On the Nashville Predators' roster for their Oct. 5 preseason game against the Carolina Hurricanes, one of the names was not like the others. It was Tanner Molendyk, Nashville's first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and the only player remaining on the training camp roster without a single game of NHL experience. He is a special player to the Predators organization who is expected to be a core piece of the team's defense in the future. Given how much he has impressed with the progress he's made in nearly every aspect of his game over the past year, however, Molendyk's future in Nashville may come sooner than anticipated. "Obviously, the first priority at his age right now is development," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said of Molendyk. "But he's shown he's pretty close to being ready to play [in the NHL]." Molendyk, who played alongside Roman Josi on the top defensive pairing in Saturday's loss to Carolina, is only 19 and therefore must either return to his junior hockey team in Saskatoon (WHL) or stay with the NHL club this season. Since junior players under age 20 can play in up to nine NHL games before being sent back to the CHL without it impacting their contract situation, Molendyk also has the option of remaining with the Predators for the start of the season for a nine-game "tryout" of sorts. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators last year that won't kick in until he plays his 10th game of professional hockey at either the AHL or NHL level. Molendyk remains one of the most fluid and mobile skaters of the 2023 draft class, making him incredibly difficult to defend against. He improved his offensive numbers in Saskatoon last season, posting 56 points (10g, 46a) in 50 games (an 18-point improvement from his previous season). "I think his feet are as good as I've seen in a long time," Brunette said. "It doesn't look like he's digging. And obviously, he's going to get stronger; but because he's such a great skater and so strong on his feet, he's less strong than you think he is. So those are, to me, his separating skills. I think there's an offensive capability, big time, just with the way skates and gets up in the play." Nashville Predators defensive prospect Tanner Molendyk speaks to the media on Day 2 of Rookie Camp. Skill-wise, Molendyk doesn't have anything left to prove in junior hockey, but there is also a logjam of defensemen in front of him on the Predators' NHL roster. It has resurrected the debate as to whether the minimum age requirement for the AHL should be revisited or even waived for players like Molendyk who may possess skill beyond their years. Brunette, however, doesn't think so. "No; that's just my personal opinion," Brunette said. "Everybody has an opinion. I think if he's not at this level, I think it's better to go back to junior, play in the World Juniors, still have fun, still develop your skill set. I think sometimes the American League's a really hard league for young players. And in my experience, what I've seen is usually when they go down there, they lose their game pretty quick, because it is really hard. So I think go down, play big minutes, be in every situation and have fun. The pro game is a hard enough game as it is; I'd rather you have another year of fun in junior and come ready to play [in the NHL]." Even if the Predators do assign Molendyk to Saskatoon to start the season, he will be eligible to join the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals once he turns 20 in February. Whether Saturday's preseason contest was the last we'll see of him in Nashville this year remains to be seen, but it's clear that we won't have to wait too much longer to see Molendyk in Predators gold full-time.
