The Nashville Predators announced Monday that they have signed forward Joey Willis [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/podcast-a-conversation-with-predators-prospect-joey-willis] – their fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft – to a three-year, entry level contract. Nashville's negotiating rights with Willis were set to expire this summer. Willis is the fourth member of the Predators' 2023 draft class to sign an entry-level contract, joining Tanner Molendyk, Kalan Lind and Austin Roest. After being selected by Nashville with the 111th overall pick in 2023, Willis went on to win the 2024 Memorial Cup as a member of the Saginaw Spirit, collecting 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in 17 postseason games. The following year, the Elmhurst, Ill., native, won gold representing the United States at the 2025 World Junior Championship, recording 2 assists in two games. Willis became just the sixth American to ever win a title at both the World Junior Championship and Memorial Cup. Image [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/3024192d-2c61-447e-85ed-35dbfdc4b1ed.jpeg] Willis has recorded 44 points (21 goals, 23 assists) in 38 OHL contests for Saginaw and the Kingston Frontenacs this season. He set a Spirit franchise record with five goals in a game on Nov. 13 at Flint and was named the OHL Player of the week in back-to-back weeks on Nov. 11 and Nov. 25 after a stretch that saw him rack up 18 points (13 goals, five assists) in five games. The 19-year-old has tallied 136 points (50 goals, 86 assusts) in 170 career regular season OHL games and 17 points in 28 career OHL postseason games. Willis turns 20 on March 14 but will be required to remain with Kingston until the conclusion of the OHL season, at which point he can be assigned to the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals or the Predators.
