Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby speaks to the media following a 2-0 win over the New York Rangers at Bridgestone Arena. The Nashville Predators announced Sunday that Adam Wilsby signed a two-year contract extension worth $1.5 million, tying their rising defenseman down in Nashville through the 2026-27 season. And, although things have not been great for the Predators this season by any stretch of the imagination, Wilsby, 24, has been one of the few bright spots, injuries notwithstanding. The modest $775k cap hit [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/predators-sign-adam-wilsby-to-2-year-contract] makes this signing a very clear home run for Barry Trotz and Co. Wilsby made his NHL debut earlier this season and has already managed to appear in 23 games. While he may not retain a regular spot in the lineup once the injured Jeremy Lauzon returns, Wilsby has proved that he belongs at the NHL level. In his short time with the Predators, the Swede has picked up one goal, four assists, and five points, and has quietly become a darling amongst the analytics community. Seriously! The X post linked above shows Evolving-Hockey's Goals Above Replacement chart, for defensemen only, displaying defenders who have played at least 100 minutes this season. Wilsby's mark of 87.5% goals above replacement is incredibly among the very best in the NHL, ranking higher than the likes of Marcus Pettersson, Victor Hedman, Filip Hronek, Johnny Kovacevic, Zach Werenski, Shea Theodore, and Jakob Chychrun. Notably, Wilsby's even-strength defense trails only Kovacevic in that image, with most of the others getting by with their offensive production on superior teams. Roman Josi and Brady Skjei are not getting any younger, and Lauzon's physical style of play and heavily limited offensive capabilities are taking a toll on him and the team. Wilsby, Josi, and Skjei are the only Predators defensemen currently contracted for the 2026-27 season [https://puckpedia.com/team/nashville-predators], with Lauzon, Luke Schenn, and Nick Blankenburg slated for free agency. As a waivers-exempt player, it is certainly possible Wilsby plays in the AHL for the Milwaukee Admirals again this season, though it is more than reasonable to say that he's earned an NHL roster spot with the Predators for the rest of this lost season. It's clear that the 24-year-old has leapfrogged defensemen like Kevin Gravel, Spencer Stastney [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/spencer-stastney-sent-ahl-next-nashville-predators-defenseman], and Marc Del Gaizo on the organizational depth chart. If he keeps developing on this upward trajectory, it's fair to believe that Wilsby could become a second- or third-pairing play-driving staple at the NHL level at the peak of his powers. Wilsby, the Predators' fourth-round pick in 2020, will become a restricted free agent in 2027 at the age of 26.
