2023-24 NHL Prospect Pool Overview: Nashville Predators

Tony Ferrari takes a deep dive into the prospect pool of the Nashville Predators, including their strengths, biggest need, recent NHL draft picks and much more.

Tony Ferrari continues to analyze each team’s prospect pool during the NHL off-season, with the Nashville Predators next up.

In this series, Tony Ferrari digs into each team’s strengths and weaknesses, their latest draft class, where their positional depth chart stands, and who could be next in line for a shot at the NHL. Note that a player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer considered a prospect for the purposes of these exercises unless mentioned otherwise.

The Barry Trotz Era has officially begun. The Nashville Predators had only one GM in their franchise history, with David Poile controlling the reins since their inception. Trotz takes over as the Predators’ new head hockey decision-maker, giving the team a new voice at the helm, sort of. Trotz was named the team’s first coach all the way back in 1997. He has certainly made an impact in his short time as GM, though, talking about how he wants to use the draft to find top-of-the-lineup effective players and using free agency to fill out the bottom of the lineup. He has been at Poile’s side since February with input into their deadline dealings and everything they did as the off-season kicked off.

Fortunately for Trotz, he wasn’t left with a bare cupboard, and the Preds have quietly built up a solid prospect pool. Yaroslav Askarov is one of the best goalie prospects in the world. The debate between Askarov, Jesper Wallstedt and Dustin Wolf can go any way depending on your allegiance, but most would agree that Askarov’s athleticism and ability to come out of his technique to make saves gives him the highest upside. His technique isn’t as refined as the other two, but he has some of the most refined skating of any netminder prospect in years. Askarov manages his depth in the crease so effectively as a result of his mobility, which allows him to challenge shooters and make his 6-foot-4 frame even larger than it is. He can get a bit hectic at times because he understands he can make saves that most other goalies could only dream of, but he has controlled the wild side of his game a great deal over the last year.

Zachary L’Heureux will be making the jump to the AHL this upcoming season. The tough and skilled winger may find his game fits the pro level better than it did in the QMJHL. L’Heureux has been known to toe the line and cross it at times in the QMJHL, and whether it is a good or bad thing, the pro game offers more leeway for the kind of shenanigans he likes to get up to. The former Mooseheads winger will throw a hit and then unload a big shot to beat a netminder clean from the slot. He is a bit of a throwback stylistically, which could make him a unicorn of sorts in the modern game.

Fyodor Svechkov is a highly intelligent two-way center who made the jump to the KHL for most of last season. Although his offensive game didn’t quite make an impact for Spartak Moscow last year, he did affect the game away from the puck as he always has. That’s the beauty of Svechkov’s game – he can be a real impact player whether or not he is scoring. His intelligent defensive game and sound transitional game should allow him to challenge for an NHL job, even if his offense just moderately improves.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Joakim Kemell is the Predators' most offensive-leaning prospect up front, with a wicked snap shot and a willingness to use it frequently. Kemell is a good forechecker, hunting down loose pucks deep in the zone and making life difficult for opposing defenders. Kemell will throw the body from time to time as well, but his shooting talent is definitely his bread and butter. He should be close to getting into the NHL lineup full-time.

Luke Evangelista and Yegor Afanasyev played in the NHL for stints last year. Afanasyev generated good chances and found a way to push play positively in the bottom six. The 6-foot-4 winger probably deserved to have more than one NHL goal last year, and he should find himself in a position to break out this upcoming season. Evangelista, on the other hand, did find some success at the NHL level. His 15 points in 24 games almost surely secured him a spot on the team this season, bringing tactical play and excellent habits in the offensive zone.

The Predators have been an NHL factory for defensemen in recent years, but they have a bit less talent in their defensive pipeline currently. Tanner Molendyk is a welcome addition, as they lacked a defender in his mold in the pipeline. Anton Olsson is a defensive-minded blueliner who can make a breakout pass but is limited in his offensive creativity. He will throw some big hits and impose his will physically, which should make him a solid second or third-pair defender.

Jack Matier took big steps since being drafted, rounding out his game and showing he is capable of playing a bigger role as he’s been given more opportunities. He was one of the unheralded members of the Canadian World Junior Championship team last year that won gold. He is primarily a defensive stopper, using his length to kill plays on the rush and his strength to shut down cycle chances.

Round 1, 15th overall - Matthew Wood, RW, Univ. of Connecticut (NCAA)

Round 1, 24th overall - Tanner Molendyk, LD, Saskatoon (WHL)

Round 2, 43rd overall - Felix Nilsson, C, Rogle J20 (Sweden Jr.)

Round 2, 46th overall - Kalan Lind, LW, Red Deer (WHL)

Round 3, 68th overall - Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, Pelicans U20 (Finland Jr.)

Round 3, 83rd overall - Dylan MacKinnon, RD, Halifax (QMJHL)

Round 4, 111th overall - Joey Willis, C, Saginaw (OHL)

Round 4, 121st overall - Juha Jatkola, G, Kalpa (Liiga)

Round 5, 143rd overall - Sutter Muzzatti, RW, RPI (NCAA)

Round 6, 175th overall - Austin Roest, C, Everett (WHL)

Round 7, 218th overall - Aiden Fink, RW, Brooks (AJHL)

Nashville put on a show during draft week. From the stage with live music and a block party outside to a who’s who of NHL personnel and media frequenting local establishments, Smashville lived up to the hype. On the draft floor, Nashville made some noise as well, with four picks in the top 50 and two picks in each of the first four rounds.

The Predators made Matthew Wood the newest member of their squad, adding size and skill to their pipeline. Wood had a very good season at the University of Connecticut as the youngest player in college hockey last season, putting up 34 points in 35 games. Wood’s skating ability is lackluster, but he has done an exemplary job in international play and at the college level of playing a high-end complementary role, connecting plays, and finishing with his very good shot. When he picks up speed and gets going off-puck through the neutral zone, he can attack downhill and give defenders problems. The 6-foot-4 winger improved his skating this season but remains a work in progress. Thankfully, he will have plenty of time to continue improving in college.

Trotz announced the last first-round pick of the Poile Era, and it wound up being Molendyk, a highly mobile blueliner who is exceptional in transition. When watching Molendyk, you often wonder why he doesn’t have more points than he does because he is constantly involved in the play, advancing the puck up ice. The 5-foot-11 blueliner is a crisp passer with four-way mobility in the offensive zone that should lead to more production, but he plays a conservative game and doesn’t activate down the wall as much as most players with his raw toolset. There’s a lot to like and a ton of potential with Molendyk, especially if you can coerce the killer instinct out of him.

Felix Nilsson is a decisive playmaker who shows excellent habits off the puck. The 18-year-old from Sweden is one of the youngest players in the draft class and showed plenty of growth this season, a great sign for future development. As he physically matures, he should become a bit more explosive, and his shot could add more pop. With his intelligence, skill and agility in open ice, he should be a decent bet to stick at center in the future as well.

Sometimes, a player fits a team’s vibe. Kalan Lind and the Predators feel like a match made in heaven. Lind is a physical presence who loves to play bigger than he is. He knows that to play his brash brand of hockey, he must add some strength to his frame, but he's willing to do so. Adding size should send shivers down his opponents' spines, especially since he already has a good shot, really leaning into it and generating plenty of power. He should become a bit more of a powerful skater as he adds to his six-foot, 155-pound frame, which will help him get around even better.

Third-round pick Jesse Kiiskinen has been a very productive player in junior hockey, scoring at the U-20 SM liiga level and internationally for the Finnish U-18 squad. He was one of the best players in all of Finnish junior hockey last year and could be in line to see extended time in the Liiga this upcoming season. His skating needs work, but he is a very good shooter, especially off the rush, and his passing ability is admirable. With some patience, he could be a very good complementary scorer.

Dylan MacKinnon is a defensive rearguard who understands how to keep a tight gap and use his stick and body to prevent zone entries. He isn’t the most dynamic puck-mover, but he is a perfectly capable breakout passer who will opt for the simple play over trying to go for the home run every time. MacKinnon is the definition of a meat and potatoes player.

There may not have been a prospect with a more interesting cult following than Joey Willis. The Preds' fourth-rounder does many of the little things right, which adds up to good results in the OHL. He lacks the high-end skill or mobility that are generally required to excel at the next level, but his motor and good habits should make him at least a solid AHLer with a bottom-six upside in the NHL. Willis is a great depth player who can make any team's bottom six better, driving positive results and making intelligent plays. He just lacks the “it factor” that would give him a higher upside.

As a September 2002 birthday, Juha Jatkola wasn’t a sure thing to be drafted, but the Predators wanted to ensure they got their guy. Jatkola had a very strong year with KalPa in the Liiga, showing the calmness and maturity in his game that had long been missing. Jatkola isn’t the best puck-tracker, but he will have time to improve as the 6-foot-1 Finn works his way toward the NHL.

Sutter Muzzatti, a big 20-year-old winger with some skill, went to Nashville in the fifth round. He took a big step in his overall game last year, and the Predators hope to find a late bloomer. Austin Roest went in the sixth round after a big improvement as a draft-plus-one forward, with a similar hope they can find a solid depth player with a bit of patience.

In what was a very touching moment toward the end of the draft, the New Jersey Devils GM and first Predators’ captain Tom Fitzgerald traded his seventh-round pick to Nashville so the outgoing David Poile could make one final pick to cap his illustrious run as an NHL GM. With tears in the eyes of so many in the building, the Predators' first GM, coach, and captain shared a hug to seal the deal as the entirety of Bridgestone Arena showered them in a standing ovation.

"For my last pick of all time, this is the player: Aiden Fink from Brooks," said Poile.

Fink is committed to Penn State University, where he will look to add strength and develop the finer points of his game. From a pure skill perspective, Fink is a very talented player who can thread the needle as a playmaker. He tore up the AJHL, and it was a moderate surprise to see him available as late in the draft as he was. It could be fitting that a player with the upside that Fink has was available for Poile as he made his final pick. Poile has routinely found a way to make the Preds a competitive team, and one final late-round gem would be the perfect way to go out.

The Preds amassed a solid pool of forwards with an abundance of scoring threats with various skill sets. 

Kemell and Afanasyev have high-end shooting talent, capable of putting up very solid goal-scoring totals in their prime. Kemell, in particular, could be a 35-plus goal scorer. L’Heureux and Lind bring physicality and pace, attacking defenders physically before looking to bury the puck. Svechkov is the 200-foot center that every team seems to need. Wood has the size and skill combination that NHL clubs covet, blending scoring and playmaking for an intriguing package. The Predators' strength is that if many of the players who are expected to pan out do so, they could attack in waves.

The Predators added Molendyk at the draft, but they lack a true power-play quarterback on the back end. They need the kind of player that can eventually take over for captain Roman Josi when he begins to fade toward the end of his career. Ryan Ufko is a skilled defender, but he has quite a few flaws in his game that will need to be worked on to earn NHL time. Molendyk has the skill set but hasn’t ever really developed the killer instinct needed. They have a few skaters who played on the power play at lower levels, but they must find a way to add a highly skilled defender who can take the reins and run with them.

After a solid 24-game stint with the Predators in March and April, Evangelista has earned the opportunity to play in the NHL to start this season. Evangelista isn’t the flashiest of players, but he understands spacing and how to manipulate defenders into giving him the passing lanes he wants. 

Evangelista should get an opportunity in the middle six based on the talent Nashville has on the NHL roster and could earn time with Filip Forsberg on the top line if he has a good training camp. His play-connector style meshes well with various skills, which should bode well if he’s moved around the lineup until they find the right fit.

LW: Zachary L’Heureux, Yegor Afanasyev, Kalan Lind, Reid Schaefer

C: Fyodor Svechkov, Felix Nilsson, Adam Ingram, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine

RW: Joakim Kemell, Matthew Wood, Luke Evangelista, Jesse Kiiskinen, Simon Knak

LD: Tanner Molendyk, Anton Olsson, Adam Wilsby, Graham Sward

RD: Jack Matier, Ryan Ufko, Luke Prokop, Kasper Kulonummi, Dylan MacKinnon

G: Yaroslav Askarov, Tomas Vomacka, Juha Jakola

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook, Prospects Unlimited and Future Watch print editions of The Hockey News.