Semyon Chistyakov – McKeen's Hockey

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #17 Nashville Predators – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Sun, 25 May 2025 12:33:22 +0000

PARADISE, NV - JUNE 28: Yegor Surin is drafted by the Nashville Predators in the first round during the Upper Deck NHL Draft on June 28, 2024 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)

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Nashville 25 Prospects

NHL PROSPECTS: Top five drafted prospects in Europe

Chapin Landvogt — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:43:02 +0000

The 24-25 season has played host to a number of European draft picks making some real noise in leagues across the continent. Whereas the top five draft picks on the European side of the pond was a relatively clear story in recent years, a good dozen players threw their names in the hat to claim a spot in the following list this season. In addition, some of our honorable mentions here not only would have been on those recent lists, but a couple actually were also (we’re looking at you, messers Nikishin and Sandin-Pellikka)!

Long story short, the NHL teams who own these players’ rights have a whole lot to look forward to.

Of course, as nice a season as the following players have had, it’s up to them to take the next step!

Ivan Demidov - RW/C - KHL - Montreal Canadians 1st rounder in 2024

Sure, there was plenty of fanfare about Demidov at last summer’s draft and the seemingly typical unknowns with respect to his status as a Russian prospect moving forward. In Demidov’s case, his draft year was basically spent in the MHL junior circuit and as dominating as his stats there were, such a measuring stick is laden with uncertainty. A Montreal organization that has done plenty of drafting over the past half decade had no qualms in selecting him fifth overall and welp, it looks like they’ve got a player who may one day end up being among the top three to come out of this draft. He’s only proceeded to spend the entire 24-25 season playing for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL and it’s been beautiful. 49 points and a +17 in 63 regular season games has been absolutely outstanding for any player at the age of 18/19 in his rookie pro season, but it’s been accompanied by no lack of highlights and flashes of brilliance along the way. His current KHL contract ends this spring once the playoffs have concluded, so the expectation is that we’ll see him in North America next fall. The leaguewide excitement is warranted and considerable, to say the least.

He (91) can rip it!

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He can dish it off!

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Dmitri Buchelnikov - LW - KHL - Detroit Red Wings 2nd rounder in 2022

When Buchelnikov was drafted, he was one of those picks that was very intriguing but clouded by uncertainty among world events and in light of his incredible draft year stats coming entirely in the Russian MHL. Where have we heard that before? Well, Buchelnikov followed his strong draft year with a noticeable VHL season before becoming a KHL regular on loan last season, putting up 29 points in the process. That strong step has turned into a monster 24-25 season in which the 21-year-old has accumulated 51 points in 62 KHL games, mostly on the strength of 36 assists, becoming a key powerplay quarterback in the process. Shifty and slick with the puck, Buchelnikov has the kind of game-reading smarts that rarely see him make a poor decision with the puck while also being able to make timely passes and throw absolute darts on goal at any given time. Detroit will need to wait another year, but the Red Wings could have another ready-made youngster coming into the fray as of the summer of 2026.

He (72) can rip it!

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He can dish it off!

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Lenni Hämeenaho - RW - Liiga - New Jersey Devils 2nd rounder in 2023

Hämeenaho has been one of these players who just continues to produce wherever he plays and in whatever environment. He’s been ready-made for a power play role at every step of his development in the last half dozen years and neither his size nor tools have ever really been brought into question with respect to their projectability. He was a regular Liiga player in his draft year and now he’s one of the guys at the top of his team’s scoring list. He’s just continued to produce throughout the season, now at 20-31-51 in 58 games, even turning things up a notch with nine points in his final 10 regular season games. Little stands in the way of him signing his ELC this summer and joining a New Jersey Devils team that can realistically hope that it has another Jesper Bratt style impact player on its hands.

He (29) can rip it!

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He can dish it off!

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He can even run with it…

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Jesse Kiiskinen - C - Liiga - Detroit Red Wings (by trade) 3rd rounder in 2023

Another Red Wings prospect, albeit a Nashville pick from 2023 that Steve Yzerman traded for, Kiiskinen has absolutely exploded this season, becoming his team’s top scorer. Eyebrows were raised with 10 Liiga points in his DY+1, but nobody would have seen him putting up 14-30-44 and +6 numbers in his DY+2. But that’s exactly what he did! The crafty righty shot whose game just keeps getting slicker might have had even better numbers if he hadn’t been a key component for an upstart silver medal WJC squad for which he went 6-1-7 in 7 contests. In short, it’s been a phenomenal season and word is, he’s even getting consideration for the men’s WC this spring. As always, Finland has plenty of players to pick from but what doesn’t seem to be in question is Kiiskinen’s near future. An ELC is all but in the bag and even if he’s given another year in Europe, he clearly looks like he has the offensive skills and wherewithal to put his name on the NHL map within the next three seasons.

He can rip it!

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He (38) can dish it off!

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Oliver Kapanen - C - SHL - Montreal Canadiens 2nd rounder in 2021

Kapanen spent a whole lot of time with the Canadiens last fall, even suiting up for 12 games (2 assists) before being loaned out to the Olli Jokinen-coached Timra squad in the Swedish SHL, where he then proceeded to take the league by storm. To be clear, his 27- and then 34-point seasons in Liiga play the previous two years where strong indicators about where things were headed for this 21-year-old, but finishing this season with 15 goals and 35 points in 36 games, including five points in the final two games of the season was nothing short of an attest to where he’s at and how close he is to contributing at the NHL level. Strong on the face-off and opportunistic throughout the offensive zone, it’s hard to imagine Kapanen outside of North America next season. There are NHL teams for whom Kapanen could easily be seen as the top prospect at this very moment.

He (89) can snipe it!

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He can dish it off!

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He’s got face-off game…

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Honorable mention:

Nikita Artamanov - RW - KHL - Carolina Hurricanes 2nd rounder in 2024

We all knew he was good last season, putting up 23 points in 54 KHL games as an 18-year-old. Impressive! That wasn’t sexy enough to make him a first-round pick but seeing him jump from seven to 22 goals (38 points thus far) this season sure makes him feel like a first rounder now.

Semyon Chistyakov - D - KHL - Nashville Predators 4th rounder in 2019

The Predators have always been able to find defensive gems in the draft and after next season, Chistyakov will likely count as yet another. We’ve liked him for years now, but his career high 17 goals, 38 points, and +28 have put him in a whole new light at this point.

Simon Forsmark - D - SHL - Carolina Hurricanes 4th rounder in 2022

Goodness, Carolina sure knows how to pick them. Good-sized defenseman increased his output with even more responsibility this season. Just the type of player you hope to hit on in the middle rounds.

Artyom Galimov - LW - KHL - Anaheim Ducks 5th rounder in 2020

Some might say he’s the top draftee in all of Europe. After all, he’s got 35-24-59 and +30 in 65 KHL games this season. That puts him way up there in league scoring. However, he is already 25 and only really exploded this season, even if in a big way. What comes next?

Marcus Gidlöf - G - SHL - New York Islanders 5th rounder in 2024

We liked him a lot as a midrounder with strong upside last summer. Alas, even we didn’t see him turning into a late-season SHL starter and putting up some of the most solid numbers in the league. Throw in Gamzin (KHL) and the Islanders suddenly have some interesting goaltending options.

Samuel Jonsson - G - HockeyAllsvenskan - Edmonton Oilers 5th rounder in 2022

Just 21, the 6-foot-5 netminder is killing it for HA contender Karlskoga, (somewhat) coming out of nowhere with a 17-6 record and 1.88 GAA. Now we’ll see if he becomes the go-to guy in the playoffs.

Vitali Kravtsov - RW/LW - KHL - Vancouver Canuck (Rangers) 1st rounder in 2018

It’s taken a good long while, but Kravtsov has finally put in a season that has him firmly entrenched as a “scorer”, albeit in the KHL. 27 goals, 55 points, and a +28 are all career highs. So, uh, is he heading back to North America? His KHL contract is up...

Viljami Marjala - C/LW - Liiga - Buffalo Sabres 5th rounder in 2021

Several decent, but unspectacular seasons in the QMJHL have turned into two straight solid Liiga seasons and he’s just 22 now. Only eight goals this year, but 51 points! A top Liiga playmaker.

Vadim Moroz - LW/RW - KHL - Utah HC 3rd rounder in 2023

The good-sized Belarussian winger had two decent KHL seasons as an uncertain lower line player for a struggling Dinamo Minsk. Now he’s tearing things apart with 25 goals and 42 points. The +17 looks good too. And he’s just 21. Nice!

Ilya Nabokov - G - KHL - Colorado Avalanche 2nd rounder in 2024

Already an overage sensation last summer, Nabokov has done nothing other than double down on his potential with a 23-16 season featuring a 2.16 GAA and .925 SV%. Granted, those are fairly “pedestrian” technical stats in the KHL, but he’s a gamer and a winner.

Alexander Nikishin - D - KHL - Carolina Hurricanes 3rd rounder in 2020

It’s basically groundhog day again this year, even if Nikishin’s numbers are a wee bit lower than in seasons before. Of course, he’s second in KHL scoring among defensemen and his 17 goals are tied for first, so there’s that. The SKA Saint Pete’s captain is as NHL-ready as they come.

Joel Nyström - D - SHL - Carolina Hurricanes 7th rounder in 2021

Has arrived as a full-fledged SHL defenseman for a contender this season, putting up six goals and 27 points in the regular season. Hardly surprising that another Carolina pick is establishing himself as a possible NHL defenseman despite being a seventh round pick.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka - D - SHL - Detroit Red Wings 1st rounder in 2023

Kicked off the season with one highlight reel after another. 12 goals and 29 points is some solid blueline work for an SHL teenager. Had bouts with consistency and was good, but not overly dominant at the WJC. Still a dreamy prospect with a possibly special NHL future.

Arno Tiefensee - G - DEL - Dallas Stars 5th rounder in 2023

In a bad season for DEL goalie stats, Tiefensee is near the top across the board in most categories and the clear #1 for his Mannheim team. Brutally strong numbers and six wins in his final 10 starts to the season have folks excited in Mannheim now that it’s playoff time!

Zemyon Vyazoyov - G - KHL - Seattle Kraken 6th rounder in 2021

Second in the KHL with a 1.86 GAA and second overall with a .936 SV%. He’s taken a big step this year with a winning record, even if he’s still just a 1b for his team.

Yegor Zavragin - G - KHL - Philadelphia Flyers 3rd rounder in 2023

Zavragin is just 19 and already a full-fledged starter at the KHL - for a winner, no less. Looks like good things are ahead for the growing goaltender.

Other notables:

Zakhar Bardakov (COL, KHL), Maxim Berezkin (EDM, KHL), Henrik Borgström (WAS, SHL), Alex Chmelevski (SJS, KHL), Liam Dower-Nilsson (DET, HockeyAllsvenskan), Noel Fransen (CAR, HockeyAllsvenskan), Hugo Gabrielson (VAN, HockeyAllsvenskan), Kirill Gerasimyuk (FLA, VHL), Olaf Glifford (FLA, SHL), Vasili Glotov (BUF, KHL), Arseni Gritsyuk (NJD, KHL), Filip Hallander (PIT, SHL), Juha Jatkola (NAS, Liiga), Roman Kantserov (CHI, KHL), Oiva Keskinen (CBJ, Liiga), Bogdan Konyushkov (MTL, KHL), Josef Korenar (UHC, CZE), Rasmus Korhonen (UHC, HockeyAllsvenskan), Yaroslav Korostelyov (SJS, MHL), Matvei Korotky (STL, MHL), Topias Leiponen (BUF, HockeyAllsvenskan), Jakob Malek (NJD, Liiga), Ivan Morozov (VGK, KHL), Felix Nilsson (NAS, SHL), Victor Nörringer (NAS, SWE U20), Ilya Pautov (PHI, MHL), Prokhor Poltapov (BUF, KHL), Daniil Pylenkov (TBL, KHL), Dmitri Rashevsky (WIN, KHL), Vinzenz Rohrer (MTL, NL), Otto Salin (LAK, Liiga), Daniil Savunov (UHC, VHL), Melker Thelin (UHC, HockeyAllsvenskan), Lassi Thomson (OTT, SHL), Victor Söderström (CHI, SHL), Danila Yurov (MIN, KHL)

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #10

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 13:00:56 +0000

240824 Frölundas David Edstrom under ishockeymatchen i Strömstad Hockey Classic mellan Färjestad och Frölunda den 24 augusti 2024 i Skee.
Foto: Michael Erichsen / BILDBYRÅN / COP 89 / MI0707

Prospect System Ranking – 10th (Previous Rank - 6th)
GM: Barry Trotz Hired: July 2023
COACH: Andrew Brunette Hired: May 2023

Big things are happening in Music City, with Barry Trotz now guiding the ship. In his first full season as GM, the former bench boss made significant splashes during the 2024 free agency period, locking up big fish like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei.

In a somewhat surprising move, the Predators also re-signed veteran goaltender Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract. While securing a cornerstone in net makes sense in most cases, it threw a wrench in the future plans of McKeen’s top-rated goaltending prospect, and Nashville’s top prospect, Yaroslav Askarov, resulting in a trade to San Jose. The return included 109th ranked prospect David Edstrom, who slots in at the fifth ranked prospect for the Predators. They also acquired a conditional first round pick (previously acquired from Vegas) and goaltending prospect Magnus Chrona. For Trotz it did add to potential future stock but the prospects and pick also offer trade alternatives for an organization that has gone all in to win now.

Down on the farm, the Predators boast several prospects on the verge of making the leap to the NHL. Joakim Kemell (52nd), Fyodor Svechkov (159th), and Zach L'Heureux (82nd) are all coming off respectable rookie campaigns and have shown they can handle the pro ranks. Reid Schaefer (162nd), Ryan Ufko (171st), and newly acquired Jeremy Hanzel are also set to step into full-time roles with the Milwaukee Admirals.

Further from home, the Predators continue to develop a few intriguing names. Matthew Wood, playing at the University of Connecticut, Tanner Molendyk (107th), dominating at the WHL level, and recently drafted first-rounder Yegor Surin (133rd), who tore up the MHL last year and is now set to graduate to the KHL for the 2024-25 season, all represent exciting future pieces.

With recent gradations to Philip Tomasino, Juuso Parssinen, and Luke Evangelista, the process of retooling a team which has made the postseason nine out of the last 10 years is in full effect.

Nashville Predators Top-15 Prospects

1. Joakim Kemell

It’s becoming more and more common to see U20 players in the AHL these days, and it’s also becoming even more commonplace to see them performing well. Kemell left Finland to join Milwaukee two years ago and was an immediate impact player for the Admirals during their playoff run (with 8 goals in 14 playoff games). In his first full year in North America last year, Kemell was very solid, right there with the likes of Shane Wright and Jiri Kulich among the top U20 scorers in the AHL. In December, the Predators took a lot of heat for not allowing Kemell to go to the WJC’s to play for Finland, but perhaps it was best to allow him to have an uninterrupted first full year. The results spoke for themselves. Kemell’s best two attributes would be his shot and his quickness. He is absolutely dynamic in transition and he is right at home on the flank on the powerplay where he can hammer pucks with his lethal one timer. The focus moving forward remains strength on the puck so that Kemell can be more inside driven. The gains that he can make in the strength department likely dictate whether he is a full time Predator next season or not.

2. Matthew Wood

Wood, the 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft, shocked the hockey world when he announced that he was heading to the transfer portal this offseason, following a rather lateral development year with UConn as a sophomore. Now headed to the University of Minnesota, Wood will try to get things back on track with the Golden Gophers. The 6-foot-4, 200 pound forward is an absolute load to handle for defenders when he’s attacking in transition because his top speed has improved and because he protects the puck so well. Wood also dominates near the crease because of his quick hands and quick release. Moving forward, the focus will continue to be on his quickness in order to be more explosive to gaps and coming off the wall. Additionally, there’s still a lot of room for Wood to improve as a two-way player. The Predators will be looking for his physical intensity level to become more consistent and that would take his game to another level. One would expect that Wood will turn pro following his junior season at Minnesota and depending on how next year goes, he could make an immediate impact in Nashville.

3. Zachary L'Heureux

Coming into the year, if someone had told you that L’Heureux would be second in the AHL in penalty minutes in his first pro season, would you have been surprised? We certainly wouldn’t have. However, it should also be noted that he finished first in the AHL playoffs in goal scoring, an extremely impressive accolade. L’Heureux is at his best when he’s playing on the edge…or even crossing it, and it’s the combination of his pest-like qualities with his skill and offensive zone awareness that makes him a bit of a unicorn these days. L’Heureux is very much on track to be a quality middle six player for Nashville and that could happen as early as next season if he can continue to learn to rein things in a bit to stay out of the box. The former Halifax Mooseheads standout and 27th overall pick is right on track developmentally and Nashville has to be happy with his performance as a first-year pro.

4. Tanner Molendyk

Molendyk’s draft plus one year went extremely well as he has emerged as one of the WHL’s top two-way defenders. He was one of six defenders to average over one point per game and his Saskatoon Blades finished the regular season with the most wins in the league. Just as was the case when he was drafted, Molendyk’s best asset is his mobility. A phenomenal and effortless four-way skater, Molendyk’s skating ability makes up the foundation of his game. He’s aggressive in attacking the offensive zone and leading the charge in transition. He quarterbacks the powerplay well by consistently beating the initial layer of pressure. His rush defense is excellent because of his terrific gap control and ability to keep the action ahead of him. Would it be shocking at all to see Molendyk copy Kevin Korchinski’s development path by making the NHL next season? Stranger things have happened, especially after Tyson Barrie was allowed to walk. However, Ryan Ufko would probably be ahead of him on the depth chart.

5. David Edstrom

There probably isn't a hockey coach in the world who wouldn't fall in love with Edstrom almost immediately. He is about as consistent, versatile, and low-maintenance as hockey players come, and there is a ton of plug-and-play value to him, especially as a center. He can play the game any way you like and fit anywhere in a team's lineup. He’s already so wise and mature as a hockey player, and as a teenager this season in the SHL he looked like someone who could have already been in the league for 10 years. He's reminiscent of another former Frolunda center in Lars Eller, in the sense that he'll likely never be a superstar, but it's easy to foresee him as someone who plays 1,000 games in the NHL and is always great to have on your roster come playoff time.

6. Yegor Surin

Can you imagine Zachary L'Heureux and Yegor Surin on the same line? The Predators sure could. Absolute chaos. That’s why the Predators used the 22nd overall pick on him this year. Surin plays the game on (or even over) the edge consistently. It’s even fair to say that his physicality knows no bounds. He is a Tasmanian devil on the ice. However, like L'Heureux, Surin is also a skilled player who can make plays with the puck and who is capable of playing alongside other skilled players in an offensive role. That’s what makes him unique. We saw how valuable he can be in this past season’s MHL playoffs, where Surin was one of the top performers. The only real question is, how well does he process the game? That’s yet to be determined. The answer will dictate his future place in an NHL lineup. For now, he’ll return to Russia and look to earn more time in the KHL this season with Lokomotiv.

7. Fyodor Svechkov

After a few tumultuous post draft years in Russia, the Predators have to be very happy with the development of Svechkov this past season in Milwaukee. Not only did he continue to be a strong defensive presence, which was part of his allure as a draft eligible player in 2021, but his offensive game translated nicely too. He was right in the mix with the other top young forwards on Milwaukee’s roster and his attention to detail and versatility are sure to make him a coaches’ favourite during his likely long NHL career. He looks like a safe bet to at least become a very good third line forward for the Predators in the near future, although at this point, he would appear to be behind Kemell and L’Heureux in the pecking order. Returning to Milwaukee next year as an AHL sophomore would actually be best for his development, especially considering the likelihood that one of those other top young forwards gets promoted, which would open up even more ice time and responsibility for him.

8. Reid Schaefer

One of the prize pieces of the Mattias Ekholm trade with Edmonton, Schaefer is a former first round selection by the Oilers, and he just completed his first pro season with AHL Milwaukee. Given the depth of Nashville’s talent pool at the pro level, Schaefer played more of a bottom six role for the Admirals. Considering his play style as a two-way, power winger, that’s been a great fit for him, easing him into the increased pace of the pro game. He wasn’t able to find his way to the net to create scoring chances with the same sort of consistency as he did in the WHL, but he proved to be sound away from the puck and brought it physically despite being a younger player. He definitely did not look overwhelmed at the AHL level. Schaefer is likely to receive more playing time and responsibility this season and that will give us a better indication of his offensive upside as an NHL player. As is, he looks like a future NHL’er in some capacity, but he’s just further behind in his development compared to the other young star forwards in the system.

9. Ryan Ufko

The captain of UMass last season, Ufko signed at the end of the college season and immediately became an impact player at the AHL level for Milwaukee. He was an integral part of their playoff run and that has Nashville fans excited about his prospects for the future. Ufko’s biggest knock has always been his size, but he’s worked hard to improve his overall skating profile and his strength away from the puck. He’s more than just a powerplay quarterback, as he is a strong, heady, two-way defender. He has proven that he could be a potential top four fixture for Nashville in the future. What’s in store for him this year? Likely a full year in Milwaukee, so that he can continue to gain confidence. However, as mentioned with Tanner Molendyk, there’s a strong chance that Ufko could see NHL time this year based on how he looked to close out the last AHL season.

10. Teddy Stiga

Based on his rapid improvement over the course of his draft season, Stiga entered the draft as one of our favourite targets in the late first round, early second round range. Needless to say, we feel that Nashville made a great selection at 55th overall. Stiga is one of those players who is designed to be a tremendous complement to other skilled players. He proved that this past year playing with potential 2025 first overall pick James Hagens. He’s tenacious. He’s intelligent. He’s skilled. His skating has already improved a lot and should continue to do so. Sure, he’s not huge, but neither is a guy like Jake Guentzel, and he just earned himself a lot of money this offseason for being the perfect complementary piece. Stiga will attend Boston College this coming season as a freshman, and we expect his production to be immediately solid. Look for him to slot in alongside Hagens in BC’s top six.

11. Semyon Chistyakov

The Nashville Predators have been patient with their 2019 draft pick and that patience will need to continue given that his KHL contract runs another two years. But good things come to those that wait. Chistyakov is already one of the top young defenders in the KHL and he should most definitely be NHL ready by that time. A mobile, puck mover, Chistyakov projects as a solid second or third pairing two-way defender who can help manage the puck and even quarterback the secondary powerplay unit.

12. Andrew Gibson

Acquired from the Detroit Red Wings this past offseason, Gibson is a competitive, defensively oriented defender from the OHL. The big right shot blueliner is physically assertive and he makes opposing forwards earn their touches when he’s on the ice. Gibson blocks shots, clears the crease, and is generally just a solid defensive presence. This past year, his offensive game took a nice jump with Sault Ste. Marie, but his calling card will likely be in the defensive end at the next level.

13. Felix Nilsson

Nilsson was very much a draft favourite of many members of the McKeen’s Hockey scouting staff for last year’s NHL Draft, however his post draft year wasn’t a tremendous step forward. When he plays at the J20 level, he’s a key offensive contributor. When he plays at the SHL level, like he did most of the season with Rogle, he is a non-factor due to limited ice time as well as strength deficits. Nilsson is tenacious and a strong playmaker, but there’s a need to get quicker and stronger to perform well against men.

14. Adam Ingram

Ingram will be returning to St. Cloud State for his junior season and the expectation is that he continues to improve. He’s shown growth through both of his first two NCAA years, improving his skating and strength on and off the puck. The well-rounded pivot projects as a versatile pro as long as Nashville continues to be patient with him.

15. Kalan Lind

For the second straight year, Lind battled injuries with the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL as he dipped below the point per game mark. The physical winger plays an aggressive North/South game and projects as a quality bottom six player. The coming season will be a big one for him as he tries to play a full year and aims to take his goal scoring to the next level.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #6 Nashville Predators – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 18:00:29 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 12: Yaroslav Askarov (30) of the Nashville Predators tends net during the warmup period of the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and the Montreal Canadiens on January 12, 2023, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

In their first full season in charge, GM Barry Trotz and Coach Andrew Brunette surprised everyone by qualifying for the playoffs. They lost to Vancouver in the first round, but the possibility of a quick return to relevance seems possible. They have a solid core in veterans Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi and Juuse Saros. Forsberg managed to stay healthy and fired 48 goals. Josi was once again among the best defenders in the game with 85 points in 82 games. Saros did not play up to his usual standard but has been one of the league’s best for a few years. Those are building blocks to win now. Trotz is typically cagey about his intentions, but he did move Ryan McDonagh back to Tampa Bay to clear salary space for another potential high-end player. While he added some pieces at the 2024 deadline, they were minor, and included no future capital, perhaps an indication of what to expect.

While they have hung on to their picks over the last five years, it was only last season that they gathered a lot of picks, picking eight times in the first four rounds. They own a crazy nine picks in the first four rounds of the 2024 draft and two firsts and five picks in the first three rounds in 2025. This will be Trotz first draft in which his team is responsible for the picks. While likely to stay the course, Trotz could nonetheless be very active on the trade front and in free agency. They have a deep pool of nine picks ranked within our top 200, but the only blue-chip prospect is Yaroslav Askarov in net. Juuse Saros is a free agent following the season, and Askarov is the future. Saros name has already popped up in trade rumours, and Askarov elevating his play could only intensify speculation. One of the more curious organizations in the league in which direction it could take in the coming weeks.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Yaroslav Askarov	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	`20(11th)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
2	Joakim Kemell	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	`22(17th)	67	16	25	41	23
3	Matthew Wood	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	`23(15th)	35	16	12	28	43
4	Zachary L'Heureux	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	`21(27th)	66	19	29	48	197
5	Tanner Molendyk	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	`23(24th)	50	10	46	56	18
6	Egor Afanasyev	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	`19(45th)	56	27	27	54	60
7	Fyodor Svechkov	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	`21(19th)	57	16	23	39	18
8	Reid Schaefer	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	T(Edm-2/23)	63	7	14	21	39
9	Semyon Chistyakov	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	`19(117th)	59	4	20	24	16
10	Felix Nilsson	C	18	6-0/175	Rogle (SHL)	`23(43rd)	41	1	2	3	2
11	Ryan Ufko	D	20	5-10/180	Massachusetts (HE)	`21(115th)	37	10	16	26	14
12	Adam Ingram	C	20	6-2/165	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	`22(82nd)	38	10	18	28	18
13	Kalan Lind	LW	19	6-0/160	Red Deer (WHL)	`23(46th)	46	16	29	45	73
14	Jeremy Hanzel	D	21	6-0/190	Seattle (WHL)	T(Col-3/24)	66	17	43	60	40
15	Jesse Kiiskinen	RW	18	5-11/180	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	`23(68th)	38	4	6	10	8

1. Yaroslav Askarov, G, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

For a bit there, it looked like the Yaroslav Askarov era in Nashville was about to begin. Juuse Saros was the subject of heavy trade rumours and the Predators were nearly playoff after thoughts. But a second half surge saved their season and Saros remains a Nashville Predator…for now. Askarov, one of the top young netminders outside of the NHL, continues to play well in the AHL and has even performed well in a few appearances in Nashville this year. He’s ready to take that next step. At the very least, he will be Saros’ likely back-up next year with Kevin Lankinen being a pending UFA. However, there’s still a chance Saros moves this offseason, and the keys get handed to Askarov, which would make him a Calder favourite next year. The 6’ 4” Russian netminder has it all; the athleticism, reaction time, technique, and play reading ability. Simply put, he has the potential to be one of the premier netminders in the NHL.

2. Joakim Kemell, RW, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

It’s becoming more and more common to see U20 players in the AHL these days and becoming even more commonplace to see them performing well. Joakim Kemell left Finland to join Milwaukee late last season and was an immediate impact player for the Admirals during their playoff run (with eight goals in 14 playoff games). In his first full year in North America, he has been very solid, right there with the likes of Shane Wright and Jiri Kulich among the top U20 scorers in the AHL. His best two attributes would be his shot and his quickness. He is absolutely dynamic in transition, and he is right at home on the flank on the powerplay where he can hammer pucks with his lethal one timer. The focus moving forward remains strength on the puck so that he can be more inside driven. The gains that he can make in the strength department likely dictates whether he is a full time Predator next season or not.

3. Matthew Wood, RW, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

The 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft shocked the hockey world recently when he announced that he was heading to the transfer portal this offseason, following a rather lateral development year with UConn as a sophomore. None of this has changed Wood’s projection as a top six NHL winger. The 6’ 4”, 200 lbs forward is an absolute load to handle for defenders when he’s attacking in transition because his top speed has improved and because he protects the puck so well. He also dominates near the crease because of his quick hands and quick release. Moving forward, the focus will continue to be on his quickness in order to be more explosive to gaps and coming off the wall. Additionally, there’s still a lot of room for him to improve as a two-way player. The Predators will be looking for his physical intensity level to become more consistent and that would take his game to another level.

4. Zach L'Heureux, LW, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

Coming into the year, if someone had told you that Zach L’Heureux would be third in the AHL in penalty minutes in his first pro season, would you have been surprised? We certainly wouldn’t have. L’Heureux is at his best when he’s playing on the edge…or even crossing it, and it’s the combination of his pest-like qualities with his skill and offensive zone awareness that makes him a bit of a unicorn these days. He is very much on track to be a quality middle six player for Nashville and that could happen as early as next season if he can continue to learn to rein things in a bit to stay out of the box. The former Halifax Mooseheads standout and 27th overall pick is right on track developmentally and Nashville has to be happy with his performance as a first year pro.

5. Tanner Molendyk, D, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Tanner Molendyk’s draft plus one year has gone extremely well as he has emerged as one of the WHL’s top two-way defenders. He was one of six defenders to average over one point per game. Just as was the case when he was drafted, his best asset is his mobility. A phenomenal and effortless four-way skater, his skating ability makes up the foundation of his game. He’s aggressive in attacking the offensive zone and leading the charge in transition. He quarterbacks the powerplay well by consistently beating the initial layer of pressure. His rush defense is excellent because of his terrific gap control and ability to keep the action ahead of him. Would it be shocking at all to see Molendyk copy Kevin Korchinski’s development path by making the NHL next season? If the Predators move on from Tyson Barrie, a spot will open up for him to prove his worth. Either way, Molendyk looks the part of a future top four mainstay.

6. Yegor Afanasyev, LW, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

Next season is shaping up to be a make-or-break year for Yegor Afanasyev. He’ll be waivers eligible after three pro seasons and Nashville will have to make a decision on the former second round pick. The good news? Afanasyev has had, by far, his best pro season to date this year. He’s been consistently dialed in physically and that has led to more consistent offensive production. He’s always been at his best when he plays that power game and is driving the net to create opportunities, in addition to being active in puck pursuit. That has been the case this year. He still has the good top gear. He still has the lethal shot release. But everything else is starting to come together and he looks ready to take that next step. He’ll have to battle some of the teams’ other top young forwards (like the aforementioned Kemell and L’Heureux) for a roster spot, but he likely has a leg up given his waiver status.

7. Fyodor Svechkov, C, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

After a few tumultuous post draft years in Russia, the Predators have to be very happy with the development of Fyodor Svechkov this year in Milwaukee. Not only has he continued to be a strong defensive presence, which was part of his allure as a draft eligible player, but his offensive game has translated nicely too. He’s been right in the mix with the other top young forwards on Milwaukee’s roster and his attention to detail and versatility are sure to make him a coaches’ favourite during his likely long NHL career. He looks like a safe bet to at least become a very good third line forward in the near future, although at this point he would appear to be behind Kemell, L’Heureux, and Afanasyev in the pecking order. Returning to Milwaukee next year as an AHL sophomore would actually be best for his development, especially considering the likelihood that a few of those other top young forwards get promoted, which would open up even more ice time and responsibility.

8. Reid Schaefer, LW, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

One of the prize pieces of the Mattias Ekholm trade with Edmonton, Reid Schaefer is a former first round selection by the Oilers, and in the midst of his first pro season with Milwaukee. Given the depth of Nashville’s talent pool, Schaefer has been playing more of a bottom six role for the Admirals. Given his play style as a two-way, power winger, that’s been a great fit for him, easing him into the increased pace of the pro game. He hasn’t been able to create scoring chances with the same sort of consistency as he did in the WHL, but he’s been sound away from the puck and has brought it physically despite being a younger player. Next year, he is likely to receive more playing time and responsibility and that will give a better indication of his offensive upside. As is, he looks like a future NHL’er in some capacity, but he’s just further behind in his development compared to the other young star forwards in the system.

9. Semyon Chistyakov, D, Avangard Omsk (KHL)

The Nashville Predators have been patient with their 2019 draft pick and that patience will need to continue given that his KHL contract runs another two years. If at all, Semyon Chistyakov won’t be a Nashville Predator until at least the 2026-2027 season when he is 25. But good things come to those that wait. Chistyakov is already one of the top young defenders in the KHL and he should most definitely be NHL ready by that time. A mobile puck mover, He projects as a solid second or third pairing two-way defender who can help manage the puck and even quarterback the secondary powerplay unit. Over the next two seasons in the KHL, he should continue to bulk up to make him more effective in the defensive end. As is, his strong four-way mobility gives him a defensive advantage already.

10. Felix Nilsson, C, Rogle BK (SHL)

Felix Nilsson was very much a draft favourite of many members of the McKeen’s Hockey scouting staff for last year’s NHL Draft. His post draft season can probably best be described as neutral. That’s certainly not a great thing, but it’s not a bad thing either. When he’s played at the J20 level, he’s been a key offensive contributor. When he’s played at the SHL level, he’s been a non-factor due to limited ice time and strength deficits. He is at his best when he’s able to be a hound on the puck, using his energy to earn touches so that he can best utilize his terrific vision and passing ability to make his teammates better. He’s not a burner, but he has quick feet and strong agility. However, upgrading his top speed and linear quickness will be the focus next season. The 10th spot in this deep Nashville pool could have gone to several players, but we’re big fans of Nilsson’s potential to be a solid middle six contributor.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 19:22:52 +0000

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 26: Finland's Joakim Kemell #37 skates with the puck while Germany's Florian Elias #7 defends during preliminary round action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 26, 2021 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

1 - Yaroslav Askarov G

A huge amount of the natural goaltending talent in Yaroslav Askarov is clearly still there and that is good news for Predators fans. Another bit of good news for them is that he has recently signed his NHL entry-level contract. Unfortunately, here is where the good news ends, as we have to face the fact that Askarov’s performance since being drafted with the 11th pick in 2020 has been subpar at best. He has been very inconsistent, frequently mixing good games with really bad ones, has been notably playing without confidence, not to mention that his stick usage has become a punchline. One of the biggest factors in his slide has been the way his KHL team has shuffled him between different levels of Russian hockey; all the while his callups to the Russian U20 team were an additional interruption. None of this could have been easy to the netminder psyche, but it is not enough to excuse his disappointing play. Now safely within the Nashville organization, we can expect him to receive an abundance of ice time in the AHL, and a steadier developmental track as well, although the psychological component of his game may be trickier to fix. He is still more than young enough to expect a good chunk of the elite talent he displayed in his pre-draft performances to remain, but Nashville is staring down more question marks with Askarov than they would have reasonably thought possible when they drafted him two short years ago. - VF

2 - Joakim Kemell RW

It’s been quite a year for Nashville’s 2022 1^st first rounder. Things began with a boom scoring five goals in five Hlinka Gretzky Cup games which was followed by an explosion out of the gates in Liiga play. By the 16-game mark of the season, Kemell lead the league in goals with 12 (and 18 points). Alas, a shoulder injury in November led to lost time and contributed to a statistical lull upon is return, including a 14-game scoring drought. A late season resurgence was followed by a strong U18s with 6 G, 2 A for the bronze medalists. While his production had many thinking he would be selected in the top 10, the Predators were overjoyed to get him 17^th. Kemell’s ability to score has only been fortified since draft day, as he put up a remarkable 4 G, 8 A run at the 2022 summer WJC, finishing the tournament second overall in scoring, coming home with a silver medal for his efforts. Slick, burly, opportunistic, and constantly finding ways to display his offensive prowess, he is already signed to an ELC, with the plan for the upcoming season being to loan him back out to JYP in Finnish Liiga. For a franchise that has often found itself starving for more offense up front, the front office can’t be blamed for feeling Kemell could one day make the same organizational impact as current top-scorer Filip Forsberg. - CL

3 - Luke Evangelista RW

The 42nd overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, Luke Evangelista is coming off of a breakout year and will look to stay hot going back to the AHL. The former 14th overall selection in the 2018 OHL Draft didn’t have the most successful rookie season, finishing with only two points (2A) in 27 games. During the 2019-2020 season, Evangelista took a big step forward and produced 61 points (23G,38A) in 62 games. In the 2020-2021 season, Evangelista got the opportunity like some others to play in the AHL, which was an exception made because of the OHL being shutdown. During his time in the AHL, Evangelista finished with four points (4A) in 14 games. During the 2021-2022 season, Evangelista made the return to the OHL and came back very hot, having a breakout year and producing 111 points (55G,56A) in 62 games, which was 4th in the league for points, 1st in the league for goals, 8th in the league for assists, and 1st on the team in all categories. Evangelista’s best assets are his hockey sense and playmaking. He’s so smart in all three zones, reading and anticipating plays and being able to consistently have great positioning. He understands the how to manipulate defenders with deception, making him a threat with the puck, especially one-on-one, or in open space. He’s able to find teammates through traffic with ease and is able to make plays when in-tight and when under pressure, having great poise with the puck. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Evangelista will make his return to the AHL and look to bring his confidence from last year with him. - DK

4 - Fyodor Svechkov C

Fedor Svechkov, selected No. 19 in the 2021 draft by the Nashville Predators, is showing well at the KHL level this pre-season after performing strongly in the VHL (men’s second league) last season. He was traded from SKA to Spartak after the 2021-22 season, becoming part of a big deal that included other talented players. This will absolutely increase his playing time and therefore the quickness of his progression. Svechkov is a talented forward with great promise on offense, and a highly efficient work ethic in the defensive zone. He has a great understanding of the game and vision on the ice. He constantly creates opportunities for his teammates with his accurate and intelligent passing. He's got terrific long arms, can make great passes and shots, but also very effective at recovering the puck in pursuit. Another thing that makes Svechkov dangerous is that he is a fairly quick skater who is also balanced and sturdy, allowing him to play through contact. He projects as a future middle six forward. Svechkov's contract in Russia expires after the 2022-23 season. He could play in the NHL right after that if he continues his development and consistent play. - DB

5 - Zachary L'Heureux LW

“Chaotic” is a good word to describe L’Heureux’s previous season with the Halifax Mooseheads. What made him the 27^th overall pick by the Nashville Predators at the 2021 NHL Draft is his overwhelming physicality. He always gets under the opponents' skin and sometimes his lack of discipline can hurt his team. Zach had a lot of suspensions this season and considering his prominent role on the Mooseheads, that really hurt Halifax. However, L’Heureux is still a very impactful player that knows how to produce by getting to the greasy areas of the ice and by using smart passing skills. When he gets to his top speed (despite some minor deficiencies in his skating), he can really get going. Skilled and tenacious, there is still a projection that sees him become a quality middle six player for Nashville, or at the very least, a strong bottom six player who can bring consistent energy. L’Heureux will return to Halifax again this season and expectations are quite high for him. He needs to take that next step as a skilled producer and become one of the scoring leaders in the QMJHL, all while avoiding suspension and staying out of the box. - EB

6 - Yegor Afanasyev RW

After spending the pandemic bouncing around various Russian leagues (including 16 games in the KHL), Afanasyev made his North American pro debut with Milwaukee last year playing a middle six role. The Admirals had a veteran-laden roster, which pushed him down the depth chart a bit, but he did the best with his ice time and finished third on the team in shots on goal. The big power winger can be a highly dangerous goal scorer with his heavy shot and his soft hands in tight. He also can bring an element of physicality, striving to drive the net, using his surprising explosiveness to play through contact. Coming out of the OHL, there were concerns about his two-way play and overall effectiveness away from the puck, but these two areas apparently took nice strides forward in the AHL last year. It is critical that Afanasyev learn to use his size and speed to help track down pucks and for him to earn consistent puck touches. The other areas of concern are shot selection and overall decision making in the offensive end. As such, the Predators are likely to send Afanasyev back to the AHL for another season so that he can figure prominently in their offense and work to round out his offensive profile. He has the potential to be a consistent 30 goal scorer in the NHL and may not be far off from reaching that. - BO

7 - Semyon Chistyakov D

Semyon Chistyakov is a very interesting case, as he is an undersized defenseman, yet he loves to play physically and aggressively, while seemingly having enough strength to pull it off. Aside from that he looks mobile both with and without the puck, reliable and has a very strong shot from the blue line. Positive accolades aside, it has to be noted that during the last two KHL seasons he wasn’t able to convince his coach that was ready for fulltime KHL duties. Now with a new coach, Chistyakov should have more opportunities, although he is starting at a deficit with an injury keeping him out at least through the KHL preseason. Regardless of role, getting a full-time roster spot is the goal here, especially bearing in mind that this is the final year of his KHL contract. While doubtful that Chistyakov would be ready for the NHL after this season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he will choses to join the Predators organization and spend some time in the AHL in short order. It is still not easy for the smaller blueliner to make the NHL, but Chistyakov may just be the rare one who what it takes. - VF

8 - Adam Ingram C

Adam Ingram parlayed a solid rookie USHL season into a third-round selection by the Nashville Predators at the 2022 draft, going 82nd overall. Ingram scored at just above a point-per-game rate for the Youngstown Phantoms, routinely impressing with his skill and shooting ability. Standing at six-foot-two, Ingram has some filling out to do, but that didn’t stop him from finding success in the USHL. Right now, Ingram’s best tool is his shot. He scored 26 goals for the Phantoms last season and should be a goal scoring threat next season at St. Cloud State. Ingram’s offensive game isn’t limited to his work as a shooter, though, and he has flashed upside as a playmaker. Like many goal scorers, Ingram can be a bit streaky, and he’ll need to improve his consistency in order to reach the heights he’s capable of reaching in college. Ingram’s play away from the puck wasn’t outright bad, but he didn’t show enough consistent engagement in the defensive game for me to confidently project him as a center as a pro. Additionally, Ingram’s skating is in a similar boat. It’s not bad by any means, but he lacks the quickness to project as a separator in the pro ranks. If Ingram can fill out his frame and add a more physical dimension to his game, that would do wonders to round out his pro projection and add a higher floor to his profile. If he can become more of a consistent two-way player than he showed in the USHL, he could be a solid secondary goal scorer who makes his presence felt on both ends of the ice. But in order to get there, he’ll have some growth to do at the collegiate level. - EH

9 - Kasper Kulonummi D

A defensive prospect of decent size and unassuming three-zone efficacy quietly doing just about everything right is always a fit for the Nashville Predators. That was the case with Kulonummi, who heard his name called 84^th overall this summer. The right shooting defender plays a game with a very low rate of error, covering all angles and generally refraining from taking unnecessary risks. His safe and effective play rarely results in unnecessary giveaways. His game is about minimizing mistakes and minimizing the opponent’s puck possession. Overall, Kulonummi features a package of skating, stickhandling, passing, and hockey sense that makes him very projectable as a future bottom four, defensively oriented NHL defender who can still excel on the breakout, a trait that seems to be more and more common among modern Finnish defensemen. Still slight of frame, the careful blueliner put up 29 points in 42 U20 league games with the Jokerit program but proved offensively adept in international play collecting 11 assists in 11 combined U18 Worlds and Hlinka Gretzky Cup games. He also got into three games of pro Mestis play last season, seeing little ice time, but has signed on with Tappara of Liiga for the upcoming season to continue his development. Having proven capable of logging plenty of ice time in U20 play and very economical in how he exerts his effort, Nashville can afford to take a wait-and-see approach, especially in light of how packed their system is with defensive prospects. – CL

10 - Alexander Campbell LW

Alexander Campbell was a third-round pick of the Predators back at the 2019 draft, getting chosen just outside of the second round at #65 overall. Campbell was coming off of a productive, above point-per-game season in the BCHL. Campbell had a repeat performance with the Omaha Lancers the very next year in the USHL, scoring 57 points in 46 games before beginning his collegiate career with Clarkson University. At Clarkson, Campbell’s first year showcased his upside, but wasn’t perfect. The playmaking was there, but Campbell struggled with his perimeter-oriented offensive style and scored just four goals in 22 games. This past season, Campbell showed he made the right adjustments to his style and proved that he was more than just a perimeter playmaker. He played with more fearlessness and showed more of a killer instinct that goal scorers need. He utilized the inside of the ice more often and was rewarded, smashing past his four-goal mark from year one to score 16 goals in year two. Standing at five-foot-ten, 160 pounds, Campbell’s NHL projection is challenging. He’s a talented scorer who plays with pace and a high work ethic, but he lacks the type of standout offensive tools that carry most scorers. While he could have value at the lower end of a lineup and his defensive game last season was certainly improved, he doesn’t profile as a specialist role player in the NHL. If he can continue to score in college, a long career as an AHL scorer who can help in the NHL in bursts is Campbell’s most likely long-term projection, although he has an outside shot to be a depth scorer in the NHL. - EH

11 - Juuso Parssinen

The big forward has a very versatile game, which has allowed him to be a strong scorer at the Liiga level the last two seasons. Skating isn’t a strength, but he can find his way to the net and is strong away from the puck. After finishing last year with Milwaukee of the AHL, he will spend the full season there this year.

12 - Jachym Kondelik

After four strong seasons at UConn, Kondelik is finally turning pro this upcoming season. All eyes will be on the big center to see how he handles the pace of the pro game. The talented playmaker is tough to separate from the puck but skating is not a strength.

13 - Ryan Ufko

Talk about making an immediate impact. The undersized defender was one of top scoring freshmen in the NCAA last season with UMass, even as a blueliner. His skill as a powerplay quarterback is impressive and now the focus turns to improving play in the defensive end.

14 - Luke Prokop

The big defender had a terrific final year in the WHL last season, helping Edmonton capture a WHL title. His strength in the defensive zone was instrumental during the Oil Kings’ playoff run. The 6’4 blueliner is also an incredible leader for the LGBTQ+ community and was a very worthy recipient of the CHL’s humanitarian of the year award.

15 - Marc Del Gaizo

The former UMass defender has a bit of a murky projection as an NHL defender, but he does have intriguing skills at both ends. The key for him will be the continued progression of his on puck play at the pro level.

16 - Connor Ingram

It was great to see Ingram work his way back to prospect relevance again after some dark times that saw him enter the league’s player assistance program. He will compete with Kevin Lankinen for playing time behind Juuse Saros this season.

17 - Spencer Stastney

Stastney saved his best for last, starring as a senior at Notre Dame last year. This earned him an ELC with Nashville and the undersized, puck moving defender will start his pro career with Milwaukee this coming year.

18 - Gunnarwolfe Fontaine

A late bloomer, Fontaine is a tenacious offensive forward who loves to play at a blistering pace. The results at Northeastern have been lukewarm so far, but he could be in for a big junior season this year.

19 - Jack Matier

The Predators have to be happy with the progression that Matier showed last year in the OHL with Ottawa. He’s not shy to throw his weight around in the defensive end and his offensive game still shows potential.

20 - Graham Sward

The massive improvement he showed in the WHL last year earned Sward a selection by Nashville at this year’s draft. Already a strong defensive presence, his confidence with the puck and ability to create offense from the backend was much improved. He could be one of the WHL’s top defenders this year.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: NASHVILLE PREDATORS – RANK: #18 – TIER III

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 16:22:23 +0000

Nashville Predators

#18 Nashville - Long known for the development of top defensive prospects, the Nashville system is now very forward heavy after their top prospect - one of the top goalie prospects on the planet. Only two of their top ten now are blueliners.

ORNSKOLDSVIK, SWEDEN - APRIL 27: RussiaÕs Yaroslav Askarov #1 stretches across in attempt to make the save during semifinal round action against USA at the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fjallraven Center on April 27, 2019 in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Yaroslav Askarov

Askarov is frequently named as the most talented Russian goalie since Andrei Vasilevskiy and it is not being said without cause. He has great size, mobility, reflexes and actually pretty much every talent you want a young goalie to have. With that in mind, his most recent season was only average, playing across several Russian leagues and underwhelming at the World Juniors. Askarov still needs to polish his technique, becoming calmer in the net, which is hard to achieve with all these huge expectations pressing hard on him.

Being logjammed in his KHL team's goalie pipeline also doesn't help his confidence and unfortunately it does not look like things will get any better this coming season, as, unless something unexpected happens, he will probably continue to split time across different leagues. That is why Askarov will likely decide to sign with the Predators after this season. He needs to change his environment and playing as an AHL starter might get him on the right track. He certainly has the potential to be a perennial all-star at the goaltending position. - VF

Philip Tomasino

What a season it was for the 24th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Tomasino started last year by being a key member of the Canadian team that won silver at the World Junior Championships. Following the tournament, Tomasino went to Chicago of the AHL and was an immediate impact player, finishing the season at over a point per game and was named to the All-Rookie team.

An electric and dynamic play creator because of his quickness and high skill level, Tomasino excels because of a well-rounded offensive skill set. He evades checks in the offensive end by anticipating gaps in coverage, slipping behind defenders to establish himself as a scoring threat. Additionally, his skill and vision make him a lethal threat with the puck who can consistently drive time of possession in the offensive zone. Given his progression since being drafted, Tomasino is on the right track to become an offensive star for the Predators. After moving Arvidsson, losing Jarnkrok to Seattle, and losing Haula to free agency, Tomasino stands an excellent chance to become an NHL player as early as this coming season. Look for him and the newly acquired Cody Glass to establish themselves as top nine forwards in Smashville. - BO

Fyodor Svechkov

Svechkov’s game is all about versatility. He possesses a strong two-way game that can perform down the middle or on the wing (although we think he can be brought along as a center until he proves otherwise). He is an excellent skater, with certain deficiencies in that area that should be improvable with time and physical growth. He excels in puck protection and can dominate down low in the cycle. He puts in the effort to be a 200-foot player, working to try to regain the puck for his team instead of floating high in the zone and waiting for a teammate to force a turnover. It is likely that the Predators came away extremely impressed with his performance for Russia at the World Under 18’s.

With two years to go on his Russian contract, he will have time to take his game to that next level in a sustainable, consistent fashion. Playing in the KHL for the first time this season for SKA St. Petersburg, it will be about earning ice time and learning to play against men. In the second year of that KHL deal, he should become more comfortable offensively. At the end of his development curve, we will be looking at a potential top six NHL center, or at the very least, a really strong number three. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Zachary L’Heureux

Is getting compared to the likes of Tom Wilson and Nazem Kadri a good thing? That is what NHL scouts had to determine as they pondered over the selection of Halifax Mooseheads forward Zachary L’Heureux. An extremely talented player, L’Heureux was suspended four different times this season in the QMJHL for unsportsmanlike conduct and various other infractions. He is at his best when he can play on the edge, however restraint is something that he will definitely need to learn if he wants to have a lengthy NHL career.

The reality is...there just are not many players like L’Heureux anymore; players who can blend skill with toughness and tenacity. L’Heureux works with one of the strongest motors in the draft class. He is a joy to watch as his feet are always moving, and he is always buzzing around the puck. He plays aggressively in all zones, going for the hit when he can to jostle the puck loose anywhere on the ice. He is a tireless forechecker, attacking strongly as the first or second forward and applying intense pressure on the opposing defenders. Does his intense physical nature cause him to cross the line at times? Yes. However, his blend of skill and power could be a real asset to an NHL team if he can make better decisions and play more disciplined. His passing precision in transition can, at times, be sloppy, leading to turnovers. This may point to some limitations to his skill application at full speed. However, he will likely see two more seasons in the QMJHL before attempting to transition to the NHL with the Predators. Lots of time for his game to mature. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Egor Afanasyev

Initially Afanasyev was expected to play in the OHL last season, but with the season getting canceled, he used the opportunity to spend that time in Russia. Afanasyev's KHL loan was in some way unexpected even for his KHL team (CSKA Moscow), as it happened because they were asked by the Russian Hockey Federation to give him some game practice opportunities ahead of the World Juniors. While it was clear that CSKA weren't counting on him too much, Afanasyev was able to get some sporadic KHL opportunities and didn't look out of place at that level. His raw tools were certainly visible such as his skating power, ability to use his size as well as his great shot and willingness to use it. Additionally, the main goal for the season was achieved, as he made it to the U20 Team Russia World Juniors squad and was noticeable there too.

It is likely a much simpler situation for Afanasyev going into the next season, as hopefully the AHL season won't be delayed this time. There he will have to continue developing, working to become a more complete player before making the jump to the NHL. Likely still a few years away, Afanasyev projects as a top six goal scoring forward for the Predators. - VF

Rem Pitlick

While it might take a trade of one (or both!) of Matt Duchene or Ryan Johansen to open up an NHL spot down the middle in Nashville, an 11-game stint last season with the Predators at least proved that he could play without embarrassing himself or his teammates. Both of his NHL assists came in the same game against eventual Cup champion Tampa Bay. The tools have always been very exciting, starting with blazing skating speed and a very hard and accurate wrist shot. Both helped him score 20 goals as an AHL rookie in 2019-20, and then contribute one goal per game in a briefer AHL stint last year.

Given his age (24), it makes sense that the Predators preferred him on their taxi squad to younger, greener prospects, especially as their AHL club in Milwaukee was shuttered for the season. Pitlick has less additional growth to go through than the likes of Tomasino. Which leads to the next question, which is, what is he if his current state of play is the final product? The answer is likely an NHL’er, although perhaps not as a center. Even if Nashville jettisons Duchene and/or Johansen, the club is deep down the middle. Pitlick’s lack of strength on faceoffs suggests that center might not be his best path to an NHL career anyway. If Nashville is willing to play him on the wing, whichever side, where they are quite shallow, he could begin to establish himself this year. - RW

David Farrance

A fantastic skater with amazing offensive instincts for a blueliner, Farrance is a very exciting prospect, but not one without warts to his game. Drafted in the third round out of the USNTDP, where he was generally overshadowed by a pre-draft Quinn Hughes, his main problem was that everything that Farrance did well, Hughes just did better. He then needed a year at Boston University to acclimatize to the new level, and he has been on an upward trajectory ever since. Check out his point-per-game rates during his four-year collegiate career: 0.29, 0.54, 1.26, 1.45. That last mark came in a season limited to 11 games due to the pandemic, but his dominance was so pervasive, that he still garnered a nod as a Hobey Baker finalist given to the best player in college hockey each year.

It should be clear by now what Farrance does well. Let’s touch on the warts. He has grown since his time with the USNTDP, but despite now carrying an average-sized frame, he can be a bit soft to play against. With the puck, for all of his obvious skills, he is liable to forget about his teammates and play the puck for himself. Expected to spend this year in the AHL, he will have to re-adjust to not being the clear focal point of every attack and playing the team game once again. That includes avoiding forcing plays and getting comfortable making the safe move instead. IF he figures those things out, he has second pairing upside. - RW

Luke Evangelista

After a breakout draft year with the London Knights, the Predators made Evangelista an early second round selection in 2020. Due to the OHL hiatus, Evangelista was able to play for a very deep Chicago team last season, playing more of a bottom six depth role as he acclimated to the faster pro game.

Evangelista was hoping to use last year in the OHL as an opportunity to prove that he could be a primary play driver and that he possessed the kind of puck skill and creativity to be a future top six forward at the NHL level. Drafted as more of a complementary player due to his role on a deep London team, the true potential of Evangelista remains a bit of a mystery. Playing a depth role in Chicago certainly did not help to clarify that. Instead, Evangelista will return to London this coming season and lead another strong Knights team. In an OHL year with a lot of uncertainty (given the previous hiatus), Evangelista serves as a likely candidate to be among the league’s leading scorers. It is then that Nashville should get more clarity as to whether Evangelista has the skill to be a top six forward in the future, or whether he projects as more of the complementary middle six type that they drafted him as. - BO

Juuso Parssinen

An alternate captain with Liiga side TPS while still a teenager, Parssinen was a steal of a seventh rounder before he even signed his first contract with Nashville, which he did this May. It is still a bit of a mystery as to why he was available in the seventh round in 2019. He had great size even then, and while he has never been a great skater, he moved well enough for his size. Perhaps there were concerns that he played soft. Sure, he is not a traditional power forward, despite his size, but as has been the case with other aspects of his game, this has shown improvement over the past couple years. At this stage, he looks like a skilled playmaking center, who can also play on the wing, with hands quicker than his feet, although he is a notably better skater today than he was two years ago.

The top scoring teenager in Liiga last year, Parssinen will spend one more year there, on loan, before embarking on the North American phase of his career. Considering what he has already shown repeatedly in Finland, as well as internationally – especially at the WJC, although that wasn’t his first big tournament in the national colors – he has top nine upside, especially if his recent skating gains hold up once he crosses the water. - RW

Marc Del Gaizo

Marc Del Gaizo is one of many amateur (or in his case, a recent former amateur) defenders who would be considered far higher if only he wasn’t so small. Drafted in his second year of eligibility out of the USHL, he was lauded for his mobility and commanding presence from the point. At the time, he also played with enough jam to almost, but not quite, make you overlook his slight frame. In his first collegiate campaign, he put up remarkable numbers, or they would have been remarkable if his contributions were not completely obscured by the All-World presence of Cale Makar on the same blueline. In his second season, with Makar having turned pro, Del Gaizo’s numbers sank, and this time were outshone by Rangers’ prospect Zac Jones.

Finally last year, Del Gaizo’s numbers regressed even more, surpassed by Jones as well as St. Louis draft pick Matthew Kessel, but this time no one cares, as UMass’ blueline-led group took home the school’s first ever NCAA championship. Despite his slumping production numbers, Del Gaizo played workhorse minutes, contributing in every situation for the champs, and also got off to a quick professional start in a late-season nine-game cameo in the AHL. Nashville will have no need to rush his progression, and we will know more about his ceiling after a full season in the AHL anyway, considering the changes to his style during his time with the Minutemen. - RW

Semyon Chistyakov

The mobile and steady blueliner won a KHL championship in his first full season with Omsk. He recently re-upped with Omsk for two more seasons, but at the conclusion of that contract, he may be ready to make an immediate jump to the NHL if his development continues to trend upwards.

Tanner Jeannot

The road for the former Moose Jaw Warriors standout has been long and winding. However, the gritty power forward was a standout in the AHL and the NHL this past season, forcing the Predators to protect him from Seattle in the expansion draft. He will look to solidify his NHL role this season, proving that he is more than just a flash in the pan.

Jachym Kondelik

A massive power center, the Czech native will return to the University of Connecticut for his senior season this year. A beast down low, Kondelik can control and drive time of possession. However, he must continue to get quicker.

Ryan Ufko

A breakout star with the Chicago Steel this past season, Ufko is a terrific puck mover and powerplay QB because of his quickness and vision. A fourth-round selection by Nashville this year, he will start his NCAA career this season with UMass.

Jeremy Davies

A former standout at Northeastern, Davies has continued to perform well as a pro the last two seasons. Last year was split between Chicago (AHL) and Nashville and this year, the puck mover will look to secure a full-time role with the Predators. However, he will need to beat out a few veterans to do so.

WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – RUSSIA: Can Silver Medallist Coaching Change and Well Tuned Squad bring Gold?

Viktor Fomich — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 19:00:51 +0000

While the pandemic is changing the world of hockey (and outside of hockey) as we know it, Team Russia U20 is also undergoing major internal changes, as the long-time coach Valeri Bragin has been promoted to the senior team and Igor Larionov has taken his place behind the bench. Voices of skepticism can be heard about it in Russia, as Larionov folded his hockey agency and took up coaching only last season. At the age of 60, he is making his head coaching debut. Assisting Larionov are Vladimir Filatov and Sergei Golubovich, who hockey fans might remember as former Team Russia U18 head coaches, specifically as the coaches of the 2001 and 2002 classes respectively, which should be helpful, as they have known all of these players for several years now. Additionally, the team's goaltending coach is Nikolai Khabibulin, and that name might sound somewhat familiar to the fans too.

Speaking about the coaching and tactics, one thing that Team Russia may have an advantage over at least some of their opponents is that the majority of the team's players have a decent amount of game practice this season. This is extremely important, as it allows coaches to implement tactics that would result in a high-tempo game with quick transitions through the neutral zone — this kind of game style may be hard for many of the other nations to handle if they are rusty due to a lack of proper game action throughout their respective lineups. These tactics already worked pretty well for the Team Russia U20 at the recent Karjala Cup, where they were able to beat senior national teams of other countries, as some of their competition at that event wasn't in perfect conditions and couldn't keep up with the tempo displayed by the Russian roster. This shouldn't cause any kind of WJC euphoria for the team's fans though, as opposing coaches will be fully aware of this challenge and will do their best to neutralize it. That said, it is still a factor.

Ishockey, Karjala Tournament, Sverige - Ryssland: Vasili Podkolzin #19, RUS during Icehockey Karjala Tournament match between Sweden - Russia at the Hartwall Arena on 07. November 2020 in Helsinki, Finland. (Tomi Hänninen/Newspix24)
© Bildbyrån

From the men behind the bench to the younger men on the ice: and here we can clearly notice two focal points, players who are expected to carry a lot of responsibility and workload on their shoulders in order for their team to succeed. First one is the team's captain, Vasiliy Podkolzin, who is expected to lead a pretty stacked offensive lineup, as every member of the projected top 9 is expected to be able to generate quality offense. At the end of the day, though, it is Podkolzin who is the main star there with the corresponding expectations and responsibility.

As opposed to the offense, defense is not expected to be a huge strength for Team Russia this year, especially compared to the last year's talented group. Added to that, the defensive corps lost one of their potentially key players, as they will not be able to count on Hurricanes’ prospect Alexander Nikishin, whose health issues prevented him from getting an IIHF clearance in time. That is why the second pillar of this team is Podkolzin's KHL teammate and this year's undisputed starting goaltender, Yaroslav Askarov, and his task is expected to be quite a difficult one: he needs to prove not only that defense can win cups, but that goaltending can, too. Aside from the defense, if we are talking about the potential weaknesses when looking at the roster, there clearly is a deficit of right-shooting players as well as of high-end playmakers. Here is where it makes sense to look at projected top ten players in a more detailed way.

RW/LW Vasili Podkolzin

All eyes on Vasiliy Podkolzin this year, as when we think of this year's team, we inevitably think of him first — he is the captain here, it is his team, he has plenty of WJC experience under his belt already, so what can possibly go wrong? Reality is always a much more complicated thing though, as some criticism is heard about his recent KHL performance and his progress in general, which raises quite a few question marks before this tournament. Will he be able to lead the team's offense as expected? Will he develop chemistry with his linemates, pushing the line into true “first line” status? There are still things that no one ever questions though, including his motor, work rate and leadership on and off the ice — coaches can definitely rely on that.

GK Yaroslav Askarov

As mentioned before, Askarov's task this tournament will be a "simple" one: win games. One can doubt whether he will be able to do that if the support from his defensemen won't be on a sufficient level, but that is why he has been labeled as the next big thing in net since Andrei Vasilevskiy, and was drafted 11^th overall by Nashville — he has exactly that kind of natural ability to mesmerize even the most highly-skilled opponents with his confidence. Also, there is no doubt that he is extremely motivated, as his winning mentality will definitely want to prove that his subpar performance at last year's WJC was just a blip.

RW Yegor Chinakhov

Probably the biggest surprise of the draft, Yegor Chinakhov was selected in the first round by Columbus and forced draft experts to google his name that day (except, obviously, those who read McKeen's draft content). Now he is the KHL's top U20 scorer and his trademark shot makes even the best goalies there recognize him without Google, as it is hard to stop and, even if they do stop him, a juicy rebound often follows. Due to that asset, Chinakhov is expected to be primarily responsible for the secondary scoring. At the Karjala Cup, he did that very well, forming an effective second-line partnership with big center Ilya Safonov. Goalies should be prepared to be bombarded by Chinakhov from behind Safonov’s big screen, although even if they are prepared, I'm not entirely sure that will help them.

RW/LW Rodion Amirov

One of the flashier players on the roster, Amirov is still struggling to consistently perform at the KHL level, yet when called up to the U20 National Team he clearly gets a confidence boost and is able to be a constant threat in the offensive zone. He is smooth both in his skating and his shot, which can cause problems for slower defensemen as well as, of course, goalies. The biggest question here is how exactly coaches will use him: will he be a middle-six line's offense generator or more of a supporting guy on the top line? In either case, he will be an exciting player to watch at the tournament.

LW Maxim Groshev

Maxim Groshev is the type of player that doesn't cause coaches to worry about too much; he always brings a high-intensity, responsible game, not to mention that he has WJC experience from the last tournament. With so many attacking-minded players on the roster you can expect coaches to ask Groshev to think about the safety of the Russian net first, but that doesn't mean that he will be forbidden to join the attack, as he sure can contribute with his skating, shot and net-front presence.

D Shakir Mukhamadullin

Around the time of the draft, Mukhamadullin faced a solid amount of criticism for his defensive awareness and you can't honestly say that it was undeserved. That said, it is hard to deny that he is slowly but steadily making progress away from the puck. The question almost as big as Mukhamadullin himself is if that progress is enough to be the leading defenseman on this year's team, as his defensive game still looks far from perfect. His size and shot are always with him though.

D Semyon Chistyakov

If the imperfections of Mukhamadullin's game will still be there, he will need his teammates to cover for him, particularly Semyon Chistyakov, who will be expected to step in this role. Chistyakov is not big, but he is athletic, quick, and reliable, not to mention that he can also effectively support the attack. At the end of the day, while he might be not the most noticeable player either on paper or on the ice, there is a good chance that he will be among the most important ones for Team Russia.

C Mikhail Abramov

As was briefly mentioned in the intro, it might sound strange, but this year Team Russia has a potential weakness due to a lack of high-end playmaking talent (and I feel that Igor Larionov might understand the importance of that). Mikhail Abramov is expected to be the remedy for this issue, as he definitely has that kind of talent. Helping Podkolzin develop good chemistry or forming an effective duo with fellow Leafs’ prospect Amirov (or with any other scoring winger) — I would say Abramov is fully capable of fulfilling this important role.

LW Egor Afanasyev

Yegor Afanasyev is a high-end shooter, and shooters shoot: he will generate precise shots on goal at every opportunity from any position, so goalies better think twice before blinking when he is on the ice. What might be even more important here is his versatility: coaches can place him basically at either wing position and be confident that his shot-generating functionality will still work, which allows some flexibility when searching for the right kind of line chemistry.

LW/C Yegor Spiridonov

Another case of a deficit type of player, Spiridonov is the only right-shooting player on the roster, which makes him extremely important for the powerplay. Aside from that, we can expect him to bring his usual quality two-way game to the tournament, which might be not too flashy, but is still extremely important for the team's success.

"Sleeper". D Artemi Knyazev

If we take the time machine to travel four years back we would see Knyazev's name alongside Andrei Svechnikov's on the list of the upcoming elite Russian talent and would also hear people talking about him as potentially the best Russian puckmover since Sergei Gonchar (if not Vyacheslav Fetisov). Development and the transition from minor to junior hockey didn't exactly go great for him since then, but it is obvious that he still has those high-end puck skills. It is not easy to predict what Knyazev's role during the tournament will be, as he wasn't with the team at the Karjala Cup, but with the lack of defensive talent on the roster he will have every opportunity to prove that he still has what it takes to be considered a top prospect.

***

Plenty of other interesting players on the Team Russia roster, both drafted (Akhtyamov, Bychkov, Kuznetsov, Firstov, Ponomaryov, Khusnutdinov, Gritsyuk) and still draft-eligible (Chayka, Kirsanov, Safonov, Skotnikov), but for the rest of the roster, I would say that they still need to step up a bit to be considered as potential team leaders. No doubt that they will do their best to pull through.

As for the team in general, as readers might have noticed, a lot of questions need to be answered by both players and coaches to earn the gold medal and it remains to be seen if it will happen, but we can be quite sure that this team will put up a good fight and deliver some entertaining hockey.

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

Semyon Chistyakov – McKeen's Hockey

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #17 Nashville Predators – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

NHL PROSPECTS: Top five drafted prospects in Europe

Ivan Demidov - RW/C - KHL - Montreal Canadians 1st rounder in 2024

Dmitri Buchelnikov - LW - KHL - Detroit Red Wings 2nd rounder in 2022

Lenni Hämeenaho - RW - Liiga - New Jersey Devils 2nd rounder in 2023

Jesse Kiiskinen - C - Liiga - Detroit Red Wings (by trade) 3rd rounder in 2023

Oliver Kapanen - C - SHL - Montreal Canadiens 2nd rounder in 2021

Honorable mention:

Nikita Artamanov - RW - KHL - Carolina Hurricanes 2nd rounder in 2024

Semyon Chistyakov - D - KHL - Nashville Predators 4th rounder in 2019

Simon Forsmark - D - SHL - Carolina Hurricanes 4th rounder in 2022

Artyom Galimov - LW - KHL - Anaheim Ducks 5th rounder in 2020

Marcus Gidlöf - G - SHL - New York Islanders 5th rounder in 2024

Samuel Jonsson - G - HockeyAllsvenskan - Edmonton Oilers 5th rounder in 2022

Vitali Kravtsov - RW/LW - KHL - Vancouver Canuck (Rangers) 1st rounder in 2018

Viljami Marjala - C/LW - Liiga - Buffalo Sabres 5th rounder in 2021

Vadim Moroz - LW/RW - KHL - Utah HC 3rd rounder in 2023

Ilya Nabokov - G - KHL - Colorado Avalanche 2nd rounder in 2024

Alexander Nikishin - D - KHL - Carolina Hurricanes 3rd rounder in 2020

Joel Nyström - D - SHL - Carolina Hurricanes 7th rounder in 2021

Axel Sandin-Pellikka - D - SHL - Detroit Red Wings 1st rounder in 2023

Arno Tiefensee - G - DEL - Dallas Stars 5th rounder in 2023

Zemyon Vyazoyov - G - KHL - Seattle Kraken 6th rounder in 2021

Yegor Zavragin - G - KHL - Philadelphia Flyers 3rd rounder in 2023

Other notables:

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #10

Nashville Predators Top-15 Prospects

1. Joakim Kemell

2. Matthew Wood

3. Zachary L'Heureux

4. Tanner Molendyk

5. David Edstrom

6. Yegor Surin

7. Fyodor Svechkov

8. Reid Schaefer

9. Ryan Ufko

10. Teddy Stiga

11. Semyon Chistyakov

12. Andrew Gibson

13. Felix Nilsson

14. Adam Ingram

15. Kalan Lind

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #6 Nashville Predators – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

1. Yaroslav Askarov, G, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

2. Joakim Kemell, RW, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

3. Matthew Wood, RW, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

4. Zach L'Heureux, LW, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

5. Tanner Molendyk, D, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

6. Yegor Afanasyev, LW, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

7. Fyodor Svechkov, C, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

8. Reid Schaefer, LW, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

9. Semyon Chistyakov, D, Avangard Omsk (KHL)

10. Felix Nilsson, C, Rogle BK (SHL)

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

Risers

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

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)