a lot of unpredictability with Josi as your partner. The most encouraging thing is that Fabbro translated some of his skills to the defensive side of the game, using some of his finesse to help start breakouts and using his skating to help get back to cover for Josi or defend entries. It’s exactly the type of thing you want to see with your young defensemen. Can he do it with a partner that isn’t a Norris runner-up? That remains to be seen.

GOALTENDING

Juuse Saros

In a perfect world, it’s hard to believe that the Nashville Predators would want to leave starter Juuse Saros to shoulder such a large chunk of the workload during the regular season. But thanks to the covid-19 league-wide hiccups and a slew of start-and-stops that left some of the league’s most storied veterans struggling to get themselves into top game shape, the 2022-23 season features a few too many open spots for tandem jobs and a few too many established names to fill them – which has left teams like Nashville to take gambles on available reclamation projects while hoping that starters like Saros can handle heavier volumes of work without fizzling out around the postseason.

The good news for Nashville is that Saros has been exactly what they hoped he would be, without suffering much in the way of growing pains as he adjusted to life without mentor Pekka Rinne sharing his crease. A structurally precise goaltender who tricks teams with his smaller stature and keeps them on their toes with surprisingly fast footwork and good pad reach, Saros has kept Nashville from plummeting once their giants hit a decline and left them facing down a likely-closed Stanley Cup window. What they might need to worry about, though, is just how healthy Saros can remain when holding down the fort every night – especially with a fairly unknown quantity behind him in fellow Finnish netminder Kevin Lankinen, who arrives fresh off a tumultuous handful of years with the Chicago Blackhawks. Lankinen’s speed and enthusiasm don’t necessarily compensate fully for the technical gaps in his game, particularly when it comes to his ability to adapt his play hinging out from the blue line – and Chicago’s complete lack of defensive structure left him with few good examples in the way of effective reading and reacting in the way of blue line systems. He has a lot of promise to his game, but a lot of bad habits that he’ll need to unlearn if Nashville hopes to utilize him as a quality backup option to tandem with Saros beyond this year.

Projected starts: 60-65

2021-22 NHL ROOKIES AND SECOND YEAR BREAKOUT CANDIDATES

Corey Sznajder — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 12:56:50 +0000

Rookies and Second Year Breakout Candidates

Training camp is the most exciting time of year for hockey fans. Development camp just ended, and prospects are fresh on your minds. You hold out hope that maybe, just maybe the kid you just watched tear it up in the preseason can force their way onto the roster. Rookie production is still the best way to shift your team’s projection in a cap world and it’s understandable for fans to be excited about prospects I camp. It’s not always a plug and play situation, though.

Most teams have their rosters set by now and at most, there are only two or three available spots for a rookie. Sometimes those are only depth minutes where they’re stuck on the fourth line to get their bearings in the NHL. There are always exceptions to this rule. You have rebuilding teams going emphasizing “youth movements” where rookies are going to get a lot of rope. Then there’s the high draft picks who are usually too good to keep off the roster and finally, there are teams who are just better at setting up rookies for success than others. There’s a lot of context that goes into what makes a rookie a Calder candidate and the team situation is arguably the most important factor. Do they have the right linemates for him? Are there enough spots open? Are there power play spots open?

Today, we’re going to look at which teams are going to be asking the most out of rookies, which players are walking into favorable situations and which teams have the toughest rosters to crack in the NHL.

The Tiers

Instead of doing the usual “rookies to watch” list, we’re going to put teams into different tiers based on how many top-nine forward spots or top-six defense spots are “open” in training camp and the talent available to them. This is a little subjective because it’s tough to separate out the biases from the coaching staff, but these are all based off CapFriendly’s depth charts and they players they have projected for top-nine/top-six spots vs. how many minutes they played per game last year. (For instance, a player like Isac Lundestrom would have his spot listed as “open” even though he is Anaheim’s first line left winger on Cap Friendly because he is still unproven at the NHL level with fewer than 100 games played and less than .5 points per game). Injuries to players are also taken into account when determining what roster spots are open, but we will get into that later.

Youth Movements/Sink or Swim

First, we’re going to look at the teams with the most holes on their roster, teams that finished near the bottom of the standings last year and are expecting their younger players to hold spots high in the lineup. These aren’t always the best situation to walk into because teams aren’t going to hit on all of their draft picks and will often ask too much out of players who just aren’t ready. Players who are talented enough will benefit long-term from the number of minutes and puck touches they’ll get on these teams, though. Think of Jack Hughes in his first year with the Devils. The production wasn’t there, but you could see his confidence with the puck and how the team ran the offense through him last year. He is poised to take a big step this season now with the talent around him improving.

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 10: Anaheim Ducks Left Wing Trevor Zegras (46) in action during a game against the Los Angeles Kings played on March 10, 2021 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire)

Anaheim

The Ducks went this route with most of their forward prospects like Max Jones and Sam Steel getting regular playing time and struggling to make much of an impact at the NHL level. The one exception was Maxime Comtois, who led the team in goals and looked like a legit offensive threat when the puck was below the faceoff circles. They have much bigger aspirations for their prized center prospect Trevor Zegras, likely the team’s second line center out of camp.

Zegras is in a unique situation compared to other rookies because he got a head start with his 24-game stint last year and formed a nice line with Comtois and Troy Terry when he was moved to center. The three only played seven games together, but they were effective, and it at least gives the Ducks a baseline to work on where to play Zegras on Opening Night. He is likely in the “talent wins out” class of young players because even though he didn’t produce points, he did enough to show he belonged in the NHL at 19 years old.

Zegras was above average at producing shots, one of the best players on the Ducks at creating high danger chances and showed versatility by both being effective off the rush and off cycles. All things that should make him an effective NHLer for a very long time, especially when you consider how hard it was for the Ducks to create any offense off the rush last year. It also helps that his linemates play complementary styles, Comtois being one of the most underrated netfront players in the league and Terry being very effective at creating off the rush.

It’s tough to call Terry a breakout player, seeing how he’s already 24 years old with 148 games of experience, but he should see his point totals see a big improvement if he can start finishing more chances, as he’s going to get plenty of opportunity with Zegras. The same can be said for most of the Ducks young core with most of their top-nine consisting of players under 25, although it’s getting tough to see any future stars in the likes of Steel, Jones and Lundestrom at this point. Zegras taking over and becoming the star Anaheim hopes he can be could cause a ripple effect for some of these players, which is what makes the Ducks an interesting spot for rookies.

With the exception of Zegras and Jamie Drysdale on defense, their more talented players are probably too young for full-time roles, but the team has a lot of spots open with their previous wave of prospects being on their last legs and that could lead to there being more spots open later in the year as opposed to the three or four spots they have open at camp now. They are the one team giving their rookies the most high leverage spots with Zegras and Drysdale, though.

Buffalo

It’s blank canvas in Buffalo as they enter yet another rebuild. Their roster is largely unproven but there aren’t many true rookies expected to make camp. Instead, it’s a lot of players who are still young but have posted very underwhelming results in their brief NHL careers. The Casey Mittelstadts and Henri Jokiharjus of the world. Even Rasmus Dahlin is only 21 years old and has yet to make the impact the Sabres hoped he would when they took him first overall. With Owen Power and Ryan Johnson both in the NCAA this year, Buffalo’s rookie contributions are coming from someone a little off-the-board like a Jack Quinn or maybe goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who should have a shot to make the team with Craig Anderson and Aaron Dell being the only competition.

Buffalo’s main source of hope is going to be tied to whatever progressions Dylan Cozens makes in his second year. The former 7^th overall pick struggled to score at the NHL level in his first year, but there were some encouraging underlying numbers.

He could create off the rush, which is saying a lot when the only player who could do that on Buffalo last year was Taylor Hall, and while he’s not going to take over for Jack Eichel, he should be prepared to get a lot of puck touches because he is the team’s most talented center as of right now. Buffalo likely won’t see the fruits of this for another few years when they get through this rebuild but building up Cozens’ confidence by getting him reps high in the lineup is going to be a priority for them.

Columbus

Even before the injury to Max Domi, the door was open for some younger players to take the reins in Columbus. Adam Boqvist isn’t a rookie, but if they’re looking for someone to fill Seth Jones’ spot on the power play at a low-cost, he could be their best option. His calling card is passing and that could help them get more out of Patrik Laine on the power play, as a righty getting him the puck with pace is key to that 1-3-1 setup working. Filling those shoes at 5v5 is going to be a tougher task that the Jackets might have to fill by-committee. Asking anyone to play the 24-26 minutes Jones averaged a night is tough for anyone, let alone a rookie, but Boqvist is the best skater out of their younger group so he might get first dibs at filling this void.

The number of power play guys departing is what makes Columbus an attractive spot for rookies, although Voracek and Nyquist should slide into those roles. There’s still room for someone like Liam Foudy or Yegor Chinakhov to take one of those spots and maybe push someone like Sean Kuraly or Boone Jenner down the lineup if they can hang at 5v5. Other second year defensemen like Jake Bean and Andrew Peeke are also likely playing big minutes for most of the year and it will be trial by fire to see how much they can handle at the NHL level. Bean’s struggled with decision making and making plays under pressure when he had to play beyond the third pair in Carolina, but he should get plenty of chances to work through this with the Jackets, as they’re going through a transition year.

VANCOUVER, BC - APRIL 22: Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto (57) skates up ice during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on April 22, 2021 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

Ottawa

It’s the second year of the youth movement in Ottawa and progression is expected from young forwards like Josh Norris and Tim Stutzle, who will likely be the team’s main scoring. The main rookie to watch is 2019 second round pick Shane Pinto, who played 12 games with the Sens last year. DJ Smith liked him enough to use him on the penalty kill in a few games and his aggressive tendencies there could make him a nice fit with speedster Alex Formenton or maybe Nick Paul in a full-time role. Ottawa’s middle-six center spots aren’t totally up for grabs with Chris Tierney and Colin White in the mix, but both players are coming off down years and Pinto could provide more upside here. He’s in a decent spot for success with how many young players are in the mix with the Sens, although point production might be hard to come by if he’s centering the third line.

Also, in the “not a rookie, but young enough to take a big step” class is Erik Brannstrom. The 22-year-old posted modest results in lower-leverage role last year, paying about 16-17 minutes a night. He’s a very active defender, often challenging forwards before they even get to the blue line and that’s going to result in some growing pains because more talented forwards are going to be able to weave around you if you’re too aggressive. Other smaller defenders like Matt Grzelcyk have had to go through this too and Brannstrom is similar with how his skating and puck skills are going to be what keeps him around even if it doesn’t result in points. A second play spot along with power play time should be open to him from the start of October.

Making the Cut

In this tier, we’re going to look at teams who have their roster set but have a high-leverage spot open for a rookie or young player to take advantage of. Some of these are due to injuries (i.e. Philadelphia losing Kevin Hayes), but other teams like the Rangers and Kings have kept spots open for their younger players expecting them to take the next step. Like the last tier, we’re looking for top-nine forward spots, open power play spots or anywhere in the top-six on defense.

NYR – Vitali Kravtsov, second line RWer

The Pavel Buchnevich trade freed up some cap space for the Rangers down the line, but it also left a gaping hole at the top of their lineup. A breakout year from Kaapo Kakko should cover up some of this, but another player expected to take a leap is Vitali Kravtsov. The ninth overall pick from 2018 didn’t have a great start to his NHL career, recording only four points in 20 games in a depth role. More is expected from him this year and he showed a little of why he can be a decent Buchnevich replacement.

Kravtsov’s boxcar numbers might not have been good, but he did show some very good playmaking ability on the Rangers third line and more of those passes should result in goals now that he’s slated to play higher in the lineup. It’s tough to say if he’s ready to carry the mail on a line because most of his offense came off sequences where the Rangers had sustained possession rather than creating off the rush. Does he have the legs to create on his own or does someone need to do the work in the neutral zone for him? That’s something the Rangers are going to find out next year. Regardless, the opportunity is his to lose, including power play time.

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 30: Los Angeles Kings center Quinton Byfield (55) in action during a game against the Anaheim Ducks played on April 30, 2021 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire)

Los Angeles – Quinton Byfield, entire second power play unit

The Kings are in an interesting spot because they’re rebuilding and have a roster where the top-six spots are taken by veterans. Is there a spot for their second overall pick Quinton Byfield? There is, but it might come at the expense of Gabriel Vilardi, another player finding his way in the league. The Kings are in a position where they can shelter younger players with Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault taking most of the defensive minutes, but there aren’t many open top-nine spots as of right now.

The good news is that LA has to replace basically their entire second power play unit with Jeff Carter gone and most of the other players not producing much there. This creates a pathway for Byfield (and possibly Arthur Kaliyev at netfront) to get their feet wet in the league and get more puck touches. Also, worth noting that while LA’s top power play unit was quietly one of the best in the league, it shouldn’t take much for Byfield to slide into Alex Iafallo or Dustin Brown’s spot if he is as good as advertised. Based on his AHL production, it should take long to get adjusted, it’s just going to be a challenge for LA to find a spot for him, although he is the type of player who can be “too good” to send back down or play on the fourth line.

The same can be said for Alex Turcotte and most of LA’s other forwards that could be stuck in the AHL to start the year. It’s possible that they could push someone like Trevor Moore or Andreas Athanasiou down the lineup, but it will take some roster maneuvering from the Kings to get all of these kids ice-time. Byfield is likely the one at the top of the list for obvious reasons.

NYI – Oliver Wahlstrom, 1^st line RWer/Noah Dobson, 2RD

The Islanders have exactly two roster spots open and they’re both huge opportunities for second year players. The first is replacing Jordan Eberle on Mathew Barzal’s line, which could be a perfect spot for second year player Oliver Wahlstrom to slide into. He had a solid rookie campaign with 12 goals in 44 games but playing on Barzal’s wing is a chance for him to really put up some numbers. Barzal is one of the best playmakers in the game and Wahlstrom’s calling card so far is that he’s a shot machine who is very good at creating rebound chances. With how much the Isles shoot from the point and Eberle’s minutes needing to be replaced, Wahlstrom could find himself in a spot to put up 20+ goals.

Speaking of point shots, there’s also an opportunity for Noah Dobson to become more than just a third pair guy for the Isles with Nick Leddy out of the picture. The recent signing of Zdeno Chara WILL MAKE IT tough for him to be a direct replacement, but neither Chara or Scott Mayfield brings the puck rushing and offensive skills that Leddy was known for. This is where Dobson can slide in, most notably on the power play. He will probably be asked to play more of a simple game, as it’s tough to imagine him going coast-to-coast like Leddy did, but he will get plenty of opportunities to tee off from the point and maybe use his vision to create from there a little more. The Isles don’t project to have much offense form their blue line, so there’s an opening for Dobson to become more of an integral player instead of just a depth piece.

TBL – Alex Barre-Boulet, 2^nd/3^rd line winger

An undrafted player who has done nothing but score goals in the AHL, Barre-Boulet will get a chance to stick full-time this year. He got an audition as Brayden Point’s winger for 15 games last year and got plenty of chances to show his calling card, shooting the puck every chance he got. He might have to work a little more for his opportunities this year, likely starting on the fourth line, but he has a chance to move up in the lineup with Tampa needing to replace their entire third line and second power play unit from last year.

NSH – Alexandre Carrier, top-four RD

An underrated storyline during Nashville’s run to the playoffs was the emergence of Alexandre Carrier as a top-four defenseman. He played well enough to push Dante Fabbro out of a lineup spot once the team got healthy and with Ryan Ellis gone, the door is open for Carrier to be Josi’s running mate this year. A solid puck-mover and offensive defenseman in the AHL, it will be tough for Carrier to carry over that production. However, he showed that he can do a lot of the little things to stick around at the NHL level. Using his skating to defend the line and keep pucks out of the Nashville zone, he was a good compliment to Josi and one of Nashville’s better defenders.

The one caveat is that this is only 19 games and sustaining it over a full-season is another challenge. Carrier’s play from last year gives him a slight inside edge for this roster spot, though.

MTL – Cole Caufield, 1^ST Line RW

The Canadiens playoff run from last year have all but guaranteed Caufield a spot on the top line. That’s not to say the Habs don’t have other options but with the exception of Brendan Gallagher, it’s hard to see any of the other wingers being able to do what Caufield can. He’s already shown to have a complementary skillset for Nick Suzuki, being a shoot-first player who can trail him off the rush and create chances from in-tight. He scored only four goals in 20 games in the playoffs, but it’s hard to argue that his line wasn’t a threat to strike off the rush whenever they were on. Caufield is likely starting this season in the same spot and is an early favorite to win the Calder based on his projected ice-time.

ST. PAUL, MN - JANUARY 31: Colorado Avalanche Defenceman Bowen Byram (4) skates with the puck during an NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche on January 31, 2021, at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

Colorado – Bowen Byram 2LD, Alex Newhook, top-nine forward

With Ryan Graves traded and Devon Toews recovering from shoulder surgery, there’s a real opportunity for the former 4^th overall pick Bowen Byram to standout. Colorado has been a place where defenseman have had career seasons across the board the past couple of years, so it’s a favorable situation or Byram to walk into, especially when considering the forward lines he will be playing behind. Injuries kept him from sticking around last year, so it will be interesting to see how he does in the top-four until Toews gets back. Can he be a building block for the Avs or is he more?

The same can be said for Alex Newhook, another former first round pick expected to break into a full-time role. His is a little more carved out, as the Avs are insulated well at center and he will likely be the third line pivot. The one caveat is that it might be tough for him to put up points depending on who his linemates are. Tyson Jost and JT Compher are good players, but they’ve never been huge point producers. Neither has Val Nichushkin or most of the Avs depth forwards. This will change drastically if he gets Andre Burakovsky as his linemate, though. It’s easy to see him succeeding but being a Calder candidate might depend on how the Avs lines shake out.

Edmonton – Evan Bouchard

If the Oilers weren’t currently employing Tyson Barrie, it would be easy to peg Evan Bouchard as a Calder favorite because he would be getting those power play minutes. The 21-year-old hasn’t quite earned the trust of the coaching staff yet, but when he was in the lineup, he showed that he can create offense, never hesitating to shoot the puck from the point and injecting some life into the bottom-half of the Oilers roster. There’s a slightly easier path for Bouchard to earn a full-time job this year, as he’s likely the best puck-mover the Oilers have in their reconstructed second and third pairs. He is a stealth Calder candidate in the event of an injury to Barrie or Duncan Keith.

Philadelphia – Morgan Frost 2C/3C

Coming off a lost season due to a dislocated shoulder, Morgan Frost has a chance to hit the reset button filling in for an injured Kevin Hayes. The former Greyhound showed some flashes in his first cup of coffee with the Flyers, centering Giroux and Konecny and showing some of the creative offensive instincts that got him drafted in the first round. He was a plus in just about every category except actually finishing chances, which should hopefully come with time.

What makes a prospect like Frost so interesting to follow is most of his offense comes out of “nothing” plays where he doesn’t need to be setup or have a lot of open ice. He proved to be very good at recovering pucks, taking creative routes to the front of the net and quickly making plays to the net to catch defenders off-guard. It didn’t result in as many points as it should have, but the talent is hard to ignore with him. Two years later, he should get plenty of opportunities to earn a spot in the Flyers top-nine.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Nashville Predators Top 20 Prospects

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 15:44:25 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Nashville Predators prospects for the 2020-21 season. You can read an organizational assessment prior to the draft in Ryan Wagman's article found here. Following the draft we provided a review on each teams performance based on our rankings found here.

Yaroslav Askarov, G (11^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Askarov is best known for his show-stopping international play. Beyond those intermittent two week runs, his play last year in the VHL was among the best for any teenaged netminder in the league’s history. More importantly, he has the skills to back up his gaudy stats. Starting off with unparalleled athleticism, his post-to-post movement is explosive, and his skating ability also allows him to play aggressively, telescoping out of his crease to cut down angles from long range shots. His athleticism also shows when forced to scramble when the play gets too hairy near his crease. Unlike some other recent highly athletic goalie prospects (e.g. Tyler Parsons), Askarov’s game is also technically sound. He plays a classic butterfly style and can cover both the upper and lower quadrants of the net. He sometimes takes a half second or so too long to get his feet set, giving quick shooting opponents a chance to catch him unprepared, but that should be coachable with time. He also excels in his reads and anticipation and is in position before the shot is made. He is calm and poised, handles traffic well, and never seems to lose the puck, avoiding big, juicy rebounds. – RW

Philip Tomasino, C (24^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Tomasino’s biggest strength remains his play in transition. His explosiveness and ability to protect the puck and process at full speed make him so difficult to stop as he gains speed through the neutral zone. This dominance as an attacker was flashed as a draft eligible player, but an increase in confidence and strength made him a more consistent player. With that added strength came an increased ability to maintain possession through contact and to prolong possession deep in the offensive zone. His effort and engagement level without the puck really improved. When you add it all up, you have a pretty dominant offensive player. Moving forward, Tomasino will look to continue to improve his play as a defensive forward, using his speed to be a difference maker as a forechecker and backchecker. While another year in the OHL is likely, Tomasino has an outside chance of cracking the Predators. He projects as a top six forward who can be a go-to contributor for Nashville and one of the team’s highest scoring players. – BO

Egor Afanasyev, RW/C (45^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

While consistency is an issue at times, and his game is far from perfect, Afanasyev demonstrates a high level of skill and confidence as a goal scorer. He is an extremely aggressive shooter, who is always looking to get the puck, or himself, to the net. He generates considerable velocity on his wrist shot and the ability to beat goalies clean, even from distance. He shoots while in full stride, with the ability to generate his own scoring chances by driving wide. With quick hands, Afanasyev does well in the offensive zone to protect the puck and will challenge defenders for open space. Outside of his goal scoring ability and shot generation tendencies, he needs to round off his game. His decision making with the puck requires fine tuning as turnovers can be an issue when he takes his time. Additionally, he struggles as a three-zone player and can have a tendency to float. He is not currently a play driver and is rarely used for zone entries. Afanasyev has the size and skill set to be a goal scoring, top six forward at the NHL level, if he can play with greater consistency. – BO

Eeli Tolvanen, LW (30^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Tolvanen has been somewhat of a disappointment since coming to the AHL two seasons ago. Expected to jump directly to Nashville upon coming stateside, his goal-scoring has instead flattened out. That said, he still has quite a bit of promise and has improved in many aspects other than scoring, that are suggestive of his ability to provide value in the future. Having lost 10 pounds, he has greatly increased his top speed and acceleration, becoming more dynamic with the puck on his stick. His play away from the puck has gotten better as well, with more shot blocks and better play against the boards on defense. He has rounded out his game to where he is not entirely useless without scoring, which will help earn his spot in the lineup, even in a bottom six role. The youngest player on a stacked Milwaukee team last year, Tolvanen might not be a superstar at the highest level, but he can be a high-octane second-line scorer and first-power play triggerman if he finds confidence in the AHL next season, even if the hype has worn off. - TD

Rem Pitlick, C (76^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 4)

Pitlick made a big splash in his inaugural professional season with his energy, pacing, and shooting ability allowing him to shine. A terrific puck-pursuit hybrid forward, the 23-year-old boasts high-grade speed that complements his aggressive, relentless forechecking without the puck. He can also be a dynamic puck-handler with his agility and hand speed. More of a shooter than a facilitator, he likes to set up in the slot or faceoff circle to let loose a quickly-released slap shot or an accurate, hard wrister, but he can also slow down the game in the offensive zone and find his teammates at a respectable level. Responsible in his own zone, he has displayed the maturity and mistake-free defensive game that would help his potential to play a three-zone game. The only genuine knock on him is his size, and at 5-10”, he has shown a lack of strength around the boards. His future role as middle six forechecker with scoring potential is fast approaching, and he is arguably NHL-ready at this point. – TD

Luke Evangelista, RW (42^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Evangelista broke out in a big way last year. Utilized as a support winger in London’s top six, he showed that he can be versatile while complementing some of the Knights’ older skilled players like Connor McMichael and Liam Foudy. Evangelista excels playing down low, outworking larger defenders to win puck battles, but also possessing the hands, creativity, and vision to generate scoring chances coming off the wall. He protects the puck well and works equally well in transition as he does grinding it out, attacking the middle of the ice. He has also proven an ability to be the primary puck carrier. It is highly likely that he is a much more skilled player than he was able to show last year, which he flashed when given the responsibility. A well-rounded player who does everything well, Evangelist may be the next London forward, after the likes of the aforementioned McMichael, as well as Alex Formenton and Christian Dvorak, who explodes in his first post-draft season. – BO

David Farrance, D (92^nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Farrance is an explosive offensive defenseman who has already proven to be a draft day steal before even setting foot on professional ice. After a slow start to his collegiate career, he ended up leading the country in scoring by defensemen in his junior season. For his efforts, he was named to the All-American first team, New England’s best defenseman, and was a Hobey Baker finalist. Farrance is an extreme offensive threat. His speed is blistering, and he can blow past defenders easily, one aspect that makes him so dangerous. He played on his team’s first power play unit and is an excellent asset on the man-advantage because of his ability to cycle the puck. He is almost impossible to contain in the offensive zone. He sees the ice very well and is capable of making good plays in difficult situations. He isn’t exactly small but is more of a finesse player than a physical player, even if he is not afraid to use his body. He also has really soft hands and the puck seems to float on his stick. He projects to be at least on a second line pairing at the highest level. - JS

Juuso Parssinen, LW (210^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Parssinen had an excellent season with TPS in both the U20 league and in Liiga. He was promoted to the Liiga team in December. He was one of the few bright spots on a poor TPS team that missed the playoffs. He seemingly gained confidence and made strides as the season progressed. He is a competitive, sizeable center who plays a strong two-way game. He is dependable on both sides of the puck, has good vision and displays awareness. A good playmaker with quality passing skills and swift hands to carry the puck up the ice, he can make flashy plays and has an accurate wrist shot. He can be utilized on special teams. While he does not have blazing speed, he reads the game well and knows where to go to be effective. Parssinen fell all the way to the late seventh round in the 2019 draft, possibly due to injury concerns. Since the draft, his progress has made the Predators look very smart. He could be a steal of a draft pick when all is said and done. - MB

Yakov Trenin, LW (55^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 7)

A second-round pick in the stacked 2015 NHL Draft, Trenin’s development up until the most recent pro season had been largely disappointing. The Chelyabinsk native dazzled in the QMJHL in his draft year, but failed to equal that production in with AHL Milwaukee, until his transformative 2019-20 campaign. The toolkit has always been interesting: power forward with blazing fast hands and creative ways of finding angles for shots, he also found confidence and assertiveness for the first time as a top-six centerman with the Admirals last season. Excelling in breaking down defenses and making plays within and when entering the offensive zone, he is deadly at even strength as an independent contractor who consistently creates offensive chances for himself and by himself. Physically, he is difficult to take off the puck and has superb momentum with his body. While he is not particularly quick, he is a decent enough skater to be a depth scorer in the NHL, although he doesn’t seem to be a factor defensively. He will need to back last season up with another in the AHL, especially as he was not all too effective in his NHL run, but he has made a name for himself. - TD

Connor Ingram, G (Trade: Jun. 14, 2019. Originally: 88^th overall, 2016 [Tampa Bay]. Previous ranking: 8)

The Predators have not needed a transition in goal for more than a decade, but Pekka Rinne’s decline and aging curve, as well as Juuse Saros’ struggles as the primary netminder, have led to questions about who is ready to contribute from the Predators’ prospect pipeline, and Ingram has entered the discussion as the most likely answer. Picked up for a mere seventh-round pick in 2021 after a publicized fallout with Tampa Bay, Ingram shined in his first season in the Nashville farm system, representing Milwaukee in the AHL All-Star Game and placing third among qualified goalies in GAA and save percentage. What the 6-1” netminder lacks in size and utility, he more than makes up for in technical refinement and athleticism. The highly skilled goalie has quick feet, guards post-to-post well, and leverages his lack of size by playing primarily at the lip of the crease to maximize coverage. He does not often overplay pucks or overreact to defensive breakdowns in front of him and makes the saves he needs to. I wouldn’t expect Ingram to immediately overtake Rinne, a fan favorite deserving of loyalty from the franchise, but the time will come soon with more seasoning in the AHL. – TD

Alexandre Carrier, D (115^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 9)

In an organization with less blueline depth than the Predators, Carrier would already be a consistent presence on the NHL depth chart. This is a credit to Nashville’s incredible two-way forces on defense rather than a knock on Carrier, who himself is a serviceable depth blueline prospect with an improving offensive game. On pace to set a career high in points before the AHL’s pause and eventual cancellation, Carrier was the most lethal offensive defenseman on the Admirals, the team with the best record in the league in 2019-20. An impressive puck-mover who has started to use his improving skating speed more to impact things offensively, the 23-year-old is an intelligent passer and a reliable option to move the puck out of the defensive zone and through center. Smart and with a long stick, his gaps close fast, and he generally plays opposing forwards against the boards rather than letting them get inside position. A power play quarterback, he can stand to improve his shot and his ability to pass through traffic. He is a near fully ready bottom-four blueliner who can contribute in a multitude of ways. - TD

Marc Del Gaizo, D (109^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Del Gaizo is an offensive defenseman who spent two years in the USHL and in 2017-18 led all league defensemen in goals scored. He then joined UMass, where he helped send the Minutemen to a national championship game — literally, as he led all freshman on the team in scoring and he potted the game-winning goal in the 2019 national semifinal game. Del Gaizo was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team for his efforts. He has a quick and accurate shot and his slapshot is especially hard. His passes are direct, and he handles the puck well. Not only can he contribute offensively, but he has a calm demeanor on the backcheck. He is still raw but has the tools to become a lower-pairing defenseman at this highest level, but if anything holds him back, it is his combination of below average size and average, at best, skating. He will need to prove that he is more than a tweener. - JS

Jeremy Davies, D (Trade: Jun 22, 2019. Originally: 192^nd overall, 2016 [New Jersey]. Previous ranking: 11)

Acquired in the offseason’s big-news P.K. Subban trade, Davies brings to the Nashville system a game stylistically similar to the 2013 Norris Trophy winner. Highly aggressive with the puck and capable of pushing offense from the blueline out, he shows flashes of elite-level vision and passing at times and was one of the best puck-movers in the NCAA for three years. His 5-11” frame should be a detriment for someone as physical as he is, but his upper-body strength and willingness to engage with his body compensates for a lack of size. His hockey sense on offense also allows him to be a useful defender, anticipating the movement of opposing forwards and keeping them in front of him most times. He can be prone to a turnover, a side effect of a risky offensive defenseman, but his puck play is generally good. His skating looks poor against AHL competition though, and at 23 with years of high-level hockey already behind him, we can’t be confident his speed and overall mobility will improve. Regardless, he is a solid depth defense prospect with some promising offensive skill. – TD

Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, LW (202^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Passed over in his first draft year, when he was a feisty energy player with a strong shot, Fontaine went back to the USHL and turned up the skill. His path to a successful career is still likely to be trying to mold his game after Brad Marchand (small pest with skill), but this year he showed more and more that the skill was there in abundance. The Northeastern commit is a solid puck handler who can skate the puck through a crowd towards the danger zone. Additionally, his shot was among the best in the USHL, giving him the ability to score from anywhere in the offensive zone. His energy level is evident on both sides of the puck as well. He reads the game well and can be used in all roles and situations, with his chippiness rarely crossing the line to callable infractions. A fun, fun player to watch, Fontaine ability to adapt to the NCAA will tell us how much of his improvements from last year are sustainable. – RW

Grant Mismash, C (61^st overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

In the introduction to the Nashville section, I mentioned players with diminished expectations without exactly being busts. I had Mismash in mind when crafting that sentence. Three years after being drafted, all spent in a top collegiate program in North Dakota and Mismash is seemingly no closer to realizing his potential today than he was with the USNTDP, lighting up the WU18 tournament before being drafted. The versatile forward has seen his point totals fluctuate from 22 to 10 to 20 in three years with the Fighting Hawks. If you catch him on the right day, he plays with positive, disruptive energy. He can demonstrate soft hands and still flashes the ability to take over a shift with skill and decisiveness. He simply doesn’t do that often enough. As of this writing, Mismash is expected to return to North Dakota for a senior season, before he forces Nashville to offer him a contract or lose his rights. He still has the potential to be a bottom-line contributor. - RW

Jachym Kondelik, C (111^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Kondelik played his youth hockey in the Czech Republic before heading to the U.S. to play in the USHL. He represented his country in international play in five of the last six years, including in the 2020 World Junior Championship. Kondelik was on the Ivan Hlinka Memorial championship team in 2015-16 and named a top three Czech player in the 2017 U-18 World Junior Championship. He has made an impact at UConn over the past two years, contributing offensively and defensively. Kondelik isn’t a prolific scorer, but he is a solid power forward. He is a good skater especially considering his size (6-7”) and can motor up the ice. He sees the ice well and makes direct passes and feeds in difficult positions and through traffic. He is not the shiftiest, but he can still buy time and space for himself. Kondelik is also good at protecting the puck. He has bottom six upside, and his size will win him multiple chances to achieve it. - JS

Spencer Stastney, D (131^stoverall, 2018. Previous ranking: 14)

Often overshadowed on his USNTDP blueline, competing with the likes of K’Andre Miller, Mattias Samuelsson, and Bode Wilde, Stastney has nevertheless impressed scouts with his development through two seasons with Notre Dame. There is not a lot of flash in his game, but he is a fantastic skater and managed to up his scoring from four points as a freshman to 20 in a truncated sophomore season, while also representing the US at the WJC. As impressive as his added offensive punch was, the key to Stastney’s game is continuing to defend well without any real semblance of a physical game. Small and slight, he comes by the lack of physicality honestly, but he has thus far made up for it with tight coverage, good one-on-one tracking ability and heady clock management. Stastney might be able to contribute to a second power play unit at a higher level but represents a good organizational asset even if he just maxes out as a safe third pairing defender with only even strength duties. - RW

Patrick Harper, C (138^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 15)

Over the years, Harper has emerged as a steady and consistent player. While playing prep school hockey at Avon Old Farms, he filled in for a few games with the USNTDP U-17 team, and later with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. He burst onto the scene at Boston University as a freshman, wowing with his scoring ability. He was injured in his sophomore year and missed nearly half the season but had rebounded by his senior year. Harper represented the U.S. in the World Junior Championship in both his freshman and sophomore season, before his injury troubles, and was a part of the gold medal squad in the former season. Harper is very fast, which is a boon offensively but also defensively as he has no issues backchecking. He also appeared on the team’s first power play unit. At 5-7” he is small but is still able to effectively avoid opponents. He also has good hockey sense. The fifth-round pick opted to sign with Nashville despite an option to become a free agent following graduation and will face his next challenge next season, in the AHL. – JS

Adam Wilsby, D (101^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A late bloomer, Wilsby finally did enough in his third year of draft eligibility after spending the bulk of his season playing senior hockey in Sweden’s second tier, putting up fantastic offensive numbers (tied for fourth in points among blueliners). He has an average build and is a strong four-way skater, more now than when he first became eligible, thanks to an improved physique. He is also a solid puck mover and has proven more than competent at quarterbacking the power play, although he does not have a big point shot. He has shown to be reliable in all facets of the game thanks to good play reading and defensive awareness and may continue to improve off the puck as he grows accustomed to his matured build. Because of the well-rounded nature of his overall game, Wilsby might have more of a chance to avoid the “tweener” tag than some of the other blueliners on the back half of this list. – RW

Semyon Chistyakov, D (117^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

In his first post draft campaign, Chistyakov played a considerably more assertive game when his team had the puck, imposing his will far more often in the offensive zone. He has the requisite skating ability, puck moving instincts, all tied together by a sound hockey brain, helping him make the most of what he has. His undersized frame may yet hold him back, but it has not done so yet, and he has been known to play aggressively from time to time. He also tries to overcome the size disadvantage by using a quick defensive stick to push pucks away before the pay gets too hairy for him. If the early goings of this season are anything to judge by, Chistyakov seems to have skipped the VHL, going right from the MHL (Russian juniors) to the KHL, playing on a bottom pairing with a bit of power play time thrown in. His outlook is still shrouded in mystery, but Chistyakov is heading in the right direction. - RW

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 23

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 18:20:12 +0000

Nashville Predators

Always a strong team, but rarely a world beater, Nashville’s window may be closing. In the three years previous to the current one, the Predators made it to a Stanley Cup Final, won the President’s Trophy, and won the Central Division, respectively. The Stanley Cup Final year was the first, and still the only, time the team has gotten past the second round of the playoffs. This year they missed the first round entirley, losing to Arizona in the play-in round three games to one

Thankfully, even through a run in which they made the playoffs in eight of the past ten seasons, the team generally kept a hold of its draft picks. A confluence of trades in 2018 prevented David Poile and company from calling out a name until the fourth round, but that was the first year that Nashville did not have a first round pick since 2015. In that time, the reputation they had for drafting well was maintained well. Even still early in the observational phase, we don’t see any picks in the first half of the draft who seem trending towards ‘bust’ status. Sure, a few players are not exactly living up to expectations, but even they have simply downgraded their projections from middle-of-roster to bottom-of-roster.

If there is much hope of extending the contention window, it largely rests in what the Predators have developing on the farm with Milwaukee. It is rarely exciting in this day and age to have your best and brightest so close to the NHL, as the AHL is often the testing ground for players bound for the back end of a roster, but the depth and breadth of skilled players honing their respective games with the Admirals in 2019-20 definitely bodes well for the immediate future. When the AHL season was suspended, the Admirals had a league best .714 points percentage, over 50 percentage points better than the next best squad.

Under the guise of head coach Karl Taylor, in only his second season as a bench boss in the AHL, the Admirals lost only 14 times in regulation through 63 games, outscoring their opponents by 70 goals. Although the lineup was led by two high scoring veterans, in Daniel Carr and Cole Schneider, what was most impressive was the depth of scoring. Prospects in whom the Predators organization maintains high hopes include players like Eeli Tolvanen, Rem Pitlick, Alexandre Carrier and Yakov Trenin, all featured below, but also one with a pretty neat backstory, who just missed this list, in Tommy Novak.

A Nashville third round pick in 2015, Novak moved from Waterloo of the USHL to the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. The center was OK over his four-year run with the famed Big Ten program, parlaying fine skating ability and hockey IQ into a solid two-way game for the collegiate game. That last clause is important, as the Predators would not offer a forward who never scored more than six goals in a season, and combined for seven goals over his final two seasons, an NHL Entry Level deal, dangling only an AHL contract to Novak.

Not only did Novak exceed expectations moving to the AHL but proved to be more dangerous a scorer in the AHL than he ever was at the NCAA level. His 11 goals as an AHL rookie were one short of his total from his final three years with the Golden Gophers and he finished the season third in scoring for the Admirals. More importantly though, the Predators finally saw enough to give Novak the ELC he had been waiting for, inking him to a two-year deal on March 25, less than two weeks after the season was originally postponed.

Even if Nashville’s so-called window may be closing, there is no reason this team cannot keep competing into the foreseeable future.

Philip Tomasino of the Niagara IceDogs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Philip Tomasino, C (24^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

One of only four players in the OHL this year to hit the 100-point plateau, Tomasino had a fantastic draft +1 year, which was split between the Niagara IceDogs and Oshawa Generals. His biggest strength remains his play in transition. His explosiveness and ability to protect the puck and process at full speed make him so difficult to stop as he gains speed through the neutral zone. Without question, Tomasino is one of the best forwards in the OHL at gaining the offensive zone. This dominance as an attacker was flashed as a draft eligible player, but an increase in confidence and strength made him a more consistent player.

Where Tomasino really improved this year was his ability to play and succeed without pace. With that added strength came an increased ability to play and maintain possession through contact and consequently, a greater ability to prolong possession deep in the offensive zone. He was winning significantly more challenges deep, and his effort and engagement level without the puck really improved. When you add it all up, you have a pretty dominant offensive player.

Moving forward, Tomasino will look to continue to improve his play as a defensive forward, using his speed to be a difference maker as a forechecker and backchecker. These areas did improve this year, but for him to stick down the middle, it is likely that further growth will be required. While another year in the OHL is likely, Tomasino does have an outside chance of cracking the Predators roster next season. He projects as a top six forward who can be a go-to contributor for Nashville and one of the team’s highest scoring players. - BO

Egor Afanasyev, RW/C (45^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

Transferring from the USHL (where he starred with Muskegon in his draft year), Afanasyev’s first year in the OHL with Windsor has to be considered a success. While consistency was an issue at times, and his game is far from perfect, he demonstrates a high level of skill and confidence as a goal scorer and finished as the leading goal scorer for the Spitfires.

Afanasyev is an extremely aggressive shooter, who is always looking to get the puck to the net or get himself there. He generates considerable velocity on his wrist shot and possesses the ability to beat goalies clean, even from a distance. He also shows well shooting while in full stride and is more than just a trigger man or stand-still shooter. As such, he possesses the ability to generate his own scoring chances by driving wide. With quick hands, Afanasyev does well in the offensive zone to protect the puck and will challenge defenders for open space.

Outside of his goal scoring ability and shot generation tendencies, Afanasyev needs to grow more as a player. His decision making with the puck requires fine tuning as turnovers can be an issue as defenders force him into the middle of the ice. Additionally, he struggles as a three-zone player and can have a tendency to float. He is not currently the type of player who drives the attack, as his zone entry tendencies are among the lowest of any top six forward in the OHL. He relies on the speed of his linemates to push the pace. No question, Afanasyev has the size and skill set to be a goal scoring, top six forward at the NHL level. But he will need to further round out his game to be a more consistent difference maker. - BO

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 13: Eeli Tolvanen #11 of the Nashville Predators poses for his official headshot on September 13, 2018 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eeli Tolvanen

Eeli Tolvanen, LW (30^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 3)

Not long ago, Tolvanen was the crown jewel of a deep Predators farm system. Starring as a rookie in the KHL, a league some consider to be the second-best in the world, his scoring prowess was on full display and hype for an eventual North American return (he spent his final amateur years in the USHL) built across the hockey world. However, the Finnish winger has been somewhat of a disappointment since coming to the AHL two seasons ago. Expected to jump directly to Nashville upon coming stateside, he has instead posted under .3 goals per game in 121 AHL contests.

With all that said, the former Jokerit standout still has quite a bit of promise. Still only 21, an age at which most young players are still seeking to crack an AHL lineup, Tolvanen has improved in many aspects other than scoring that are encouraging of his ability to provide value in the future. 10 pounds lighter than when he first came to the AHL, he has greatly increased his top speed and acceleration, becoming more dynamic with the puck on his stick. His play away from the puck has gotten better as well, with more shot blocks and better play against the boards on defense. He has rounded out his game to where he is not entirely useless without scoring, which will help win him over an NHL coaching staff.

The youngest player on a stacked Milwaukee team last year, Tolvanen might not be a superstar at the highest level, but he can be a high-octane second-line scorer and first-power play triggerman if he finds confidence in the AHL next season, even if the hype has worn off. - TD

Rem Pitlick, C (76^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 5)

After finishing in the top ten among all NCAA players in scoring during his senior year at Minnesota, Pitlick made a big splash in his inaugural professional season with the AHL-best Milwaukee Admirals, placing fifth among all league rookies in goals (20). His energy, pacing, and shooting ability allowed him to keep a spot in the top five of all prospects in the Predators system for the third straight year.

A terrific puck-pursuit hybrid forward, the 23-year-old boasts high-grade speed that compliments his aggressive, relentless forechecking style without the puck, but with it, he can be a dynamic puck-handler with his agility and hand speed. More of a shooter than a facilitator, he likes to set up in the slot or faceoff circle to let loose a quickly-released slap shot or accurate, hard wrister, but he can also slow down the game in the offensive zone and find his teammates at a respectable level.

Responsible in his own zone, he has displayed the maturity and mistake-free defensive game that would help his potential to play center, rather than wing, at the NHL level. The only genuine knock on him is his size, and at 5-10”, he has shown a lack of strength around the boards; however, Nashville has made useful players out of 5-9” Viktor Arvidsson and 5-6” Rocco Grimaldi, so this might be the best organization for him. His future role as either a top-six scoring option or a third-line forechecker will be further examined down the line, but at 23, he is arguably NHL-ready at this point. - TD

David Farrance, D (92^nd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 8)

A third-round draft pick, Farrance is an explosive offensive defenseman who has proven to be a draft day steal before even setting foot on professional ice. After playing in the USPHL in New York – where he was named the USPHL U-16 defenseman of the year twice and the most valuable player once, he joined the USNTDP, and represented the US at both the U-17 World Hockey Championship and the U-18 World Junior Championship.

As a freshman at Boston University, Farrance scored just nine points. But he stayed in college, and the development opportunities paid off. By his third year, he led the country in scoring by defensemen. He was named to the All-American first team, New England’s best defenseman and was a Hobey Baker finalist.

Farrance is an extreme offensive threat. His speed is blistering and he can blow past defenders easily, one aspect that makes him such a threat. He played on his team’s first power play unit, and is an excellent asset on the man-advantage because of his ability to cycle the puck. He is almost impossible to contain in the offensive zone. He sees the ice very well and is capable of making good plays in difficult situations.

He isn’t exactly small but is more of a finesse player than a physical player, although he is not afraid to use his body. Farrance also has really soft hands and the puck seems to float on his stick. He projects to be at least on a second-line pairing at the highest level. - JS

Juuso Parssinen, LW (210^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

He is a competitive, sizeable center who plays a strong two-way game. He is dependable on both sides of the puck, has good vision and displays awareness. A good playmaker with quality passing skills and swift hands to carry the puck up the ice, he can make flashy plays and has an accurate wrist shot. He can be utilized on special teams. While he does not have blazing speed, he reads the game well and knows where to go to be effective.

Parssinen fell all the way to the late seventh round in the 2019 draft, possibly due to injury concerns. Since the draft, his progress has made the Predators look very smart. He could be a steal of a draft pick when all is said and done. - MB

Alexandre Carrier, D (115^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 13)

An impressive puck-mover who has started to use his improving skating speed more to impact things offensively, the 23-year-old is an intelligent passer and a reliable option to move the puck out of the defensive zone and through center. Smart and with a long stick, his gaps close fast, and he generally plays opposing forwards against the boards rather than letting them get inside position.

A power play quarterback, he can stand to improve his shot and his ability to pass through traffic. He is a near fully ready bottom-four blueliner who can contribute in a multitude of ways. - TD

Yakov Trenin, LW (55^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

The toolkit has always been interesting: a 6-2” power forward with blazing fast hands and creative ways of finding angles for shots, he also found confidence and assertiveness for the first time as a top-six centerman with the Admirals last season.

Excelling in breaking down defenses and making plays within and when entering the offensive zone, he is deadly at even strength as an independent contractor who consistently creates offensive chances for himself and by himself.

Physically, he is difficult to take off the puck and has superb momentum with his body. While he is not particularly quick, he is a decent enough skater to be a depth scorer in the NHL, although he doesn’t seem to be a factor defensively. He will need to back this season up with another in the AHL, especially as he was not all too effective in his NHL run, but he has made a name for himself. - TD

Connor Ingram, G (Trade: Jun. 14, 2019. Originally: 88^th overall, 2016 [Tampa Bay]. Pre-season: UR)

Picked up for a mere seventh-round pick in 2021 after a publicized fallout with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ingram shined in his first season in the Nashville farm system, representing Milwaukee in the AHL All-Star Game and placing third among qualified goalies in GAA and save percentage. What the 6-1” netminder lacks in size and utility, he more than makes up for in technical refinement and athleticism. The highly skilled goalie has quick feet, guards post-to-post well, and leverages his lack of size by playing primarily at the lip of the crease to maximize coverage. He does not often overplay pucks or overreact to defensive breakdowns in front of him and makes the saves he needs to.

I wouldn’t expect Ingram to immediately overtake Rinne, a fan favorite deserving of loyalty from the franchise, but the time will come soon with more seasoning in the AHL. - TD

Marc Del Gaizo, D (109^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 12)

Del Gaizo, a fourth-round draft pick, is an offensive defenseman. He spent two years in the USHL and in 2017-18 led all league defensemen in goals scored. He then joined UMass, where he helped send the Minutemen to a national championship game — literally, as he led all freshman on the team in scoring and he potted the game-winning goal in the 2019 national semifinal game. Del Gaizo was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team for his efforts.

He has a quick and accurate shot and his slapshot is especially hard. His passes are direct, and he handles the puck well. Not only can he contribute offensively, but he has a calm demeanor on the backcheck. He is still raw but has the tools to become a lower-pairing defenseman at this highest level. - JS

Jeremy Davies, D (Trade: Jun 22, 2019. Originally: 192^nd overall, 2016 [New Jersey]. Pre-season: 6)

His 5-11” frame should be a detriment for someone as physical as he is, but his upper-body strength and willingness to engage with his body compensates for a lack of size. His hockey sense on offense also allows him to be a useful defender, anticipating the movement of opposing forwards and keeping them in front of him most times. He can be prone to a turnover, a side effect of a risky offensive defenseman, but his puck play is generally good.

His skating looks poor against AHL competition though, and at 23 with years of high-level hockey already behind him, we can’t be confident his speed and overall mobility will improve. Regardless, he is a solid depth defense prospect with some promising offensive skill. - TD

Grant Mismash, C (61^st overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

The versatile forward has seen his point totals fluctuate from 22 to 10 to 20 in three years with the Fighting Hawks. If you catch him on the right day, he plays with positive, disruptive energy. He can demonstrate soft hands and still flashes the ability to take over a shift with skill and decisiveness. He simply doesn’t do that often enough.

As of this writing, Mismash is expected to return to North Dakota for a senior season, before he forces Nashville to offer him a contract or lose his rights. He still has the potential to be a bottom-line contributor. - RW

Jachym Kondelik, C (111^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)

Kondelik isn’t a prolific scorer, but he is a solid power forward. He is a good skater especially considering his size (6-7”) and can motor up the ice. He sees the ice well and makes direct passes and feeds in difficult positions and through traffic. He is not the shiftiest, but he can still buy time and space for himself. Kondelik is also good at protecting the puck. He has bottom six upside and his size will win him multiple chances to achieve it. - JS

Spencer Stastney, D (131^stoverall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

As impressive as his added offensive punch was, the key to Stastney’s game is continuing to defend well without any real semblance of a physical game. Small and slight, he comes by the lack of physicality honestly, but he has thus far made up for it with tight coverage, good one-on-one tracking ability and heady clock management.

Stastney might be able to contribute to a second power play unit at a higher level but represents a good organizational asset even if he just maxes out as a safe third pairing defender with only even strength duties. - RW

Patrick Harper, C (138^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 10)

Harper represented the U.S. in the World Junior Championship in both his freshman and sophomore season, before his injury troubles, and was a part of the gold medal squad in the former season. Harper is very fast, which is a boon offensively but also defensively as he has no issues backchecking. He also appeared on the team’s first power play unit. At 5-7” he is small but is still able to effectively avoid opponents. He also has good hockey sense.

The fifth-round pick opted to sign with Nashville despite an option to become a free agent following graduation and will face his next challenge next season, in the AHL. - JS

AHL: Central Division Prospect Report, December 2019

Tom Dorsa — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 18:05:13 +0000

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 04: Texas Stars forward Jason Robertson looks for the puck during game against the Tucson Roadrunners on October 04, 2019 on October 04, 2019, at the HEB Center in Cedar Park, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire)

November is always an interesting month of play in the American Hockey League. You start to see which of the teams that started October red hot are contenders, and which are pretenders, and we begin to see the rebirth of talented teams that kicked off the season near the bottom of the standings.

This normalization of team results extends to players, as well. The shrewd veterans brought in to help develop prospects finally get going, while some incredible young players slow down after a scorching start and improve upon their flaws without the early butterflies and pressure to succeed.

Coaches begin to understand how to balance their two primary objectives; winning and prospect development, while lineup deployment comes together and everyone finds a way to contribute to the club as the season turns to December.

Speaking of prospect development, we are going to take a look at some of the promising pupils competing in the AHL’s Central Division. Checking in on the clubs from the American Midwest, the state of Texas, and Manitoba, you will find some useful information on notable prospects as well as some news and notes from around the division.

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

Record:20-4-3-2, 45 points, .776% points percentage

The Admirals might be the best team in the AHL, and if not the best, they are absolutely the scariest. After winning 13 in a row, the club sits first in the league in points (45) and points percentage (.776) with an absurd 20-4-3-2 record.

Milwaukee has scored more goals (103) than any team in the AHL, while allowing fewer goals (69) than all but three other teams. A lot has been made of how dangerous this team is from a cohesive standpoint, as the roster boasts some high-end prospects and sought-after veterans, but their success boils down to individual players as well.

Milwaukee forward Yakov Trenin was named the AHL’s Player of the Week, while Tommy Novak was given the Rookie of the Month Award in November. The two are part of a core of ten Admirals players with double-digit points through the first two months of the season. Head coach Karl Taylor and his club look better than ever before and should be just as lethal down the road.

Jeremy Davies, 6th in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Predators farm system (28-2-11-13): One of the pieces that came back to Nashville in the P.K. Subban trade that occurred at the last NHL Draft, Davies was a remarkably underrated asset for the Predators to acquire, as he posted just under a point-per-game in his last two years at Northeastern. That point-scoring prowess came from his ability to skate with the best of them, with and without the puck, and helping to transition the play in the neutral zone. His shot from the point is accurate, albeit a little soft, but is adept at generating rebounds for forwards. Physically, he gives up size (5-11”, 187 lbs) for his uncanny strength and tenacity, having not looked out of place in his short pro career. The Predators have a logjam of Grade A defensemen in their system, with Davies being just another one of them, but he carries a second-pairing potential with him so long as he can progress in his play-reading capabilities, which would make the former seventh-rounder an absolute steal.

Anthony Richard, 9th (28-7-2-9): Richard is off to an uncharacteristically slow start to the 2019-20 campaign. Generally a versatile playmaking forward with lots of energy and an up-ice demeanor, the 2015 fourth-rounder has been stagnant in what was supposed to be a big developmental year for the young forward. After scoring three points in the first two games of the season, Richard -- last year’s team leader in scoring -- has just five in his last 23, mostly due to a lack of assertiveness and drive. Now demoted to the Ads’ third line, Richard is due for a breakout, and his smarts, peskiness, and somewhat-improved skating can assist in that. His deployment on both the power play and penalty kill is promising in that he can contribute even without scoring, but you would like much more offensive production from the struggling winger.

Alexandre Carrier, 13th (29-4-15-19): Last season, Carrier impressed me by developing his offensive game; the skills were always there, but a certain passivity kept him from truly exploding until last campaign, where he used his skating, puck-handling, and vision to become a menacing puck-rusher for Milwaukee. With that squared away, our eyes turned to his flawed defensive game, which has since been bolstered by an increased willingness to engage physically and trust in his legs to get the puck out of the zone. Deployed on the Admirals’ first defensive pair as of late, he has burst onto the scene as a complete d-man with loads of offensive potential, currently sitting at fifth in AHL defensemen scoring.

Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)

Record: 13-10-2-2, 30 points, .556% points percentage

As their parent club continue on an improbable ascent up the Central Division standings, with points in 14 of their last 15 games, Iowa is sitting pretty at second in the AHL’s Central classification with help from veterans acquired this past offseason as well as some emerging prospects.

Iowa set a franchise record (since their move to Des Moines from Houston before the 2013-14 season) with 37 wins last season, culminating in their first postseason appearance in the Hawkeye State. The Wild are on pace to beat that mark with a 41-win pace through 22 games this season.

It’s a remarkable job by Tim Army, who has done an excellent job mixing lines and has his club playing a solid two-way game.

Connor Dewar, 3rd in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Wild farm system (16-3-1-4): Dewar came to the Minnesota system in an unusual way. Undrafted in his first year of eligibility, the WHL stalwart was picked up in the third round of the 2018 draft by the Wild with a draft selection that was not initially theirs; a Vegas draft pick that was dealt to Minnesota in exchange for Alex Tuch, during the Golden Knights’ pre-expansion draft maneuvering. Now playing in his debut pro season, Dewar has been shaky, but at times, brilliant. His wrist shot is blazing fast and well-located, and his skating, though sloppy at times, is quick and upstart. After being stapled to the bottom-line with certified goons like Mike Liambas to start the season, the 20-year-old is playing top-six center minutes thanks to his reliable, disciplined playing style down the middle. I would like to see him use his shot more instead of his default idea of ill-advised passes.

Louie Belpedio, 11th (27-1-7-8): Belpedio has not had an easy start to his second full year in the pro ranks, but there are some grounds for optimism in his developing defensive game. The right-shot, puck-moving blueliner has long been an impactful guy in transition and physically, but his play-reading and stick-readiness have improved in a more reserved role this season. Deployed in a depth role with veteran Matt Register, Belpedio has done a lot to get back onto Minnesota’s radar for a spot with the NHL club. However, it seems as though Brennan Menell (and deservedly so) has supplanted him on the depth chart, so the former American World Junior participant will have to do more to get back to the big league.

Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

Record:14-10-0-1, 29 points, .580% points percentage

Looking to bounce back after an poor 2018-19 season, the IceHogs got younger, faster, and more energetic compared to their prior season’s roster, which sputtered to a seventh-place finish in the Central Division.

Led by a pair of brothers, Dylan and Tyler Sikura, the IceHogs are helping accelerate the ongoing rebuild of their parent club. Winners of six out of their last ten, the IceHogs have fought valiantly after a slow start to get back into playoff contention.

Rockford’s roster features several of Chicago’s best and most intriguing prospects, including Adam Boqvist, Nicolas Beaudin, and MacKenzie Entwistle. Even if the Blackhawks (12-15-6, 30 points, last in NHL Central Division) lack entertainment value, Chicago fans can always drive just an hour and a half west to Rockford.

Adam Boqvist, 2nd in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Blackhawks’ farm system (15-1-5-6): The 2018 first rounder has found an offensive touch in his first North American professional season after being re-assigned from the Blackhawks, whose roster he made out of training camp, early this season. Inventive and creative with the puck on his stick, Boqvist boasts the deceptive skating speed and beautiful hands to produce offensively from the neutral zone in, as well as the shooting prowess and positional awareness to be a sneaky high goal-scorer. With that said, his defensive game is still incomplete; most notably his tracking of developing plays and his lack of physicality against the boards and behind the goal.

Kevin Lankinen, Unranked (6-3-1, 2.58 GAA, .927 Sv%): What Lankinen has done to even get himself on the radar of an NHL team is nothing short of incredible, but the highly entertaining Finnish netminder is nowhere close to done. In a crowded crease featuring Collin Delia and Matt Tomkins, the 24-year-old free agent signee has starred, leading the club with a 0.927 Sv%, which is top-20 in the AHL. A pure competitor in every way, Lankinen employs a high-energy, high-octane style of netminding that lacks mental composure but oozes athletic ability. Moves from side to side well and can catch up to anything he might not initially get, using his quick feet in a low-to-the-ice style that minimizes rebounds. Lankinen’s patience and shot tracking will need to improve for the goalie to succeed in the top-flight league.

San Antonio Rampage (St. Louis Blues)

Record: 10-10-5-3, 28 points, .500% points percentage

After years of bouncing from parent club to parent club, even hosting two NHL teams at once, the San Antonio Rampage finally have two things that have plagued them over the past few seasons: organizational consistency and veteran support.

The Blues made efforts to bulk up their AHL affiliate with veteran guys with Mike Vecchione, Nathan Walker, and Derrick Pouliot, who are their three leading scorers thus far this season. The Rampage, who have finished last in their division four years running, are reaping the benefits.

A revival of a club that has not won a playoff game in eight years, the fans in the Alamo City deserve this. The postseason is not guaranteed, but to even be in the running is a nice change of pace.

Jordan Kyrou, 1st in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Blues farm system (16-9-6-15): I’ll contend that Kyrou is one of the best players in the AHL right now, and his NHL future is both certain and near, with a recall on December 9. The top-ranked prospect in a revamped St. Louis system, the 2016 third-round selection dazzled with San Antonio thanks to his speed, footwork, and improved wrist shot/shot selection. His fiery speed has always been there, but his increased aggressiveness in using his shot (he is averaging over three shots on goal per game with the Rampage this season) is a major step up to me. The fact that he can play all three forward spots, with center being his best position, is also a great positive and means that it is possible he has already played his last AHL game.

Mitch Reinke, 9th (15-2-8-10): After a 13-game absence from the San Antonio lineup due to an upper-body injury, Reinke jumped in and immediately produced two assists from the blue line in his first game back on the ice. That performance more or less exemplifies what Reinke can bring to the Blues in the near future, and as he did with San Antonio last season, earning AHL All-Rookie honors with a 76-12-33-45 season stat line. A right-handed, puck-moving, smooth-skating defenseman that went undrafted is such an absurd thought that he has to have some flaws, right? Well, his initial blue line defense is flawed, with a lack of stick activity and a too passive style defending one-on-one to make an impact in a depth NHL role. Otherwise, the 23-year-old is one of the most NHL-ready prospects in the Blues system.

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)

Record: 14-15-0-0, 28 points, .483% points percentage

After a 1-7-0-0 start, the Moose ripped off nine wins in their next ten games. Since then, however, they have found consistency and steadiness within a lineup that features several of Winnipeg’s most heralded prospects.

Jansen Harkins (11th) is the AHL’s third-leading scorer as he continues blossoming into the second-rounder he was drafted as in 2015, while defensemen Logan Stanley and Sami Niku (though currently battling an injury) progress into NHL-caliber two-way talents and forward Kristian Vesalainen (1st) has started to implement his skill into the game.

Head coach Pascal Vincent has done a magisterial job in properly mixing his roster combinations of veterans and young guns, and the team is showing it out on the ice.

Logan Stanley, 4th in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Jets farm system (15-1-4-5): Coming back in late November to play his first game since October 18, Stanley did not look rusty at all in his return to AHL action. The towering defenseman’s calm and easy-going playing style benefited him after a long absence, as he was able to re-insert himself into the lineup and play his game without making adjustments. His defensive game is stout and incredibly mature, with his length and physical size making him difficult to get inside position on while his smarts give him the ability to move the puck out to middle-ice with relative ease. His booming slapshot makes him a lethal power-play option as well, though I would like to see him use his shot more. His journey to the NHL has been hindered by his slow skating and sloppy puck-handling at times, but the 2016 first-rounder is still only 21 and has time to make it all up.

Sami Niku, 5th (16-3-9-12): Niku is one of the most confusing and enigmatic prospects in professional hockey. One day he will look like a surefire top-four NHL defenseman, the next, he can play like the seventh-round draft pick and NHL longshot he was supposed to be. The defenseman will be on the shelf for the next 2-4 weeks with an upper-body injury, but beforehand, was playing with that up-and-down style he has been noted for. If he can only find consistency, his combination of elite skating, heads-up vision, and puck-moving skills can make him a go-to option for a Jets team that needs offense from the blue line.

Chicago Wolves (Vegas Golden Knights)

Record: 12-15-2-0, 26 points, .448% points percentage

The Wolves’ sudden fall from the reigning conference champion to back half of the division table has been a kick in the gut for the club and for AHL fans in the Windy City. 4-5-1-0 in their last ten games, Chicago has bled goals and has not found the offensive output to compensate.

However, help has come in an unorthodox way, in the form of Valentin Zykov, after the Vegas forward failed a drug test, was suspended 20 games, and then waived and assigned to the AHL club. The 2013 second-round pick is a proven AHL scorer (33 goals in 2017-18 with Charlotte) and has already chipped in two assists in as many games.

Brandon Pirri also recently joined the fray, but nevertheless, this club will need to see the emergence of some younger players like Lucas Elvenes to have any chance at making a charge back into a postseason spot. Losing as many veterans as they did from last season (Daniel Carr, T.J. Tynan, Brooks Macek, etc) has depleted Rocky Thompson’s bench, but the season is still far from over.

Jake Bischoff, 8th in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Golden Knights farm system (22-0-3-3): There are calls from Vegas fans to replace Deryk Engelland, an older and immobile defenseman, with Bischoff, an AHL regular who played well in a short stint with the Knights. While I have little familiarity with the Vegas coaching systems and what they value out of their defensemen, Bischoff could stick with the NHL club right now with little adjustment necessary. Originally a 2012 seventh-round pick of the New York Islanders, the Minnesotan has blossomed into the rugged, defensively solid blueliner the Knights envisioned when they acquired him in a swap near the 2017 expansion draft. He is a good skater for a big guy and has a rocket of a shot. Patient and observant with and without the puck, he displays intelligence in all three zones, but especially behind his own blue line, where he loves to take the body and is skilled at stealing the puck. He is probably a better defensive option than Engelland, but I don’t make the lineup decisions.

Jimmy Schuldt, 15th (28-4-9-13): After being a near point-per-game player at St. Cloud State, the undrafted defenseman was a highly sought-after prospect who ended up signing with Vegas in April of 2019. Since making his pro debut at the end of last season (a one-game cameo with the Golden Knights), Schuldt has had some on-and-off glimpses of why he was so revered coming out of college. He is exciting to watch with the puck, as he makes creativity reads, crisp passes, and has great footwork despite below-average top speed. His size (6-1”, 205 lbs) allows him to be effective in his own zone, showing some nastiness around the boards and the willingness to make open-ice hits at times. However, for all of his raw talent, he is prone to some turnovers and can have a few defensive errors. All in all, I think he can be a solid middle-pair defender, but with time.

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

Record: 11-14-1-2, 25 points, .446% points percentage

For fans of prospect development, the Griffins are one of the most fun teams to watch in all of pro hockey. The Red Wings, through their organizational rebuild of recent years, have more or less instituted a highly-aggressive, short-schedule development path for top prospects that places them in the AHL immediately and forces them to compete against grown men from the outset of their career.

The results have varied, from the struggles of Filip Zadina to the emergence of Moritz Seider as a future star, but nonetheless, Grand Rapids is home to one of the most entertaining teams in the league.

Three seasons removed from the Calder Cup title run of 2017, the Griffins will need a good next couple of months to get back into position to potentially charge up for another run at the hardware.

Filip Larsson, 13th in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Red Wings farm system (2-5-0-0, 4.01 GAA, .843 Sv%): Larsson has gotten both sides of what can plague a goaltender’s early development. Step one, being arguably too inexperienced to jump directly into pro hockey, and step two, being hung out to dry by a very young defense in front of him. After elite performances in the USHL and NCAA in seasons past, Larsson has looked mentally lost in his five starts, allowing at least four goals in all of them, which have been mixed in with some ECHL re-assignments. At just 21, it is both reasonable and not completely unexpected for the Swede to struggle in the AHL, but his potential is still promising. His balance is elite and fueled by his high-end athleticism, which also allows him to move laterally with ease and flash quick glove and blocker hands. With time, he should figure it out.

Dominic Turgeon, 18th (27-6-7-13): As the Griffins roster becomes younger and increasingly prospect oriented, prospects with some level of experience have been turned to for top-six minutes on the struggling club. One of those guys is the 23-year-old fourth-year AHLer Turgeon, who has been commanding top-six minutes since puck drop on the season after mostly playing in a depth role throughout his first few seasons. He has done well with the increase in time, turning his offensive game from utterly useless to somewhat respectable, which could help the Red Wings see him as a future NHL player. Offense is not really his thing, and he has become one of the best defensive forwards in the league because of it; he plays a very safe, disciplined game down the middle and loves to help out in the defensive zone, directing traffic and stepping in front of shots. If he ever becomes an NHL regular, it will be because of that 200-foot game.

Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

Record: 11-14-1-2, 25 points, .446% points percentage

The monkey has finally been lifted off of the Texas Stars’ collective back. The Stars endured a franchise-record 12-game losing streak before winning a 7-6 shootout thriller against Rockford on home ice recently. The feeling in and around the Texas locker room was as though they had won the Calder Cup.

The club was destined for some growing pains, as the roster includes as many as a dozen first-year North American pros. The 12-game losing streak put the club, Western Conference champions two seasons ago, at the bottom of the AHL standings.

Sometimes a lack of pressure can be beneficial for the development of young prospects. Being able to play your game and work on your flaws without the worries of dropping matches in the process can be a blessing in disguise. That is certainly what the Dallas Stars are hoping will occur in Cedar Park for the remainder of what looks to be a lost season, even after the move of former head coach Derek Laxdal up to the NHL club after the surprise firing of Dallas head coach Jim Montgomery.

Jason Robertson, 3rd in McKeen’s yearbook preseason ranking of Stars farm system (28-11-10-21): Robertson’s trouble as a skater was destined to plague the first few months of his pro career, and anyone who watched his domination of the OHL last season (115 points in 62 games) acknowledged it. The Michigan native has managed well as a scorer on his AHL Texas roster, leading the team in goals and being tied for the highest point total in the locker room. However, his skating has absolutely hindered his development into an NHL caliber player, as his sluggish foot quickness and relatively low top speed have given him some struggles. On the flip side, he is a first-year pro who boasts a physically-commanding package of power forward tools, such as supreme balance, gorgeous hands (especially in tight areas), and a blistering wrist shot that has gotten him power-play time since the outset of the season. The reigning AHL Player of the Week will need to make his simple skating stride at least respectable, and be more reliable on the defensive end, to become the surefire NHLer scorer he can be.

Riley Tufte, 8th (25-0-4-4): Since being drafted out of the USHL before attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Tufte has had the “bust” label thrown at him many times, and in fairness to the fact that he is a first-year pro on a struggling AHL club (last in the league in points), he is not doing much to subdue the bust talk. Still seeking his first pro goal after 16 games, the two-time NCAA men’s national champion has received mostly third-line minutes and has been unimpressive in that time with the Stars this season. A big man with some quick heels for his size, he has demonstrated some glimpses of promise, using his physical advantages to set up teammates and his maturity and discipline to play very solid defensive hockey. Overall, he has gone missing for shifts -- and games -- at a time and has not played up to his first-round hype this season at all.

Nashville Predators 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:11:52 +0000

As a perennial contender, the Nashville Predators rarely have access to the top prospects in any given draft class. They are, in fact, more likely to not have a first round pick as they are to pick in the top ten. Since 2008, they picked in the top ten once (getting Seth Jones fourth overall in 2013), and did not have a first round ick in any of 2011, 2012, 2015, or 2018. In fact, in 2018, the team didn’t announce a pick until late in the fourth round.

Not being a team that traditionally spends to the cap, or one that is generally seen as a prime destination for unrestricted free agents (Matt Duchene notwithstanding), they need to make the picks they do have count. With that in mind, the way the 2017 draft’s first round unfolded was beyond anything they could have expected as they sat at the draft table in Chicago. It was a solid draft class, so they knew they would be getting a good player, but after Dallas drafted Jake Oettinger at pick 25 an then Ottawa reached (at least a bit) for Shane Bowers at 28, the Predators knew they had a chance to pick up a special player at pick 30.

When they called out the name of Eeli Tolvanen a few minutes after Bowers was picked, most pundits, including yours truly, commented about how the rich just got markedly richer. Here was a winger with perhaps the best shot in the draft class. He had warts (small, decent, but not great skater, inconsistent effort in his own end), but his upside was unmistakable. He was a potential first line, goal scoring winger and the Predators were gifted him at the end of the first round.

He was slated to move from the USHL to college, but a problem with high school credits from his native Finland scuppered those plans, news which only came out in the days before the draft. With his new team’s blessing, he went back to Finland, to play for his homeland’s sole KHL team, Jokerit. His 19 goals and 36 points both established new KHL scoring records for U19 players, edging out Washington star Evgeni Kuznetsov. The excitement in Music City was palpable. While the Predators didn’t quite roll out the red carpet for Tolvanen, the expectation was clearly that he would force his way on to the roster and give the team a much needed goal scorer.

Unfortunately, he found the transition back to North America tougher than the KHL. His season in Milwaukee saw him get one fewer point than he had the previous year with Jokerit, but in nine more games. He demonstrated a common young sniper tendency to disappear for multiple shifts, if not games, at a time. In a word, Tolvanen was disappointing.

But let’s look at it in another way. He just turned 20, has played seven games in the NHL and has scored his first goal. Of the 29 players taken ahead of him, 11 have yet to appear in a single regular season NHL game. Four more have played less than his seven games. In other words, Tolvanen is still very young and Nashville should still be excited by his potential.

-Ryan Wagman

Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro (57) (Photo by Jerome Davis/Icon Sportswire)

1 Philip Tomasino, C (24^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Tomasino is a player designed to play in today’s fast-paced NHL. He does everything at top speed and possesses some of the best first few steps in the Ontario Hockey League. This explosiveness makes him such a dynamic offensive threat, especially when you combine it with his aggressiveness in attacking the offensive zone. He is going to need to get stronger on the puck to improve his consistency and make him more of a factor when he is not able to use his speed. But with good vision, the versatility to play multiple positions, and the ability to push the pace, Tomasino looks like a future second or third line forward for Nashville. He had some of the best even strength production of any draft eligible this year and that always bodes well for future improvement. - BO

2 Dante Fabbro, D (17^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2) Start with the full package of skills necessary to play as a potential top pairing blueliner in the NHL. He is a strong skater. He has a big shot from the point, if not quite a power play quarterback shot. He handles the puck nicely, creating chances for linemates regularly. He is not especially physical, but he has enough strength to hold his own in positional battles in front of his net or in the corners. What ties it all together, making the tools play up and giving him the full package is his internal computer. Fabbro processes the game at an exceptional level, giving him the ability to shut down most rushes on his side of the ice. After steadily increasing his offensive impact over three years at Boston University, the NHL beckons. - RW

3 Eeli Tolvanen, LW (30^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1) Tolvanen was considered a major steal for the Predators when David Poile and crew used their 2017 first-round pick on the undersized Finnish scoring machine, and though he has struggled to adjust in the AHL, he still flashes the world-class scoring potential that put him on the map. His shot is mesmerizing, with speed, a wicked and deceptive release, and insane accuracy, while his skating has improved to compliment has lethal shooting. His excellent touch for the puck gives him an underrated playmaking game as well, as his hands can create space for himself and teammates while his elite stick skills enable him to dish passes over with ease. It might be fair to label Tolvanen a disappointment so far due to the expectations placed upon him, but he is still 20 years old and his biggest flaws (defensive positioning and discipline, rink awareness, shot assertiveness) are things he can improve with time. He can be a yearly 50-point scorer at the NHL level. - TD

4 Egor Afanasyev, RW/C (45^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) - A plus-sized Russian import who had been playing in North America for three years by the time the draft rolled around, Afanasyev had a big season with Muskegon to help showcase his wares. He starts his package off with a monster shot which is deadly from the circles on in. He is a commanding presence from the half-wall, especially on the power play, where the aforementioned shot helps set up his understated playmaking ability. He is not especially aggressive, but he is very strong. He also gets to a solid top speed, even though his first few steps are below average. He will work on that acceleration with Windsor in the OHL, after walking away from a college commitment with Michigan State. If he can gain just a touch of quickness, his chances of staying as a top six forward will leap forward. - RW

5 Rem Pitlick, C (76^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 3) On the short and stout side, Pitlick has blazing speed when his skates are on. His wrist shot is similarly hard to handle. He likes to go to the net, skating in straight lines and is not afraid of playing in the greasy areas of the ice. As solid as his shot is, Pitlick is also a clever playmaker, with good vision as he flies down the wing towards the net. While he will take risks to create offense, he is responsible in his own end, and has been a trusted penalty college for the University of Minnesota. A late bloomer, his skills have born more and more fruit over the years since he was first draft eligible. He is now ready for the AHL and the NHL and a middle six role there, are not too far away. - RW

6 Jeremy Davies, D (192^nd overall, 2016 [New Jersey]. Last Year: 15 [New Jersey]) One of the pieces returned to Nashville in the big P.K. Subban trade, Davies has had remarkably little press for a blueliner who has just missed putting up a point per game in each of the last two seasons at Northeastern. Undersized without giving up an inch physically, he tries to stay engaged with the play at both ends. His accurate point shot helps to create rebounds for his linemates when they don’t result in direct goals. There is room for skepticism as well, though, as he played on a very up-tempo offensive team in college and players of his size (not just short, but slight as well) will always have to prove that they can withstand the more physically mature professional ranks. If he can pass that test, Davies has second pairing upside, with power play utility. - RW

7 Semyon Chistyakov, D (117^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Chistyakov is a shutdown defenseman who had a good season with Tolpar Ufa of the Russian junior league last year, representing his country at various international tournament, including the main ones. He isn’t very big, but he plays and works very hard, and exhibits great resilience and poise. He has a decent shot from the point which he should use more often, although his main weapon is his reliable defensive game. A good skater, Chistyakov can contain offensive players and is often the first player to get back on defense. Right now he is a long ways away from the NHL and he needs to gather some pro hockey experience first before we know what his ceiling really is. - ASR

8 David Farrance, D (92^nd overall, 2017. Last Year: 6) A teammate of Fabbro’s for the past two season at Boston University, Farrance was able to get his excellent speed more of a workout as a sophomore, allowing him to contribute more regularly to the offensive attack. His game is not nearly as well-rounded as Fabbro’s is – at least not yet – with most of the shortfall coming in his own end, where his lack of size is still a hindrance. With the graduations and early defections from BU this offseason, Farrance will have his first chance in a long while to take on a top pairing role for his club. Being given added responsibilities (a good recruiting class means that he will have competition) will go a long way to determine if his upside is as a number five, or higher. - RW

9 Anthony Richard, C (100^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 9) A versatile playmaking forward, Richard is perhaps the most underappreciated prospect in the Nashville system. A fourth-round pick in 2015 based almost solely on his raw offensive output from his QMJHL days with Val d’Or, he was not really expected to carry that kind of offensive firepower to the pro ranks, but he has been a dynamic top-six force in the Milwaukee lineup for two seasons now. Possessing high-end hockey sense and a very hard shot, he is someone who can beat you with his skill and his smarts. His peskiness and deployment on both power play and penalty kill speaks to the development of his defensive game, and his ability to contribute in a multitude of ways. He is not, and will never be, a big-time skater, but he can be a quality depth scorer in a Nashville jersey as soon as this season. - TD

10 Patrick Harper, C (138^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 5) Today’s NHL is more open to smaller players than ever. There are small players, and then there is Patrick Harper, currently listed at 5-7”, 150 lbs. Thankfully, he is very fast, plays a responsible 200 foot game, and has a history of strong offensive production, which included both underclass years, prompting Team USA to include him on the WJC roster twice. He has a quick stick and isn’t afraid to play near the crease, despite his obvious size concerns. More a playmaker than a finisher, Harper’s point production dropped off drastically last season, likely preventing him from turning pro. A return to his point-per-game roots will see him turn himself into a late season option for the Predators. He will have to continue proving himself at every level though as his size gives him some boom or bust potential. - RW

11 Niclas Westerholm, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 3, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Westerholm literally came out of nowhere to emerge as an NHL prospect. The Predators in the spring of 2018 after the 6-4” goalie impressed with SaiPa’s U20 team. He reads the shooters well and is positionally sound. He cuts down angles effectively and is very difficult to beat low His rebound control is also pretty good most of the time and he has the reaction speed to make the second save, in case he doesn’t manage to direct the puck out of danger. Westerholm is very unexperienced at the men’s level though, only appearing in 19 Liiga games over the past two seasons. He needs to prove himself in the Liiga and will get more opportunities to do so this season back on loan with SaiPa. - MB

12 Marc Del Gaizo, D (109^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) After being passed over as an offensive defenseman with Muskegon in his draft year (where he played with Afanasyev), Del Gaizo followed his older brother to UMass (Amherst), where he was able to play behind established stars Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro and turn in a great freshman season as the Minutemen made it to their first NCAA final, which Del Gaizo helped along scoring the Frozen Four semifinal overtime winner against Denver. He is a heads-up, patient puck holder from the blueline whose best attributes are his skating and his vision. He is still raw and will have to prove he can continue to contribute at a high level without the protection afforded by his two former teammates, but he is trending towards a future as a number five or six. - RW

13 Alexandre Carrier, D (115^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 8) Last season, Carrier’s offensive game looked as deadly as ever before. He was a menacing puck-rusher with relentless speed through the neutral zone, making plays out of pure nothingness with his hockey sense and tape-to-tape passing skills, but as has been the case throughout his career, he lagged defensively, did not trust his legs enough in his own zone, and failed to engage much physically. He fell down in the rankings here due to his relative stagnation as a prospect, showing little improvement in his third full year as a pro player. All of what plagues his defensive game is teachable and he will only need to adapt to it all to become an impact player in the NHL, where the 2015 fourth-rounder can be a depth puck-mover with some power play potential. - TD

14 Juuso Parssinen, LW (210^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Parssinen is a sizeable and versatile center who plays a strong three-zone game. He has good defensive awareness and breaks up a lot of plays with his stick. He has a very good overall understanding of the game. Offensively, he lacks flash and dash, but has smooth hands, is smart in possession, and can score in a variety of ways. He can cycle the puck effectively. He is a good skater with decent top speed and strong balance, but his first few strides could be quicker. He has been excellent at face-offs at the junior level. In addition to club play, Parssinen has consistently performed well at the international level. He may not have the offensive skills to produce a ton of points in the NHL, but due to his versatility, I could see him develop into a reliable third-line center. - MB

15 Jachym Kondelik, C (111^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 10) Nashville’s top pick in the 2018 draft, he is starting to look like a steal in the fourth round after a very impressive freshman season at UConn. He was held back by an injury in his draft year (another former Muskegon Lumberjack) which may have also been the cause for his seeming lackadaisical play at times. This year, Kondelik played with greater urgency, putting his exception size (6-7”, 218) to good use. He has decent puck skills, which show up on faceoffs and when he is protecting the puck and his playmaking ability has played up at the college level. He still plays without much aggression, the addition of which would help his stock soar. He also needs to show that he can finish once in a while. With improvements in those areas, he could play a bottom six role in the future. - RW

16 Grant Mismash, C (61^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 4) Even keeping the injuries which caused him to miss close to half the year in mind, Mismash had a very disappointing sophomore season for North Dakota. The sparks of above average offensive potential that he showed with regularity both with the USNTDP as well as during his freshman season, were rare to appear last year. He is still a fine skater, which gives his game some power appeal. He still plays hard, furthering that power label. Je just lost that offensive touch that made him an exciting prospect. It’s not too late to regain it, and he will to have an NHL future. We reserve the right to revise him back upwards if the touch returns with a full season of good health. - RW

17 Alexander Campbell, C (65^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Campbell is an undersized forward with good vision and offensive skills. He is a good skater who plays with a lot of speed, is shifty, and distributes the puck nicely. He had a good season for the Grizzlies as he scored 21 goals and 67 points in 53 games, and has put up good offensive numbers all throughout his career, enticing Nashville to call his name in the middle rounds this June. He took home the Rookie of the year honors in the BCHL, garnering attention from scouts who were already in the stands to view Alex Newhook, and put himself on the draft boards. He is committed to take his talents to Clarkson University, where he will be able work on his size and strength. He projects out to a middle six role, but needs to add to his small frame first. - KO

18 Josh Wilkins, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 18, 2019. Last Year: IE) Wilkins was fine as an underclassman for Providence. He was awesome as a junior, leading the Predators to offer him an Entry Level Contract after Providence were knocked out of the Frozen Four tournament. More quick than fast, he wins more than his share of puck races and battles, and he has the hands to do something with the puck when he gets it, whether that is finding a way to beat the goalie, or finding a linemate in a better position to turn that trick. I would be more confident in his future prospects if he were either bigger or faster, but there is enough in his package including defensive utility, to keep a bottom six role a possibility. - RW

19 Frederic Allard, D (78^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 14) As with most undersized defensemen (this system is not short on them), Allard has a highly-developed offensive game but struggles in his own zone. A former point-per-game blueliner in the QMJHL, his speed, shot, and offensive vision all grade out as average or better. He sees the ice and anticipates plays at a very mature level, despite only two full seasons played at the pro ranks. His problems are a unique issue however, as Allard has a serviceable frame but fails to implement it correctly as a physical deterrent for opposing scoring chances, relying more on shot-blocking and stick-checks. He has legitimate top-four potential if he can work on his defensive game, with his puck-moving and skating playing big roles in his projected big-league value. - TD

20 Brandon Fortunato, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 5, 2019. Last Year: IE) A member of the USNTDP squad that included the likes of Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin, Auston Matthws, and others, Fortunato was actually the highest scoring defenseman, but he was never drafted. He spent two years at Boston University, getting selected to represent his county at the WJC after his sophomore season, but still couldn’t get a pro sniff. He is small and none of his tools pop. But he left BU after the 2015-16 season, sat out a year and finished his collegiate eligibility with Quinnipiac, saving his best for his senior year. He is sneaky good offensively and plays well at both ends. The Predators finally gave him a chance, and while he remains a long shot, I wouldn’t count him out yet. - RW

AHL Calder Cup Playoff Preview – Western Conference

Tom Dorsa — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 14:07:47 +0000

The Calder Cup Playoffs are upon us again, and in the Western Conference, we are seeing a lot of changes from the picture painted last season. The defending conference champions, the Texas Stars, failed to make the playoffs to defend their 2018 West title as one of five teams that competed in last season's Western Conference bracket that couldn't repeat as postseason teams.

Those teams are the Stars, Manitoba Moose, Rockford IceHogs, Tucson Roadrunners, and Ontario Reign. But with old teams and players out, new teams and players come in, setting up to shine under the bright lights of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Iowa Wild, Milwaukee Admirals, San Diego Gulls, and Colorado Eagles (in their first season as an AHL team) are seeking to wreak havoc on the American Hockey League after missing out on a chance last season.

And in the case of Iowa and Colorado, this is their first postseason appearance in the history of the franchise's current setup. Fans in Des Moines and Loveland will get to see enthralling playoff hockey for the first time in the AHL.

Let's take a look at the first-round matchups in the Western Conference, as well as what to expect from the two teams in action. The playoffs begin on Wednesday, April 17.

Central Division:

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 22: Milwaukee Admirals forward Eeli Tolvanen (11) on the ice during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the Milwaukee Admirals and Cleveland Monsters on February 22, 2019, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Chicago Wolves (44-22-6-4) vs 4. Grand Rapids Griffins (38-27-7-4)

The Wolves have the identity of a prototypical postseason club: they are a physical and experienced unit with good goaltending and even better coaching. It helps when they also have speed, skill, and depth, with four players (Daniel Carr, T.J. Tynan, Brooks Macek, and Tomas Hyka) on the active roster registering more than 0.9 points per game.

They led the Western Conference in goals for (250) and were second in fewest goals against (199). Head coach Rocky Thompson has done a marvelous job for the Vegas Golden Knights' affiliate since taking the job in the summer of 2017, after leading the Windsor Spitfires to the Memorial Cup title.

While the Wolves have some size on their blueline with Nic Hague (4th-ranked Vegas prospect), Jake Bischoff (5th) and Griffin Reinhart (16th), they lost the bulk of their offensive contribution from their rearguards when Erik Brannstrom departed for the Senators organization in the Mark Stone trade.

Grand Rapids comes in with their own set of issues, the most notable of which is their freezing cold home stretch during which the Griffins lost their last nine games of the regular season (eight in regulation). There was no real reason for this besides a plain late-season struggle, as most of their two-way players are still with the club, and there is no lack of talent.

Regardless, the Griffins have proven twice during their seven-year stretch of playoff appearances that there is a potential championship run within them. The 2013 and 2017 Calder Cup champions have the experience and depth to make a run regardless of the poor final stretch.

The Griffins will have to limit penalties due to their division-worst 78.5% penalty kill percentage, while also playing well at five-on-five, on account of their power-play being mostly ineffective during the regular season (14.2%).

Prospects to Watch:

CHI: C Cody Glass (1st): Glass has perhaps the highest hockey IQ of any 2017 NHL Draft picks, and scored twice (with a game-high six shots on goal) in his professional debut on Friday, April 5.

CHI: G Oskar Dansk (14th): The netminder had a superb regular season (26-9-4, 2.47, .911) and looks to be the goalie of choice for Thompson and crew heading into the 2019 postseason.

GRG: RW, Filip Zadina (1st): The sixth-overall pick in last June's draft made an ambitious jump to the AHL this season, and at 18, performed well (59-16-19-35). His speed and shooting will be a big part of any possible turnaround for the Griffins this postseason.

GRG: D Joe Hicketts (11th): He isn't as noticeable as other prospects on the Grand Rapids blueline, but Hicketts had a solid 2018-19 campaign (64-3-24-27). The undersized defenseman packs a punch for the Griffins and is very patient with the puck.

Prediction: Wolves in four games.

Milwaukee Admirals (36-24-14-2) vs 3. Iowa Wild (37-26-8-5)

After missing the postseason last year, the Admirals are back with a vengeance and are looking for their first Calder Cup since 2004. The Nashville Predators' primary affiliate has done most of their winning this season on the back of youthful and speedy prospects, which is often times a key to success in the playoffs.

Four of their top-five regular season scorers were on a team's top 20 prospects list in our preseason farm system rankings (Adam Helewka, Anthony Richard, Alexandre Carrier, Eeli Tolvanen). The Admirals are spearheaded by youth and electric forechecking assertiveness, which can be a lethal combination in the playoff hockey atmosphere.

It helps when you come into the first round on a red hot winning streak. In a tight Central Division postseason race, Milwaukee went 11-0-2-1 to end their season, fighting from seventh in the Central to second-place and home-ice advantage in round one.

The Wild, on the other hand, have been carried by some savvy and experienced veterans like Cal O'Reilly, Gerald Mayhew, and Kyle Rau, as well as a dynamic goaltending duo of All-Star Kaapo Kahkonen and AHL Player of the Week Andrew Hammond. But they won't have to lean on goaltending and experience all postseason long.

Head coach Tim Army has emphasized speed and hard work in the neutral zone all year long, and systemically, the Wild seem ready for the test. In addition, the Minnesota Wild re-assigned forwards Ryan Donato, Jordan Greenway, and Luke Kunin down to Iowa after the NHL season ended in St. Paul. The trio will assist in generating that speed and scoring from the top lines, pushing nominal top six forwards into middle six roles and thus providing great depth to the offensive attack.

The most intriguing matchup to watch in this first-round series is special teams, specifically the Iowa power-play versus the Milwaukee penalty kill. The Wild posted the second-best power play percentage in the league (23.8%) in the regular season, but will line up against an Admirals' penalty kill unit that erased a Western Conference-high 85% of penalties. Army and fellow first-year head coach Karl Taylor will have their hands full of each other's high-end special teams groups in this one.

Prospects to Watch:

MIL: RW Eeli Tolvanen (1st): Though the Finn didn't have the year expected from the Nashville top prospect, Tolvanen was great down the stretch. His timely scoring and playmaking will no doubt be a factor in the playoffs.

MIL: D Alexandre Carrier (8th): His offensive output has always been there, but in his third full AHL year, the 5-11" playmaker evolved as a complete d-man. His gaps and stick-quickness have taken major strides, and in a top-four role, will be essential to any long playoff run in Milwaukee.

IA: G Kaapo Kahkonen (7th): Kahkonen has had himself a splendid first season in the North American pros, and depending on his role in the playoffs (keep Hammond in mind), he could be playing for a spot with the NHL club next season.

IA: LW Jordan Greenway (3rd): Coming off a full season with Minnesota, Greenway's presence post re-assignment has already been felt (5-3-3-6) down the stretch. A massive and skilled forward, the 22-year-old plays a playoff style of hockey.

Prediction: Admirals in five games.

Pacific Division:

Bakersfield Condors (42-21-3-2) vs 4. Colorado Eagles (36-27-4-1)

The Condors made history midway through the 2018-19 season when they stormed through a 17-game winning streak, the second-longest undefeated run in the history of the AHL. They were lifted to the summit of the Pacific Division after being outside of a postseason spot before the streak, which speaks to their depth and attitude.

First-year Condors Tyler Benson (4th) and Cooper Marody (5th) have carried the club for the better part of the season, and the two leading Bakersfield scorers are extremely dangerous on the power play, where 43 of their combined 130 points have come, helping the Condors' man-advantage operate at a division-best 20.5% clip.

The Condors will have to lean on the aforementioned duo, as what they have in top-end skill, they lack in scoring depth. Bakersfield's next-leading point scorer after Benson (66) and Marody (64) is Joe Gambardella, who is 16 points shy of the top two. Along with Josh Currie, these four are the only ones on the roster with more than 40 points this season.

The Eagles, on the other hand, needed final-weekend drama and help to clinch a postseason spot. They won their final regular season game over San Jose and saw division rival Tucson lose an hour later to grab the fourth spot in the Pacific by one point.

Late-season grinds like that can inspire a team, though, and Colorado has a solid mix of veterans and young guns to generate momentum with in its first year as an AHL franchise. AHL ringers like forward Andrew Agozzino and defenseman David Warsofsky have been leaders at their respective positions and have alleviated the pressure on the Martin Kaut and Nicolas Meloche types for high-stakes moments like this: the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

They have an elite penalty kill (84.1%), accrued after a lot of practice, as they also accumulated a Western Conference-high 1,114 penalty minutes in the regular season. The club will have to remain disciplined to have a shot in the first round, as they can ill afford to line the Condors up with power play opportunities.

Prospects to Watch:

BAK: D Caleb Jones (14th): After a frustrating rookie season in 2017-18, Jones has established himself as a top-pair fixture with much-improved two-way reliability, and still has his offensive chops ready to go.

BAK: LW Tyler Benson (4th): Plagued by injuries for much of his young career, Benson has finally stayed healthy for an extended period of time and is showing everyone just how good he is this season.

COL: RW Martin Kaut (4th): Another 19-year-old in the AHL, Kaut is highly intelligent and is due to start scoring goals after an unsustainably unlucky 9.7 shooting percentage during the season. He has been solid in all three zones this season, but the Eagles might need him to take another step up.

COL: LW A.J. Greer (18th): The former second-round draft selection had the best year of his pro career after inconsistencies before 2018-19, and his combination of physicality and smarts are a sight to behold.

Prediction: Condors in four games.

San Jose Barracuda (39-22-3-4) vs 3. San Diego Gulls (36-27-4-1)

The Barracuda have a set of advantages and disadvantages coming into their matchup with their rivals down Interstate-5 in California. One pro is their higher place in seeding, which grants home-ice rights, but a major disadvantage is their NHL parent club, the San Jose Sharks, being tied up in a playoff race.

At any time, some of the Barracuda's most important contributors can be recalled and leave the AHL team flat, such as occurred with Monday's promotion of Dylan Gambrell, the Sharks' third-ranked prospect and the 'Cuda's fourth-leading scorer. However, this club is still very skilled, especially from the blue line going forward. Nick DeSimone is one of the finest offensive defensemen in the league, and Kyle Wood is a rock in his own zone.

Unheralded forward prospects like Alexander True and Francis Perron have jumped into the spotlight this season and can provide plus value as the team's top two scorers in the regular season.

After missing the playoffs on the last night of the 2017-18 season, the Gulls cleared the playoff bubble and secured a return appearance to the postseason this spring. The club has been led by several once-valued prospects that were given up on by their previous franchises (Sam Carrick, Chase De Leo, Justin Kloos), as well as emerging home-grown prospects like Sam Steel and Troy Terry.

Either way, this team is pretty young and just as exciting. Though Terry is done for the season (non-displaced leg fracture), Steel and other top prospects like Kalle Kossila and Max Jones will have to carry the water of a rather juvenile club.

The Gulls scored the second-most goals in the division (239), are solid on special teams (20.3 PP%, 80.9 PK%), and have solid veteran goaltending with Kevin Boyle and Jeff Glass in net. This is a team without a clear, deadly weakness. They also have the same amount of wins at home as they do away from San Diego (18) which will pay off when the series shifts to Northern California.

Prospects to Watch:

SJ: LW Francis Perron (not ranked): Packaged as part of the Erik Karlsson trade, the forward has been another reason as to why the Sharks won the September transaction. On the Barracuda top line, the 22-year-old has been better than ever in the regular season.

SJ: C/LW Jayden Halbgewachs (12th): The leading scorer in the WHL last season had a major test jumping into the pros, and it all pertained to whether he will be able to score at will in the AHL, as he did in junior. While he didn't have the best regular season on offense, a big playoff run in the San Jose top-six can help his case.

SD: C Sam Steel (1st): Though Steel has not had an ideal season after making the big-league club out of training camp, he still posted solid numbers as a 21-year-old in the AHL (53-20-21-41). He can impact the game with or without the puck with his great rink sense and beautiful shot.

SD: D Josh Mahura (6th): Mahura has made monumental leaps to his defensive game after being mostly an offensive specialist in the WHL, and should pencil into the bottom-four of the San Diego postseason lineup.

Prediction: Gulls in four games.

How the Rest of the West Playoffs Will Unfold:

Western Conference Semifinals: Milwaukee Admirals over Chicago Wolves, 4-2.

Bakersfield Condors over San Diego Gulls, 4-1.

Western Conference Finals: Bakersfield Condors over Milwaukee Admirals, 4-3

AHL West Report: Life without Brannstrom, Kahkonen living the Wild life, plus much more

Tom Dorsa — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 12:55:35 +0000

With the National Hockey League's annual trade deadline falling in late February, the teams in the American Hockey League are prone to change from the fall out. Prospects being shipped from one place to another with a flurry of deals can change the face of that star youngster's career, as well as the fate of their respective teams.

Youthful players have to prove their worth with new teams, while pre-established players in the same dressing room have to fight for an increase in ice time. All of this battling occurring while the team prepares itself to ink fresh NCAA and junior hockey graduates to late-season ATOs can make for a hectic scene for fans and scouts alike.

So, in this piece, we'll check in on the best and brightest prospects in the AHL's Central Division, one of two divisions in the Western Conference.

Chicago Wolves (Vegas Golden Knights)

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 26: Chicago Wolves defenceman Nic Hague (2) plays the puck during the second period of the American Hockey League game between the Chicago Wolves and Cleveland Monsters on January 26, 2019, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Life without Erik Brannstrom -- who was sent to Ottawa as part of the Mark Stone trade -- might be hard to adjust to for the Chicago Wolves, but luckily, the Golden Knights have stockpiled a bounty of top prospects playing in the AHL.

Especially Nic Hague (fourth in our preseason rankings of Vegas prospects), who has done yeoman's work in keeping the Wolves atop the Central Division standings, taking on heavy, all-situation minutes in the wake of the Brannstrom trade. His skating is still a big issue, and players can drive past the lefty blueliner pretty easily, but his raw, 6-6" size makes Hague (10-14-24) nearly unbeatable low in the zone, where he shuts down the cycle well and forces opposing forwards into turnovers.

Goaltender Oskar Dansk (14th) doesn't quite have the stats to show it, but the technical aspects of his game have improved in the AHL this season. He is moving well laterally and staying on his feet to challenge shots, as well as becoming a better puck-handler. At 25 years old, Dansk (17-9-1, 2.86 GAA, .896 Sv%) has little development left to do, and instead should settle into an NHL backup role eventually, when his health will cooperate.

Other defensemen of interest are Jake Bischoff (5th) and Zach Whitecloud (12th), who are now both playing up in the lineup thanks to the absence of Brannstrom. Bischoff (2-9-11) is a solid two-way guy with potential to man an NHL second-unit power-play, based on his plus foot speed and creativity, but his willingness to take hits and his improved gaps and reads have led to more defensive zone deployment this season. He has been called up by the Golden Knights a few times already but has yet to see NHL ice time.

Whitecloud (6-17-23) has a lower ceiling than Bischoff, but arguably a far higher floor. The 6-2" defenseman is seeing power play time for the Wolves as he has worked on his assertiveness offensively, and is already a very well-rounded d-man he works hard in the defensive zone and has a very active stick. The first NCAA free agent signing in Knights history is due for a recall.

Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)

Though the Iowa Wild have been a steady force near the summit of the Central Division standings this season, their team is led mostly by pro hockey veterans, and few top prospects are really shining for this club. Iowa's three leading scorers are Cal O'Reilly (32 years old), Gerald Mayhew (26), and Kyle Rau (26), while top-tier prospects Luke Kunin (2nd) and Jordan Greenway (3rd) have essentially graduated to the NHL.

However, goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (7th) has been perhaps the class of AHL netminding this season, and after an All-Star Classic appearance, has continued his torrid 2018-19 season. The 22-year-old has been dynamic behind a relatively thin defensive core, using his enhanced play-reading abilities and athleticism to carry the load for the club.

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

Not much has gone right for the Detroit Red Wings this season, but if anything has, it is the development of their top-tier prospects. Unlike most rebuilding teams, who will have their prospects marinate in the junior leagues for years, Detroit has shown a willingness to give guys like Filip Zadina (1st), Michael Rasmussen (3rd), and Filip Hronek (7th) a chance to prove themselves in the pro ranks at a young age.

It is an admirable development strategy, one counter to their traditional practice of slow-walking prospect development, and the results have been promising to this point, with Zadina's curious 2018-19 season leading the charge. After a very slow start, the 2018 draft's sixth-overall selection started funneling shots on goal and using his plus-plus foot speed to impact games. He has been a solid power-play option and a middle-sixer whose Griffins run specific sets so as to utilize his speed and deft hands.

A guy on the opposite spectrum is fellow forward Givani Smith (18th), whose lack of top-end skill has really shown this season. A former second-round pick taken, seemingly, for his fiery physical game, which has paid off on the Grand Rapids penalty kill, Smith (4-3-7) has struggled in any role besides that shorthanded deployment. He is an alright skater, but his usage on Grand Rapids' fourth-line (when he isn't being healthy scratched), is pretty indicative of his shortcomings.

Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

After being a black ace for the Texas Stars' run to the Calder Cup Finals last season, goaltender Philippe Desrosiers has had a memorable stretch as of late. He spent considerable time in the ECHL to start the season, as he did last season, but has enjoyed a resurgence as a split-starter with fellow netminder Landon Bow in the Texas crease.

Desrosiers (not ranked) has appeared in nine out of Texas' last 12 games, and in that stretch, has posted a 2.43 GAA and .913 Sv%. He has been noticeably better at reading plays, and comes out to the lip of the crease to challenge opposing shooters more often.

Undrafted, free-agent signing Joel L'Esperance (not ranked) has lit up the AHL this season, to the tune of 29 goals. The big-bodied, versatile centerman has earned a recall to Dallas and has appeared in six NHL contests, just a year removed from signing an ATO out of Michigan Tech. Though L'Esperance (29-15-44) likely will never be a pure scorer at the NHL level, his offensive skills are underrated, and he can fill out a second power-play unit for a long time.

Another surefire NHLer, Roope Hintz (9th) is essentially finished with AHL hockey and has graduated to Dallas. It's a well-deserved promotion for perhaps the best pure skater in the organization, as his foot speed, stride length, and top speed are all well above league-average. The former second-round draft pick (9-13-22 in the AHL) has a wicked wrist shot and also quite a bit of chemistry with Denis Gurianov, which could help accelerate the development of the Russian.

Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

After being squeezed out of ice time due to a resurgent Blackhawks team making a late-season playoff push, youthful defenseman Henri Jokiharju was assigned to Rockford and immediately became an impact player in an AHL team in a tight postseason race of their own. The former WHLer (2nd) has posted 12 points (1-11-12) in 13 games since being sent down.

Though he could stand to better take a hit, his skating, shot, defensive intelligence, and transitional game are at an NHL level at just 19 years old. He is probably better suited to get increased ice time with the IceHogs than to play on the third pair in Chicago, as the Blackhawks brass want the Finn to develop into an all-around defenseman, similar to (though with not as high a ceiling as) Duncan Keith.

Though his 15-game ride in the NHL was underwhelming, centerman Luke Johnson (19th) has taken major strides in his development this season. Mostly a two-way defensive forward with some creativity, Johnson (13-13-26) has become more assertive on offense and has earned himself some time on the Rockford second power play unit. His NHL game will be more of honing in on his best qualities, the Marcus Kruger-esque fourth-line checking role.

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

Though the Admirals lost one of their leading scorers, Emil Pettersson, in a trade with the Coyotes, they acquired forward Adam Helewka in the same deal, and Helewka (17th in Arizona's preseason prospect rankings) has been money for the thin Milwaukee forward core. Though he can be inconsistent and now joins a more stacked organization, the Canadian forward remains very intriguing.

With 11 points (4-7-11) in 10 games since joining the club, Helewka has been driving play at 5-on-5 with his creativity and hustle, though his skating is a major issue. He has a goal-scoring package to him, and he kills penalties for the Admirals, making him a very useful AHL player, even if he has a limited NHL-caliber ceiling.

Defenseman Alexandre Carrier (8th) continues to be an assist machine, and a forward's best friend at even strength and on the power play. As an undersized defenseman with middle-pair potential, his game will have to be one of that style, and his puck-moving skills and foot quickness fall in line with that. Luckily, that's just what Nashville asks of its defensemen in the Peter Laviolette system, and his playing style can help the NHL team in that regard.

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)

With a team that has lost some top prospects over the course of the season, such as Kristian Vesalainen (1st), Jack Roslovic (2nd), Mason Appleton (3rd), and Sami Niku (4th), Michael Spacek (9th) has been leading the way. The 2015 fourth-rounder has zeroed in on becoming a more well-rounded player this season, and has focused less on shooting and more on playmaking.

For a guy whose shot is a weapon on the power play, his commitment to improving as a passer has shown so far in 2018-19, as he is on pace for a career high in points (8-26-34) by virtue of those 26 helpers. His hockey sense plays up his average skillset, and he probably is best suited for a depth shooting role. Though he has an undersized frame, he has been solid as a checking-line forward at times.

Though the speed and energy of JC Lipon (20th) can be infectious at times, he has been stagnant as a prospect and it is hard to make anything of him. After experiencing a nine-game NHL trial three seasons ago, he has not been back to the top league since, and at 25, he really can't do any more improving.

He lacks high-end skills to compliment his speed, and has embraced the role of a fighter on his team, which can often be a death sentence for a young player's future. Once a depth forward for the Canadian World Junior Championships team, Lipon (10-14-24) looks more like a career AHLer than anything at this stage in his development.

San Antonio Rampage (St. Louis Blues)

The top-rated European prospect from the 2017 draft, Klim Kostin has taken a pretty considerable step backwards in a 2018-19 season that has been anything but good to San Antonio. Kostin (2nd) has been a quiet player offensively, has taken a ton of penalties, and is not being nearly as assertive from a physical standpoint.

There is still a lot of promise in Kostin, who is seen by the Blues as an untouchable prospect, especially considering he is only 19 years old and this is already his second full AHL season. However, Kostin (7-11-18) will need to ramp us his intensity in the offensive zone and his willingness to shoot the puck to live up to the initial hype. He will never be an elite skater, but he can be a go-to power forward.

Jordan Kyrou (3rd) has been a bright spot on an otherwise bleak Rampage team this season, leading the club with 41 points (16-25-41) in as many games, carrying with him his offseason prowess from his junior days. However, Ville Husso (7th) has been worrisome and horrid this season.

Husso is supposed to be one of the best goaltending prospects in the sport, but was surpassed on the Rampage depth chart and outperformed by Jordan Binnington and Jared Coreau. Husso (6-14-0, 3.45, .881) has the raw tools, but has lost a step in terms of play-reading and competitiveness.

Nashville Predators Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:09:48 +0000

The Nashville Predators were practically a non-entity at the most recent NHL Entry Draft, with only four picks made, none among the first 110 selections.

Since their first draft class in 1998, they had never made fewer than five picks, and the only time that occurred was back in 2006. This is a franchise that was built through the draft and they have earned a reputation as a strong drafting team particularly when it comes to the defense.

It is understandable that they would have had so few picks this time, though, as the 2017-18 Predators were the strongest team (at least in the regular season) in franchise history.

In most cases, teams that trade away too many picks end up with shallow pipelines, and while the Predators are not at their deepest, they do have a good number of players who still project with NHL upsides. Not high-end upsides, but NHL.

Where the Predators may have a leg up on other organizations that have been in position to sell the future for the present in recent years, is that their picks tend to meet, or exceed expectations. There are certainly exceptions, there aren’t that many and most of their picks end up at minimum, in the professional chain.

That belief in and success at drafting means that the Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee was stuffed not with professional journeymen (although there were a few – it is impossible not to have any), but with players that the Nashville brain trust hopes and has reasonable expectations to see in the NHL in the near future.

Fully eight of the top 20 prospects in the system spent all or most of last season in the AHL, as well as a few others who narrowly missed this list. Even though that AHL low ceiling, high floor depth does not extend to goaltending, the Predators are trying to change that by bringing in a few young and promising European pros in Miroslav Svoboda and Niclas Westerholm.

They will not all end up with lengthy and storied NHL careers, but the Predators are now in an enviable position of not only having a top tier NHL club, one legitimately discussed as a Stanley Cup contender this year, but they also are prepared for injury to nearly every role on the team, as they have someone ready and chomping at the bit on the farm that could be called up.

Considering how the NHL team currently lacks too many open spots, they are penciling in top prospect Eeli Tolvanen for a middle six slot at right wing and might have a competition for the 13^th forward with mid-tier prospects like Frederick Gaudreau or Emil Pettersson or Yakov Trenin pushing for the gig.

As much as the team’s prospect pool is currently on a low ebb, Nashville has a sustainable that is constantly being renewed with new talent. What they lacked in draft picks this year, they made up with one free agent signing from the AHL, two from the CHL, and four from Europe. None of those players has the upside of a first or second round pick, but they are all closer to being ready to help at the NHL level.

This approach can work, but I wouldn’t recommend the Predators doing this for too many more years.

Eeli Tolvanen

1 Eeli Tolvanen, LW (30^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1^st) 19-year-olds rarely play significant minutes in the KHL. Before last season, the best year put up by an 18-year-old in KHL history was the 32 point season of Evgeni Kuznetsov in 2010-11. Tolvanen topped that mark by four points. A school credit issue prevented him from joining Boston College, as planned, but between his play for Jokerit and Finland at the WJC, Plan B turned out pretty well. Tolvanen has an elite shot, hard and precise and deadly even from a distance. Despite that tool, he is happy to dish to a teammate who is better positioned. He also does not hesitate to play a strong game, backchecking, fighting for pucks, and finishing checks. He was given a taste of the NHL last year, but he will stay for the whole meal this time.

2 Dante Fabbro, D (17^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2^nd) Nashville’s first round pick from 2016 took some pretty big steps in his sophomore season at BU, increasing his offensive output by more than 50%, while showing very promising shut down abilities in his own zone. Although he is not especially large, he uses his body effectively in addition to his ability to use his stick to close a gap. He is a very poised, calm defender, reading the opposition well to create space for himself to make the right play and keep the puck moving in the right direction. Considering how stacked the Predators’ NHL blueline is, they don’t need Fabbro to be a top four defenseman, but that is what they’re getting. He will be returning to Boston University for his junior season, wearing the ‘C’ on his chest.

3 Rem Pitlick, C (76^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 7^th) Some players who are drafted in their second or third years of eligibility, they are simply grinders who took advantage of favorable ice time to excel. Others, such as Pitlick, always had the talent, but needed a bit longer to unlock it. Short and stocky, but with high end wheels, a killer shot and slick puck skills, Pitlick has spent two years now with Minnesota, providing top of the lineup scoring punch. While I would like to see more dominance, considering his skill set, he is not an all or nothing player. Willing to take a hit to make a play, he projects as a solid middle six forward who can create plays for his teammates and finish them off with equal efficiency thanks to high end vision and a touch of creativity.

Grant Mismash

4 Grant Mismash, C (61^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 5^th) A high end athlete in the USNTDP in his draft year, Mismash had a quieter debut with North Dakota than the Predators might have liked. He still demonstrated high end puck skills coupled with above average skating and good hockey IQ, but he was not able to showcase all those attributes at the same time. Between his passing ability, his strength, and ability to maintain possession when under pressure, he is strong on the cycle. The flashes of playmaking instincts he did show suggest that additional comfort at the collegiate level could help unwrap a dynamic offensive presence. There is still a lot of road ahead for Mismash, but the future looks bright.

5 Patrick Harper, C (138^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 12^th) Despite suffering through an injury-marred sophomore season at Boston University, Harper continued to dazzle on the ice and in the score sheet when healthy. A point per game player in the half-season he played, he overcomes his tiny size through shifty skating, and a keen understanding of what the other team is trying to achieve, which allows him to take advantage of the space on the ice. To his eternal credit, Harper plays a lot stronger than his 5-9”, 165 frame would suggest. He backchecks hard, does not avoid the greasy parts of the offensive zone and is quick to create a play for a linemate when he gets the puck in favorable position. If he can stay healthy, he could have a dominant junior season.

6 David Farrance, D (92^nd overall, 2017. Last Year: 8^th) A small but very mobile defender who flashed dynamic puck movement ability in his time with the USNTDP, Farrance found it harder to assert himself with any regularity as a freshman with Boston University. He still clearly has the high-end wheels, and his point shot, when he gets one off, is plus, with a quick release. In fairness to him, BU is a powerhouse with a stacked blueline and he still carried a regular shift, he just was not put in prime offensive situations. There is still plenty of reason to believe that the skills that he showed as a junior are still there and added familiarity and comfort with the level will help them shine with greater frequency next year.

7 Frederick Gaudreau, C (UDFA: Jan. 5, 2016. Last Year: 11^th) After four seasons in the Nashville system we know what Gaudreau is as a player. Over the last three years, his point totals in Milwaukee have hovered between 42 and 48. But in those three seasons, his games played have steadily dropped from 75 to 66 and finally, to 54 last year. The difference in games played in the AHL was made up for in time spent in Nashville. Despite playing 29 NHL games already, all three of his NHL goals came in the same playoff game in 2016-17. If Gaudreau breaks through and makes the team for good, his work ethic, heads-up hustle and hockey IQ make him a fit on the fourth line and penalty kill units.

8 Alexandre Carrier, D (115^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 16^th) The smallest in a group of smaller defensemen with AHL Milwaukee, Carrier is also the most gifted puck mover of the lot. He definitely would rather move the puck to a teammate than fire it on net, and he is skilled at cutting a seam with a sharp pass. He also has shown an increased mental aptitude for the game, reading opponents well and earning time on the PK. E could still refine a few areas of his defensive game, such as showing more faith in his legs by playing with tighter gaps, and being more aggressive in his own zone on occasion, but he has come along very well in the past two seasons and looks like the first defender recalled to the NHL in case of injury.

9 Anthony Richard, C (100^th overall, 2015. Last Year: unranked) More than any other player with Milwaukee last year, Richard took huge strides forward in his development, showing some of that offensive potential that he demonstrated from a young age in the QMJHL. He is a very good skater who owns a hard shot and plays with a chip on his shoulder. He is often the first forward up on the forecheck and he frequently forces the opposing defender or goalie into errors due to his approach. His hands are not the softest, which will limit his offensive upside, but his speed and energy should be enough for him to carve out a bottom six role, killing penalties and providing some additional length to the offensive attack.

Jachym Kondelik

10 Jachym Kondelik, C (111^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A towering 6-6”, with over 220 pounds hanging from his shoulders, Kondelik looks like a nightmare condor, but too often plays more like dove. For all his size, he skates pretty well and he demonstrates soft hands often enough to believe that they are legit. He has dealt with injuries in both of the last two years with Muskegon of the USHL and they may have been a factor, but he plays with a notable lack of intensity. He will often pass up the chance to bump an opponent and fails to be assertive as a general rule. That all said, with his natural physical gifts, the Predators did well to gamble on Kondelik with their first pick of the 2018 draft and will be patient with him as he develops at the University of Connecticut.

11 Tyler Gaudet, C (Trade: Feb. 26, 2018 [Arizona]. Last Year: unranked [Arizona]) Acquired in a trade deadline deal wit Arizona, ostensibly for AHL blueliner Trevor Murphy, Gaudet is trending well for a player who was never drafted either as a junior or by an NHL club. A work working center, he makes the most of what tools he has. His skating is just fine, but his motor is always revving, and he does well at pressuring opposing puck carriers, whether he is forechecking or backchecking. Considering his plus size, his skating effectiveness is actually fairly impressive. He has strong enough hands to protect the puck from stick checking opponents, and a strong enough drive to be a force along the boards. Last year was the first of his professional career that he did not receive any NHL time. Expect that to change for the better this season.

12 Yakov Trenin, LW (55^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 10^th) If Nashville has a deeper system, Trenin’s rookie professional season would likely have dropped him from the top 20 altogether. In addition to the fact that he was all too often a non-factor on the ice, not involved in the center of the action at either end, he simply looked sluggish on his skates. Further, despite owning a big, muscular frame, he rarely used it to his team’s advantage, playing with less verve than the much smaller Anthony Richard, among others. To his credit, despite his struggles in the offensive end, Trenin remained committed to fulfilling his responsibilities in his own end. He will be afforded time to grow into the game, but he will need to show marked improvement next year to remain much of a factor in Nashville’s future plans.

13 Emil Pettersson, C (155^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 14^th) Five years after being drafted in the sixth round, Pettersson came over to North America just in time to miss his younger brother Elias light the Swedish league on fire. The elder Pettersson brother is not nearly as gifted as the Vancouver prospect, but he has smooth hands and good instincts on offense. Long and very lean, he can support two more gifted wingers, which is not a bad ability to have, but may not be able to create offense in North America on his own. He will also need to improve his skating, to get more explosivity, before earning a significant NHL chance.

14 Frederic Allard, D (78^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 9^th) As with most defensemen in the Nashville system, Allard has a smaller frame (tall enough, but thin) but makes up in mobility what he lacks in brawn. The former third rounder’s first year as a professional was a mixed bag, with decent offensive totals leavened by struggles to read the play in his own zone and a brief mid-season demotion to the ECHL. At this stage of his career, he is more effective when his team has the puck. As reminder that player development is not linear, in his last season in the QMJHL, his two-way game was more impressive than his contributions to the attack. His prospects would be better served with a swing back to his previous style of play.

Pavel Koltygin

15 Pavel Koltygin, C/LW (176^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A potential steal in the sixth round, Koltygin’s draft stock suffered this year as he was unable to build upon a strong North American debut with Drummondville, dropping from 47 points in 65 games in his first year as an import player from Russia, to 42 points in 64 games with a stronger team around him in his second draft eligible year. Outside of the points, Koltygin was worth drafting as he combines powerful legs with a hard shot and quick hands. He also showed an increased commitment to the play in his own end this year, making him less of a pure risk/reward selection.

16 Tanner Jeannot, LW (UDFA: Apr. 2, 2018. Last Year: IE) Passed over three times in the NHL Entry Draft, the Predators gave Jeannot an ELC in his overage year in the WHL, a season in which he eclipsed his previous career in points by 28, doubling his previous career high in goals. Like Gaudreau above, Jeannot is not the toolsiest prospect, but he has good size, plays a heart-and-hustle game and features a pretty good arsenal of shots. He is not slow, but skating is not a strength of his game. The same can be said of his abilities with the puck. Jeannot is the type of player for whom the best-case scenario is not all that different from the most likely outcome.

17 Karel Vajmelka, G (145^th overall, 2015. Last Year: unranked) It might be somewhat telling about the Predators scouting when it comes to goalies that of the six “prospect” netminders in the system, all are at least 6-3”, and most have not lived up to their advance billing, but the one time they went with a smaller goalkeeper, Juuse Saros buzzed through the system and earned a spot on the NHL bench. Vejmelka is the goalie still percolating in the system, most likely to push for NHL consideration going forward. He is athletic in the crease and reads the play well. He split last season between three teams in the Czech Republic’s top two levels and will be challenged to win the starter’s jib again with Kometa Brno.

18 Spencer Stastney, D (131^st overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) On good days last year, Stastney was a dynamic puck mover who could be trusted with the toughest defensive zone shifts as well. He covered opponents tightly and would not bite on deke attempts. On his bad days, he would make poor pinching decisions, cough up the puck shift after shift, and telegraph his intentions, making him very easy to defend against. Combined, he showed a lot of potential as an all-situations defender who has a lot to learn before being able to play his game at the highest levels. For the price of a fifth-round pick, it was more than worth it for the Predators to gamble on Stastney ironing out the kinks and inconsistencies at Notre Dame.

19 Joonas Lyytinen, D (132^nd overall, 2014. Last Year: unranked) The former fifth round pick arrived in North America at the age of 22 and did not immediately show why Nashville had been keeping tabs on him for years. He struggled in the early going to make an impact, spending a few weeks in the ECHL as a consequence. While it is not reflected in the scoresheet, by the end of the year, Lyytinen was starting to show some things worth getting excited about. He moves the puck very well and his reads and reactions showed a respectable level. He has moved on from an afterthought to a player of note in the system, although he will need to take a few more steps forward next year to maintain that status.

20 Thomas Novak, C (85^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 18^th) Despite owning a seemingly hard slapshot, Novak has lit the lamp only 14 times in three seasons of NCAA hockey at Minnesota. His game is more about his hands than his shoulders. He is a skilled stickhandler and creative passer. With the puck on his stick, he is more likely to hit a streaking linemate with a nice diagonal feed, or jive past a defender, than he is to try to take the puck to the net on his own. He plays with good presence of mind but lacks any truly dynamic traits that would lead to an offensive role in his future.

Alexandre Carrier – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Forwards

Filip Forsberg - LW

Ryan O’Reilly - C

Tommy Novak - C

Gustav Nyquist - LW

Cody Glass - C

Yakov Trenin - LW

Denis Gurianov - RW

Colton Sissons - C

Phillip Tomasino - RW

Defense

Roman Josi - D

Tyson Barrie - D

Ryan McDonagh - D

Alex Carrier - D

Goaltending

Juuse Saros - G

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – NHL Player Profiles

2021-22 NHL ROOKIES AND SECOND YEAR BREAKOUT CANDIDATES

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Nashville Predators Top 20 Prospects

Yaroslav Askarov, G (11th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Philip Tomasino, C (24th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Egor Afanasyev, RW/C (45th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Eeli Tolvanen, LW (30th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Rem Pitlick, C (76th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 4)

Luke Evangelista, RW (42nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

David Farrance, D (92nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Juuso Parssinen, LW (210th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Yakov Trenin, LW (55th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 7)

Connor Ingram, G (Trade: Jun. 14, 2019. Originally: 88th overall, 2016 [Tampa Bay]. Previous ranking: 8)

Alexandre Carrier, D (115th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 9)

Marc Del Gaizo, D (109th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Jeremy Davies, D (Trade: Jun 22, 2019. Originally: 192nd overall, 2016 [New Jersey]. Previous ranking: 11)

Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, LW (202nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Grant Mismash, C (61st overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Jachym Kondelik, C (111th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Spencer Stastney, D (131st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 14)

Patrick Harper, C (138th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 15)

Adam Wilsby, D (101st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 23

Nashville Predators

Philip Tomasino, C (24th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Egor Afanasyev, RW/C (45th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

Eeli Tolvanen, LW (30th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 3)

Rem Pitlick, C (76th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 5)

David Farrance, D (92nd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 8)

Juuso Parssinen, LW (210th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

Alexandre Carrier, D (115th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 13)

Yakov Trenin, LW (55th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Connor Ingram, G (Trade: Jun. 14, 2019. Originally: 88th overall, 2016 [Tampa Bay]. Pre-season: UR)

Marc Del Gaizo, D (109th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 12)

Jeremy Davies, D (Trade: Jun 22, 2019. Originally: 192nd overall, 2016 [New Jersey]. Pre-season: 6)

Grant Mismash, C (61st overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

Jachym Kondelik, C (111th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)

Spencer Stastney, D (131st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Patrick Harper, C (138th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 10)

AHL: Central Division Prospect Report, December 2019

Nashville Predators 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

AHL Calder Cup Playoff Preview – Western Conference

Central Division:

Chicago Wolves (44-22-6-4) vs 4. Grand Rapids Griffins (38-27-7-4)

Milwaukee Admirals (36-24-14-2) vs 3. Iowa Wild (37-26-8-5)

Pacific Division:

Bakersfield Condors (42-21-3-2) vs 4. Colorado Eagles (36-27-4-1)

San Jose Barracuda (39-22-3-4) vs 3. San Diego Gulls (36-27-4-1)

AHL West Report: Life without Brannstrom, Kahkonen living the Wild life, plus much more

Nashville Predators Prospect System Overview

Yaroslav Askarov, G (11^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Philip Tomasino, C (24^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Egor Afanasyev, RW/C (45^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Eeli Tolvanen, LW (30^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Rem Pitlick, C (76^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 4)

Luke Evangelista, RW (42^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

David Farrance, D (92^nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Juuso Parssinen, LW (210^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Yakov Trenin, LW (55^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 7)

Connor Ingram, G (Trade: Jun. 14, 2019. Originally: 88^th overall, 2016 [Tampa Bay]. Previous ranking: 8)

Alexandre Carrier, D (115^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 9)

Marc Del Gaizo, D (109^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Jeremy Davies, D (Trade: Jun 22, 2019. Originally: 192^nd overall, 2016 [New Jersey]. Previous ranking: 11)

Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, LW (202^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Grant Mismash, C (61^st overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Jachym Kondelik, C (111^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Spencer Stastney, D (131^stoverall, 2018. Previous ranking: 14)

Patrick Harper, C (138^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 15)

Adam Wilsby, D (101^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Philip Tomasino, C (24^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Egor Afanasyev, RW/C (45^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

Eeli Tolvanen, LW (30^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 3)

Rem Pitlick, C (76^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 5)

David Farrance, D (92^nd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 8)

Juuso Parssinen, LW (210^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

Alexandre Carrier, D (115^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 13)

Yakov Trenin, LW (55^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Connor Ingram, G (Trade: Jun. 14, 2019. Originally: 88^th overall, 2016 [Tampa Bay]. Pre-season: UR)

Marc Del Gaizo, D (109^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 12)

Jeremy Davies, D (Trade: Jun 22, 2019. Originally: 192^nd overall, 2016 [New Jersey]. Pre-season: 6)

Grant Mismash, C (61^st overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

**Jachym Kondelik, C (111^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)**

Spencer Stastney, D (131^stoverall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Patrick Harper, C (138^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 10)