The Nashville Predators have more than their marquee free-agent signings to look forward to, with an NHL prospect pool that continues to develop.
The Nashville Predators' NHL prospect pool overview is up next.
Tony Ferrari examines the Predators' strengths and weaknesses, gives a quick overview of their latest draft class, shows their positional depth chart and examines who could be next in line for an NHL chance.
A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer considered a prospect for these exercises, except in very specific cases.
First Thoughts
The Nashville Predators have entered a new era.
They have been arguably the NHL's most aggressive team in free agency, bringing in Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault while also continuing to build a solid prospect pool over the past few years.
The Predators have made a couple of trades this off-season to add prospects that they think fit their system a bit better as well. In their first trade, they swapped forward Jesse Kiiskinen and a second-round pick for defender Andrew Gibson, who had a very good season with the OHL's Soo Greyhounds. It was a bet on a physical defender with plenty of raw tools that could give him a bit more upside still yet to be uncovered.
Nashville also sent Egor Afanasyev to the San Jose Sharks for Ozzy Wiesblatt, exchanging players both teams think could use fresh starts. Wiesblatt played on Nashville’s AHL affiliate on a loan in the latter half of last season and looked as good as he has in pro hockey. Nashville wanted to keep that going, so they acquired the quick, hard-working forward.
Nashville’s prospect pool is solid all around, with good players at just about every level, but you can’t begin to discuss the pipeline unless you start with their all-world goalie prospect, Yaroslav Askarov.
The young Russian is an incredible athlete who displays insane flexibility and reflexes. He has explosive legs, bursting from side to side when he has to move laterally. Askarov has had to learn to control his movement a bit better because he can get a bit out of his own frame at times. He’s improved in this regard quite a bit, and he’s found a more consistent game because of it.
Fyodor Svechkov had a very solid rookie season in the AHL, posting 39 points in 57 games while showcasing the solid defensive game that he brings. His ability to read the ice and diagnose where the best points of attack are is impressive. Svechkov rarely makes a mistake, and when he does, he doesn’t repeat them.
He doesn’t necessarily have the flash or flair of some prospects, but he plays a pro’s game, understanding the importance of staying on the right side of the puck and breaking out of the defensive zone by using his teammates. With a bit more seasoning in the AHL, Svechkov could be a really solid, versatile middle-six center.
One of the most intriguing prospects in their system is Zachary L’Heureux. In his first full AHL season, L’Heureux had plenty of standout moments. He plays a game that blends skill, power, and pest seamlessly. He put up 44 points in 66 games while accumulating 197 penalty minutes, second in the AHL.
One defining moment of L’Heureux’s season was when he scored a goal on a partial breakaway in the playoffs and immediately chirped the opposing goalie to the point where he was sent to the penalty box for unsportsmanlike misconduct. L’Heureux can put up points and pester the opposing team, and it would be fun to see it in the NHL at some point this season.
Speaking of players who play a rough-and-tumble game, Kalan Lind plays Smashville hockey. He loves to crash and bang, throw some big hits and create havoc all over the ice. His offensive game hasn’t quite taken the step that many had hoped, but he still plays the kind of high-effort game that could make him a solid player lower in the lineup at the NHL level. He backchecks hard, forechecks with purpose and always looks to tie up his opponents defensively. Lind could be a nice bottom-six piece.
Last year’s first-round pick, Matthew Wood, saw a step back in production as a sophomore at the University of Connecticut. His mobility remained an issue, and he consistently found himself behind the play. Wood is a very good finisher, from both distance and in tight, which should allow him to find success next season when he will be transferring to the University of Minnesota. Wood is at his best when playing off a highly effective play driver, something he didn’t have this year. He was asked to do a bit too much, and it affected his overall game. Nashville is hoping for a bounce back in his junior season with a fresh start.
Tanner Molendyk was the Predators' other first-rounder from last year. The incredibly fluid defender saw an uptick in his production as he began to push the pace and look to be a difference-maker on the back end a bit more this past season. Molendyk has always seemed to have more to be uncovered, and he started to show some of that this season. He can absolutely fly up ice with the puck on his stick, and it can be incredibly entertaining to watch him when he is taking control of the play. He lacks that true killer instinct, though, which will limit him to being a solid two-way defender who excels in transition rather than an offensive difference-maker.
Since we are on the topic of offensive difference makers, Joakim Kemell is looking to break out in a big way at the AHL level in what will be his second full season. Kemell’s shot is still a lethal weapon that most players would be happy to have, but he needs to continue to drive into the slot and attack the middle of the ice a bit more.
Kemell's up-and-down effort at times can be an issue, but when he gives a full effort, he is out there throwing the body and hunting pucks down on the forecheck. If he gets off to a hot start, it wouldn’t be entirely shocking to see him in the NHL for periods of time this season if an injury occurs or there is some underperforming on the NHL roster.
Jack Matier played most of last season in the ECHL as the speed of the pro game was a big adjustment for the former Ottawa 67’s defenseman. His defensive game has always been his calling card, but when things ramped up, he had a bit of a hard time. At just 21 years old, Matier will be looking to take a big step and find a role in the AHL this season. The 6-foot-5 blueliner has always been bigger and stronger than his opponents, but now, he has to refine his game to continue playing the calm and collected game we are used to seeing from him.
U-23 Players Likely To Be on the NHL Roster
Yaroslav Askarov (G), Luke Evangelista (RW)
2024 NHL Draft Class
Round 1, 22nd overall - Egor Surin, C/RW, Yaroslavl Jr. (Rus.)
Round 2, 55th overall - Teddy Stiga, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
Round 3, 77th overall - Viggo Gustafsson, LD, HV71 Jr. (Swe.)
Round 3, 87th overall - Miguel Marques, RW, Lethbridge (WHL)
Round 3, 94th overall - Hiroki Gojsic, RW, Kelowna (WHL)
Round 4, 99th overall - Jakub Milota, G, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
Round 4, 127th overall - Viktor Norringer, LW, Frolunda Jr. (Swe.)
Round 7, 213th overall - Erik Pahlsson, C, Dubuque (USHL)
In what was the first official under GM Barry Trotz, the Predators made some very solid picks throughout the draft.
In the first round, they selected a player that screams Predators’ hockey in Russian winger Egor Surin. The forward loves to throw booming hits, play with power on and off the puck, and attack play head-on with an impressive effort.
Surin showed off some impressive puckhandling throughout the season and his offensive game is fairly diverse, using his release and playmaking equally to generate offense. Surin has always looked to put pressure on opponents and then attack their mistakes. He plays a heavy skill game, which should fit in on the Nashville roster nicely.
If Teddy Stiga was an inch or two taller, he would likely go in the top 20 of the draft rather than just outside of the top 50. The 5-foot-10 winger is relentless all over the ice, plays with decisive skill and consistently elevates teammates by playing to their strengths.
Whether Stiga was playing with James Hagens (a top prospect for the 2025 NHL draft) or Cole Eiserman (an Islanders first-rounder and record-setting goal-scorer), Stiga was a difference-making linemate. He is a dog on a bone when hunting the puck. Stiga is an excellent passer who is always looking to the high-danger areas, and when he doesn’t have the puck, he’s buzzing around through traffic and getting to the slot. If there is any player who could be the Brayden Point, Alex DeBrincat or Logan Stankoven of the 2024 NHL draft class, it very well could be Stiga.
While Swedish defender Viggo Gustafsson isn’t much of an offensive creator, he plays a sound, steady defensive game that relies on his excellent positioning. He moves around the defensive zone with purpose and rarely finds himself out of position. There is a steadiness to his game that, while unimpressive, allows him to play mistake-free hockey.
Ten picks later in the third round, Nashville swung on one of the most skilled players in the draft. Miguel Marques can look like an absolute magician with the puck on his stick, dangling and dishing the puck to teammates through traffic. He can handle the puck on his backhand and manipulate defenders into going in one direction so that he can find passing lanes.
Marques is a risk because his utility outside of the offensive zone is limited at best. He has the tools to be a more effective player when he doesn’t have the puck, but he hasn’t taken that step just yet. Waiting until the third round mitigates some of the risk with this pick.
To cap off the third round, Nashville took Hiroki Gojsic. He plays a powerful, downhill game with a heavy shot. He can get involved physically on the boards and win puck battles with excellent position and hip rotations. Gojsic must find a new level as a skater in the coming seasons, as his speed and mobility sometimes limit him. As a north-south attacker, Gojsic can beat a goalie cleanly, thanks to his release.
Jakub Milota was picked in the fourth round, and he bolsters a goalie pipeline that already has a star in Askarov on the way. The Preds have always been good at developing netminders, so Milota will benefit as the next man up. The Czech netminder’s first season in North America went well as he put up some solid numbers for Cape Breton in the QMJHL. His movement in his crease is fluid, and he seals the posts quite well. He can get outside of himself, so reining in some of his extra lateral movements will be key, but he has a solid base of skating to work with, even if he isn’t the biggest netminder.
As one of the youngest players in the draft, Viktor Norringer has plenty of extra development time. Norringer doesn’t turn 18 until Aug. 31, which is why he played half of his year in the U-18 division of Swedish junior hockey. He was dominant at that level, putting up almost two points per game, but at the U-20 level, his production dropped off significantly. With that said, his shot translated up to the level, and there is an element of power to his game as well. It’s an interesting bet on a player who will likely take a big step this year at the U-20 level full-time. At 6-foot-3 and nearly 200 pounds, it’s not out of the question to think he could even see pro games this upcoming season.
The Predators wrapped up the 2024 draft by selecting 20-year-old Erik Pahlsson. After playing in the Swedish junior ranks, Pahlsson moved to America to play in the USHL with Dubuque this past year, and he put up some really good numbers. He was one of the older players in the league, so it was to be expected, but his two-way game and smart instincts were immediately noticeable on North American ice.
Pahlsson is headed to the University of Minnesota in the fall, which will give him and the Predators ample time to see how his game develops. How much he can build around his shot and simple passing game will be the ultimate question. He must work on the details of board play and show he can be an effective forechecker as well.
Strengths
The Predators have a few guys who could legitimately fill important roles at each of the three forward positions.
On the left wing, adding Stiga to L’Heureux and Lind looks intelligent. Down the middle, Svechkov and Wood are the main features, but players such as Joey Willis and Adam Ingram are also interesting bets.
On the right wing, they have Surin and Kemell, who bring very different varieties of high-end talent, while Marques is the ultimate swing on the upside, and Wiesblatt might be a very solid bottom-six contributor.
When you go up and down the list of forwards they have, you find yourself saying, “Yeah, I could see how this guy would fit into an NHL lineup,” and you aren’t stretching for the truth when you say it.
Weaknesses
The Predators have a clear weakness at right-shot defense.
Although Matier is due for a bounce back, and they acquired Gibson in a trade, the prospects on the right side are not really all that impressive. None of them have high-end upside, and most of them project as bottom-pairing guys if they even make the NHL. It’s one of the hardest positions to fill, but the Preds must look for talent at the spot in next year’s draft.
Next Man Up: Yaroslav Askarov, G
It’s time. The 11th-overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft is ready to take hold of a spot in the NHL.
Askarov is arguably the top goalie prospect in the world right now. He has been dominant at times in the AHL, posting .911 save percentages in each of the last two seasons.
The Predators signed Scott Wedgewood to be the backup to the newly extended Juuse Saros, so there is a bit of a roadblock at the NHL level, but Askarov has done what has been asked of him. The 22-year-old Russian played in two games for the Preds last year, one start and one relief appearance, and he looked good in both.
There have been rumors that Nashville is looking to use Askarov as a trade piece, especially now that they’ve locked up Saros long-term. If they do decide to move on from him, he could haunt them for years to come.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: Teddy Stiga, Zachary L’Heureux, Reid Schaefer, Kalan Lind, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine
C: Fyodor Svechkov, Matthew Wood, Felix Nilsson, Adam Ingram, Joseph Willis
RW: Egor Surin, Joakim Kemell, Miguel Marques, Ozzy Wiesblatt, Aidan Fink, Simon Knak, Hiroki Gojsic
LD: Tanner Molendyk, Viggo Gustafsson, Adam Wilsby, Jeremy Hanzel
RD: Jack Matier, Luke Prokop, Andrew Gibson, Ryan Ufko, Kasper Kulonummi, Dylan MacKinnon
G: Yaroslav Askarov, Juha Jatkola, Jakub Milota
For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Future Watch and upcoming Yearbook print editions in The Hockey News.