At the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Nashville Predators welcomed eight new prospects into the organization. Below, I take a look at four of those players and their strengths, weaknesses, and potential.

Wyatt Cullen (F) | U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL) | 10th overall

One of Nashville’s two first-round selections, Wyatt Cullen joins a pipeline desperate for offensive gamebreakers. While some may have a bitter taste over not securing a top-five pick, Cullen is a swing-for-the-fences selection smart teams look for after the top tier of prospects.

The son of former Pred Matt Cullen, Wyatt is still just 17 years old as he heads off to the University of Minnesota this fall. His draft year was spent with the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP), where he posted 16 goals and 45 points in 40 games; at the U18 World Junior Championship (WJC), he added three goals and nine points in five games.

When you watch Cullen’s tape (#7, white), the first thing that stands out is his puck skills. He’s exceptionally confident with possession, tapping pucks between defenders’ skates, manipulating his stick around their frame to connect a pass, and maintaining a constant cradle while barreling forward with his head up. Cullen enters nearly every one-on-one situation thinking he can win; his stickhandling is so smooth you often have to rewatch to see how he executes certain plays. This asset makes Cullen a true top-six playmaker, injecting offensive firepower into any lineup.

Now, with that confidence, Cullen finds himself committing plenty of unforced errors. While he maintains excellent vision of his teammates’ positions, he can forgo a smart play for a highlight at times. He’ll naturally need to find some discipline there.

Despite the inconsistencies in his attack, when Cullen locates an open seam to the net, he exploits it without hesitation. If given any small window, he’s likely to bury the puck home.

Cullen’s skating is strong but not without its shortcomings. He plays with good pace and strong crossovers that help him provide great puck support (although I think he could increase his power per crossover ratio). But he’s still finding the right width for his base, and his accelerating gear could improve. Regardless, he times his bursts well and uses strong edgework to cut around defenders when driving through the offensive zone.

Aside from his touch, Cullen is a legitimate shooting threat. He plays off the puck so well, never lingering or waiting for the perfect moment to jump in, and keeps defenders working to guard him. Sure, he’ll pull off a nice deke in tight on a goalie, but he’ll also pick a corner from the top of the circle if you’re not careful.

Cullen’s defensive game is unremarkable but not a liability. He maintains that dynamism but can drift out of position at times. I’d like to see him be a little smarter on the forecheck, but he doesn’t stand out as untrustworthy. Big Ten hockey will be an excellent venue for him to build strength and improve his physicality, hopefully unlocking a bigger advantage in puck battles.

I expect Cullen to play at Minnesota for at least two, maybe three years. He projects as a top-six scoring winger and top power play threat, but the skating and skill are good enough to justify a middle-six, 20-goal floor.

Tommy Bleyl (D) | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) | 31st overall

Trading back up into the first round, Nashville took Tommy Bleyl with its second pick. The right-shot defender jumped from high school to the QMJHL in his draft year, scoring 13 goals and 81 points in 63 games for the Moncton Wildcats. Much like late first-rounders Tanner Molendyk and Cameron Reid, Bleyl is a smooth-skating, offensive-minded defender who plays a contemporary game.

The foundation of Bleyl’s (#16, white) game is his skating mechanics. He has amazing four-way agility, jumping into gaps, bursting around opponents, and covering off puck carriers with quickness and great timing. Bleyl can shut down a play at one end and catalyze one at the other in seconds with his anticipation and reads, besting even the most cerebral opponents.

Case in point above.

He approaches oncoming rushes well, using an active stick to disrupt opponents’ play and force them to the perimeter. When possession is up for grabs in the defensive zone, he leaps on the puck, draws in pressure, then makes a smart outlet play. And more often than not, he’ll join the rush he started as an extra forward and cash in at the other end.

In the offensive zone, Bleyl is dynamic, confidently providing puck support, walking the blue line, and connecting crisp passes to his teammates. He likes to shoot but is also fond of a head fake or nifty deke. His shot selection needs work—in strength, timing, and quickness, but NHL defenders will give him fewer options, hopefully forcing some discipline.

Bleyl’s positioning against zone entries is typically strong (again, the skating). His pivot timing is fine, and he can be strong on his stick. But his in-zone defense still needs development. Playing in one of the most porous junior leagues out there, I don’t put a ton of stock into his moments of success. You can tell at times he’s thinking about springing the zone before the defensive play is made, and quick teams can turn him around in the slot. Aside from preparing for stronger opponents, Bleyl will need to grow his off-puck positional discipline and develop strategies to box out bigger forwards as he progresses.

Before the draft, it was reported that Bleyl would return to Moncton for another season before heading to college. He’s since confirmed he’ll be going to Michigan State this fall, giving him a good runway to drill home better defensive habits against top competition. If that goes according to plan, Nashville could have a top-four offensive defender that can eat up power-play minutes.

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Justin Graf (F) | Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL) | 118th overall

In the fourth round, Nashville picked overage forward Justin Graf, hoping he hits as his brother Collin has. Similar to Bleyl, Graf jumped from prep hockey to juniors, scoring 23 goals and 55 points in 52 USHL games last season. He’s headed to Harvard this fall alongside Alex Huang.

Graf (#22, white) is certainly a longer-term project, but you can’t help but notice his positive fundamentals on tape. The winger understands his position well; he builds space off the puck, pressures on the forecheck, and gives his teammates good passing options. He knows when to push and pull to create opportunities, and his positioning allows him to jump on those—whether they be scoring chances or turnovers—often. His vision with the puck is strong, and it’s complemented by good playmaking and passing skills.

He’s not an overly in-your-face type player, but Graf won’t hesitate to run his relentless motor, crash the net, dig for loose pucks, and generally annoy opponents. It’s not always pretty, but he’s got the drive and soft touch to help offenses at higher levels.

Graf’s skating is a work in progress: he doesn’t have an explosive first step, lacks knee bend, and needs more power in his cuts; it’s the biggest thing holding him back from a long NHL career. While Nashville will be keen to work on those mechanics, his positioning and timing give him a leg up against current competition, allowing him to win races to open space against quicker opponents.

Given the hiccups with his skating, the Massachusetts native isn’t a natural play driver. While his motor is strong, his anticipation in the defensive zone and in transition don’t always meet his timing in the offensive zone. He found success this year by playing off teammates better at puck-carrying, and even with his skating improving, I suspect he’ll be a more complementary linemate at higher levels.

Graf is likely a three- or four-year college player. He likely maxes out as a decent AHL scorer, but if his path winds anything like his brother’s, he could be a good depth piece in the NHL.

Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte (D) | Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL) | 179th overall

With their sixth-round pick in the draft, the Predators took home Québécois defender Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte. The 18-year-old, right-shot blueliner just finished his second season with the QMJHL’s Val-d’Or Foreurs, scoring four goals and 38 points in 62 games.

When I dove deeper into Cosette-Ayotte’s tape after the draft, I struggled to overcome what I had seen throughout the season: a fine hockey player who lacked NHL traits. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good defender. He reads the play in front of him well, keeps good positioning between opponents and the net, pivots fairly quickly, and drives puck carriers to the perimeter of his defensive zone. But none of those skills are noticeably above-average playing in the weakest of the three major junior leagues.

Cosette-Ayotte’s an okay skater who can recover fairly well if caught out of position. He’s strong on his stick and keeps his head on a swivel in his own end. At his best, he smothers opponents and uses a good mix of his stick and body to disrupt plays. He’s fairly dynamic when guarding his net, pushing out to the dots to pressure the cycle without losing sight of backdoor plays.

Regardless, he can still get mixed up against more complex attacks. While he doesn’t commit tons of defensive errors, he can drift out of position, floating behind his net when his partner and center are already there or focusing too much on clearing one player from the crease.

In transition, Cossette-Ayotte’s game is pretty standard. His puckhandling is fine; he makes a pretty good first pass, and he sometimes starts the rush but almost always dishes it off before center ice. While I appreciate the reliability, he’ll need to get more dynamic to play in the contemporary NHL.

Offensively, it’s much of the same; the second-overall pick in the 2024 QMJHL Draft spent plenty of time on both the power play and penalty kill this season. While on the power play, his attack didn’t grow much. He distributes from the point—often short, crisp passes—and plans for others to pull the trigger. When he does, his shot is fine, but the selection and timing need improvement.

While I appreciate a player who is solid across the board, Cossette-Ayotte is reminiscent of many a recent late-round pick from Nashville. Instead of pulling lottery tickets on market inefficiencies, they stay risk-averse on picks that statistically aren’t likely to make the NHL. There’s a path for Cossette-Ayotte to get there, but as what: a seventh defender, maybe? We’ll see if I’m surprised, but I don’t see much ceiling here.

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Practically speaking, the trade makes sense for both teams. The Avalanche gain young talent and buys the team some much-needed cap space. The Predators add center depth in a sparse age bracket.

For MacFarland and Drury, however, the move is built on far more than age and dollars. It's rooted in mutual trust.

“I have a ton of respect for C Mac,” Drury said on Thursday. “Out of all the people I’ve met in hockey, he’s up at the top with people I respect the most.”

That respect goes both ways. MacFarland first acquired Drury in Colorado via a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2025, and C Mac wasted no time added him to Nashville’s roster.

“[Drury] is an elite two-way defensive center who, if he’s not one of the best defensive guys in the league, I don’t know who is,” MacFarland said.

During the 2025-26 regular season, Drury scored 10 goals and totaled 27 points while finishing with a +15 rating.

“He’s not a 25 goal scorer, 60 point guy but is elite defensively. Like elite,” MacFarland emphasized.

“That ability for a coach to throw out a center against the other team’s top players and feel comfortable doing so on the road is massive.”

MacFarland’s regard for Drury goes well beyond his on-ice play.

“He’s a culture changer,” Nashville’s GM said. “He’s a competitive guy on and off the ice that does the right things day in, day out, that helps teams win hockey games.”

Drury comes by that work ethic naturally. His father played eight seasons in the NHL, his mother was a standout lacrosse player at Harvard, and both were inducted into the Harvard Athletics Hall of Fame. Their examples continue to shape how Drury approaches his NHL career.

“Watching them in their lives, I’ve learned more than anything they’ve said to me directly,” Drury shared.

“It’s their consistency, and they preach that to me too. Sometimes people can just look at the big game you win or look at the end of the season and you say ‘Oh they just won that big game’, but it’s really throughout an entire season and nine, ten months of every single day showing up and being great.”

“That’s what separates the good players from the average and the great teams from the average team,” Drury said.

MacFarland has seen Drury walk out that philosophy in Colorado and sees how valuable that example will be for a Nashville team with plenty of young players working their way into the league.

“What Jack does off the ice and what he’ll do for the young players is really, really important long term,” MacFarland said.

Drury hasn’t spent much time playing on a team with a lot of youth. During his time in Carolina and Colorado, his teams were veteran heavy.

“The teams I’ve been on recently, I haven’t played with a ton of up and coming young stars, and I know the Preds have some of that talent,” Drury said.

“I think it’ll be great to see both ends of the spectrum there.”

MacFarland has great respect for how Drury has carved out a valuable role for himself on and off the ice. Drury is ready to show that trust is well placed again here in Nashville.

“He’s shown a lot of faith in my ability, and I certainly want to deliver for him,” Drury said of MacFarland.

“Incredibly excited that he’s brought me over with him again. I want to prove that it was a good decision, and that I was worth it.”

The Nashville Predators walked away from the 2026 NHL Entry Draft with eight new prospects. My quick reaction to each pick below.

Wyatt Cullen (F) | 10th overall | U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)

Cullen was Nashville’s best option at tenth overall. I would have loved to see Viggo Björck fall to them, but that wasn’t in the cards. Cullen was eligible for this draft by just a week, and the skilled forward still has plenty of physical growth to do. His U.S. NTDP numbers aren’t eye-popping, but the playmaking abilities are. The University of Minnesota will be a great spot for the Predators to potentially develop a game-breaking scorer who frequently finds creative ways to score.

Grade: A

Tommy Bleyl (D) | 31st overall | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

Nashville traded back up into the end of the first round to select Tommy Bleyl, who is a highlight reel defender. The comparisons to Samuel Girard are obvious, as Bleyl can legitimately dazzle from the blue line. With plenty of picks to spare, I love the swing here… all of a sudden, you’ve got Reid, Ufko, Molendyk, Huang, and Bleyl as potential puck-moving defenders; the odds for one or two to work out are good. I’m always skeptical of QMJHL talent translating to the NHL, but Bleyl was dominant this season: a good sign as he heads to Michigan State at some point.

Grade: A-

Dmitri Borichev (G) | 70th overall | Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)

I was a tad surprised at Nashville taking a goalie so early, especially with Jack Ivankovic’s future looking so bright. But Borichev is considered by many to be the best European goalie in this class, and the newly turned 18-year-old can be a longer-term project. He was one of the top 17-year-olds in the Russian junior league this year, posting a 0.929 save percentage over 24 games, maintaining great athleticism and strong footwork. He’s under contract with Loko for the next two seasons; we’ll see how much pro experience he gets during that time.

Grade: B

Jakub Floriš (D) | 106th overall | Lukko U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

Floriš is a 6’3” right-shot Slovak defender who made the jump to Finland last season. After excelling at the U18 level, he played U20 minutes, notching ten goals and 18 points in 38 games. I like his poise, defensive positioning, and skating mechanics; he’s gotten some valuable power-play time in the U20 SM-sarja too. He’s got some potential in the transition game, but those skills still need to grow; he likely won’t be a big-time playmaker at the pro level.

Grade: B

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Justin Graf (F) | 118th overall | Cedar Rapids Roughriders (USHL)

Graf is an overager, turning 19 next month. He scored more than a point per game in his rookie USHL season, showcasing good hands, offensive instincts, and a robust shooting arsenal. He’ll need to enhance his skating mechanics, timing, and decision-making as he moves to Harvard for the 2027-28 season.

Grade: D

Philip Hemmyr (F) | 138th overall | IF Björklöven (HockeyAllsvenskan)

The second overage player taken by Nashville, Hemmyr went undrafted in 2025 despite notching 33 points in 49 U20 games in Sweden. This year, he dominated that level with 19 goals and 44 points in 27 games, earning 36 games (with 12 points) in Sweden’s second-tier pro league. IF Björklöven was promoted to the SHL for 2026-27, which will be a good test of Hemmyr’s offensive touch and off-puck details against better competition.

Grade: C

Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte (D) | 179th overall | Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL)

Cossette-Ayotte didn’t stand out much to me the times I saw him this season, but he’s got solid fundamentals: okay skater, decent puck touches, some evasiveness from forecheckers. At this point in the day, you’re drafting for depth, and the right-shot defender has a chance.

Grade: C-

Charlie Puglisi (F) | 202nd overall | The Winchendon School (USHS)

I didn’t have a chance to watch Puglisi this year, but he was heralded as one of the best prep players in the country this season, scoring 26 goals and 76 points in 35 games. He has some filling out to do, but the seventh-round pick will have a nice development path heading to Kitchener and then Cornell. This late in the day, I appreciate any outside-the-box thinking.

Grade: B-

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It was a dream come true for 18-year-old Bleyl.

“The draft’s been a dream of mine, getting drafted in the first round especially,” Bleyl said after being selected by Nashville Friday evening.

He shared the moment with his family whom he credited with helping him achieve the goal.

“My whole family’s here [at the draft], and they’re so proud of me. I know I can thank them so much for everything,” Bleyl said.

“There’s some emotions going on. I’m sure later tonight they’ll be even more.”

Bleyl played in the QMJHL for the Moncton Wildcats this season and showed off an impressive offensive skill set from a blue liner. In 63 games played, Bleyl recorded 13 goals, 68 assists, and 81 points in the regular season. The Schenectady, NY native scored six goals and 28 points in the Wildcats’ 21 postseason games as well.

Bleyl was named the QMJHL Defenceman of the Year and CHL Rookie of the Year after the season ended.

His skill set attracted the attention of Nashville’s scouting department early.

“It’s the speed. It’s also the agility, and this capability probably even more so than just the flat speed,” Jeff Kealty, Predators Assistant GM and Director of Scouting said of Bleyl.

“He’s a really talented but efficient player.”

“The highlights that you see is just him carrying the pick up the ice and dodging checkers as he carries the puck up the ice,” Kealty added.

Bleyl was a player who was a specific topic of discussion especially in the days leading up to draft night.

“He’s a guy that…we talked about a lot from a strategic standpoint,” Kealty said.

“I can promise you, he’s a guy we had earmarked. If we could do something like this, we’d be really excited.”

Bleyl will head to Nashville for Development Camp that begins on Sunday. He will return to Moncton to play in the QMJHL, and in the fall of 2027 he will attend Michigan State University.

Rounds two through seven of the 2026 NHL Draft continue on Saturday.

This is what PBR’s prospect guru @OnTheFuturePBR had to say about Cullen:

One of the youngest players in this class, Cullen is nothing if not creative. If you watch just a few shifts, you’ll see eye-popping puck skills, shifty dekes, and impressive passing. He won’t necessarily be your top forechecker or your best defensive forward, but his vision with the puck is top-notch, and his transition skills are noticeable.

Cullen is a good but not great skater who relies on delays, turns, feints, and more to beat defenders, complete difficult passes, and pick corners with his strong shooting skills. If he can’t find his way to a high-danger scoring area, he’s likely to find a pass there instead. Cullen isn’t perfect in his playmaking, but his trial-and-error puck-handling should smooth out with development, and the skill is a great foundation for filling out other aspects of his game.

Cullen’s 2025-2026 season was derailed early by an injury. He missed over twenty games but finished the season with a solid 16 goals and 45 points in 40 games played.

The Moorhead, Minnesota native said bouncing back from his early injury was a positive part of his season.

“Having a late start with an injury, I think that was tough,” Cullen said. “I persevered through that, and I think that’s my biggest accomplishment this year.”

The 17-year-old wrapped up the season with the highest points per game percentage on the US National Under 18-Team roster.

Over the course of the year, Cullen also went through a major growth spurt shooting up from 5’8” to 6’1”. Adjusting to his new physique has expanded certain areas of his game.

“I really figured out ways I use my body a lot better and create more space for myself with the bigger body,” Cullen said.

Along with getting taller, Cullen also focused on getting faster and stronger this season.

Wyatt’s selection by Nashville is a full circle moment for the young forward and his family. His father Matt played 139 games as a Predator in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, and Wyatt shared what he remembered from those few years here in Nashville.

“I was six years old,” Wyatt said. “Just running around the practice rink. Those are the memories that I have - just watching practice and just being at the rink.”

Cullen is expected to return to Nashville this weekend as the Predators kick off their Development Camp on Sunday. He will then head to the University of Minnesota to play for the Golden Gophers in 2026-27.

“We know where we are. We know what we are right now,” MacFarland said on Thursday.

He is looking for the Predators to make incremental improvements wherever they can.

“There’s different ways to skin the cat,” MacFarland said. “We certainly want to improve in the middle of the ice.”

Nashville’s new boss has wasted little time making moves down the middle. On June 16th, MacFarland traded Magnus Chrona (G), a 2026 third round pick, and a 2027 third round pick to acquire Ross Colton from the Colorado Avalanche. Goaltender Isak Posch also joins the Predators organization as a part of that deal.

“I think Ross has a chance to play a bigger role here,” MacFarland explained.

In his three seasons with the Avs, Colton recorded 42 goals and 93 points. His contract for the 2026-27 season sits at $4 million.

“He’s a hard-nosed competitive winger that can flex and play center,” MacFarland said.

“His utility value here excited our group. We felt for that asset acquisition cost, it just made too much sense to bring in a competitive guy like that with one year left on his deal, who’s 29 years old.”

On Wednesday, MacFarland traded Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L’Heureux to Colorado in exchange for Jack Drury, Chase Bradley, and a 2029 third round pick.

MacFarland was lavish in his praise when it comes to what Drury can bring to Nashville.

“He’s young. He’s 26 years old. He’s got a lot of hockey in front of him,” MacFarland said.

“He’s an elite two-way defensive center. If he’s not one of the best defensive guys in the league, I don’t know who is.”

MacFarland’s personal experience watching Drury made this an important acquisition for the new GM.

“Having been around him and seeing what he does live and in color, there are things that he will impact that you can’t just put a value on.”

“He is a culture changer. His impact on an organization goes beyond the ice. It’s in the locker room, the impact on the future young Preds.”

MacFarland is paying careful attention to those future young Predators as he looks to move the franchise forward.

“The Brady Martins, the Cam Reids, the Surins, the Nilssons - and, you know, I don’t want to forget other guys - but I think those are the pieces that we’re gonna hopefully build around,” MacFarland said.

“That age bracket will definitely be a focus,” he said.

Adding to that age demographic will likely come via the draft.

“To get good players in that age bracket, it’s usually by the draft or it’s usually you pay a significant price. I think we’re going to be methodical in how we do things.”

“If there’s an opportunity to take a swing, we’ll look at taking it, but I’d be surprised if we were taking a swing at a 30-year-old and paying significant assets.”

MacFarland will be examining the development process for these young prospects within the franchise.

“I think development is going to be a really important part of our organizational puzzle, for lack of a better term. Getting a handle on strength and conditioning programs, development teams, what’s going on in Milwaukee. That’s going to be a big focus for us as a management team…for the foreseeable future.”

MacFarland is concentrating on incremental improvements, and that begins Friday evening with the NHL Draft. The Predators have the tenth overall pick and eleven picks across all rounds. MacFarland has been busy preparing.

“Obviously, in my time in Colorado we didn’t have a lot of picks at the top part of the draft, so my last few weeks have been a lot of video, a lot of getting to know guys at the top of the draft,” MacFarland shared.

MacFarland has also been talking to the other GMs ahead of the draft. Despite the activity that has already taken place with top ten picks exchanging hands in deals ahead of Friday’s first round, MacFarland expects Nashville to stick with the tenth overall pick - as of now.

“Right now, the expectation for me would be to make a pick at ten.”

“We’re excited about pick ten, and hopefully we’ll grab a good one at ten.”

The NHL Draft kicks off with the first round selections Friday at 6:00 pm CT. Rounds two through seven will take place on Saturday beginning at 10:00 am CT.

On day two of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Nashville Predators will have ten selections. Below are ten prospects I like that should be available at various stages of rounds two through seven.

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Niklas Aaram-Olsen (F) | Örebro HK U20 | U20 Nationell

The Norwegian winger posted 40 points in 29 U20 games this year and earned a 16-game stint in the top Swedish league; he also heavily contributed at U18 and U20 international tournaments this year.

Aaram-Olsen is a true sniper with the stickhandling hands to match. His hands, eyes, and feet move in sync as he attacks defenders and can deceive goalies with different shot types. He’ll need more shift-to-shift consistency and transition success to be an NHL producer.

Mathis Preston (F) | Vancouver Giants | WHL

Preston is a tad smaller than Aaram-Olsen but on the younger end of this draft, too. In his second full WHL season, Preston posted 32 points in 36 games for Spokane and another 12 points in ten games for Vancouver.

The British Columbia native is as quick as they come; every shift, you notice him blazing up the ice, carving around defenders with a nose for the net. He builds explosiveness through crossover steps, and his hand and foot speed match. Preston’s shooting talent is exceptional, and he’s a true threat to netminders as he barrels toward the slot.

He’ll need to diversify his attack, improve his defensive play, and strengthen puck retrievals to succeed at the next level.

Juho Piiparinen (D) | Tappara | Liiga

Piiparinen is a sturdy blueliner who is eligible for this draft by just a month. He spent much of this season in the Finnish Liiga, posting three assists in 29 games for Tappara; he also appeared in the U18 and U20 World Junior Championships (WJCs).

Piiparinen is first and foremost dependable. When he’s on the ice, you have little to worry about. He’s an okay skater, but his positioning and timing help him win more one-on-one battles than he loses. He uses his physicality wisely and loves his puck touches. Piiparinen is a reliable passer, a good mover in transition, and has smart instincts in the offensive zone.

If he can elevate his offensive play in the pros, he could be a top second-pair defender.

Jaxon Cover (F) | London Knights | OHL

An OHL rookie, Cover really caught my eye with London this year. In 67 games with the Knights, he potted 20 goals and 52 points and showed impressive details in his game most nights.

The Florida-born winger is as exciting as they come. He’ll dart through the neutral zone, beating defenders with slick hands; he’ll peel off the wall using his frame to guard possession, and he’ll clean up rebounds and put home chances in tight. His pace is strong, and his offensive vision is solid.

Next season will be an interesting test to see if Cover can elevate to a dominant scorer before heading to college in 2027.

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Tomas Chrenko (F) | HK Nitra | Slovakia

Chrenko turned heads at the U20 WJC, where he scored five goals and eight points in five games for Slovakia, but his production continued throughout the year, posting 31 points in 44 pro games back home.

Chrenko is on the older side of this draft class and stands under 6’0”, but his skill is undeniable. He’s a spectacular puck handler in tight corners and can turn the smallest passing lanes into scoring chances. His one-on-one talent was always obvious, but he developed more mature playmaking abilities this season, too.

I like Chrenko’s vision a lot, but questions remain about how much he can drive play and how he will respond to more physicality at the next level.

Samuel Hrenák (G) | Fargo Force | USHL

Hrenák spent much of this season in Slovakia at the U20 level but came to the USHL, going 7-1-1 in nine contests with a 0.918 save percentage.

The 6’3” netminder is technically sound with good lateral movements, post coverage, and cross-ice reads. Nashville has room and time for a project in-goal, and finding Hrenák minutes in college and beyond could be worthwhile for a potential NHL goalie one day.

Samu Alalauri (D) | Pelicans U20 | U20 SM-sarja

Samu Alalauri is a 6’2” right-shot defender who spent most of the season in Finland’s U20 league. In 40 contests, he scored six goals and 25 points and scored more than a point per game in 18 international contests. He’ll head to the University of Massachusetts next year.

It’s a bit hard to decipher what Alalauri an NHL team will get. In international play, he was dynamic on offense, attacking the circles and blasting one-timers from the dots; in league play, he was more conservative and focused on setting up his teammates in transition. Regardless, his skating mechanics provide a strong foundation for his game in both directions. He’s got good vision with the puck and is a reliable distributor under pressure.

If he can commit to a true two-way game, he could develop into a solid depth defender.

Alexander Bilecki (D) | Kitchener Rangers | OHL

I caught a lot of Alexander Bilecki when watching Cameron Reid this year, and he was hard to take my eyes off of. We rave about Reid’s skating, shiftiness, calmness with the puck, and distribution skills; all of those traits apply to Bilecki, and the latter may be even more interested in jumping into the play. Limited ice time held Bilecki to just 29 points in 60 games for the Rangers this year.

Bilecki’s defensive game is inconsistent (and I almost wonder about a team converting him to a forward), but his role next year should demand more and provide more clarity on his development.

Landon Hafele (F) | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL

Headed to Arizona State next year, Landon Hafele scored 15 goals and 42 points in 52 USHL games this season. The 6’0” winger is chippy, quick, and relentless. He doesn’t have elite speed, but his motor is always running, taking checks from opponents to buy time for teammates or finding open ice for a tap-in goal.

He’ll dig hard for pucks in a scrum, press hard against puck carriers in the neutral zone, and provide good pace in transition. Regardless, he lacks true high-end puck skills and needs to improve his vision and decision-making in the NCAA.

Vladimír Dravecký (D) | Brantford Bulldogs | OHL

Dravecký is an ideal late-round pick for me. The 6’0”, right-shot defender showed some offensive flashes this season, scoring 28 points in 58 games for Brantford. He moves well, walks the blue line with intent, has a solid shooting arsenal, methodically picks apart opponents' plays, and stays well-positioned in his own end.

He’s not the most physical, he doesn’t make the crispest passes, and his transition decisions could be smarter. Why not take a chance?

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Barring any trades before Friday, the Nashville Predators will draft 10th overall at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Chris MacFarland’s first pick is a critical one, not just because it’s a lottery selection, but because it will set the tone for how this franchise thinks it can contend again. With that in mind, below are five prospects I like in the first round.

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Viggo Björck (F) | Djurgårdens IF | SHL

Let’s get this out of the way first: everyone knows about Viggo Björck’s size. At 5’9”, there’s a natural hesitation to draft the Swedish forward highly, but at this juncture, Nashville should throw those concerns out the window.

Björck turned heads two seasons ago at the U18 level in Sweden before firmly establishing his name in the 2026 lottery conversation with 74 points in 42 games as a 16-year-old playing U20 hockey last year. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, Björck debuted in the SHL, played top-six minutes, notched nine points in seven games at the World Junior Championship (WJC), and earned an important role on Team Sweden at the World Championship.

I understand that not many 5’9” forwards (especially centers) become NHL stars, but I can’t deny what I’ve seen on film. Björck is a fluid skater; he doesn’t have elite speed but never stops moving his feet, powering through checks to maintain possession. He’s constantly exploiting open ice, finding passing lanes in transition, or hiding behind defenders to tap in backdoor goals. Björck is immensely cerebral and has the skill to be a top-of-the-lineup playmaker in the NHL. He reads the game extremely well in all three zones, uses good timing to create pressure and opportunities, and doesn’t get enough credit for his scoring touch.

I’m not confident Björck will be available at ten, but if he is, it’s worth the risk for Nashville.

Wyatt Cullen (F) | U.S. National Team Development Program | USHL

The son of former Predator Matt Cullen, Wyatt was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable U.S. NTDP season. In 40 games with the program, Cullen scored 16 goals and 45 points and added another nine points in five games at the U18 WJC.

One of the youngest players in this class, Cullen is nothing if not creative. If you watch just a few shifts, you’ll see eye-popping puck skills, shifty dekes, and impressive passing. He won’t necessarily be your top forechecker or your best defensive forward, but his vision with the puck is top-notch, and his transition skills are noticeable.

Cullen is a good but not great skater who relies on delays, turns, feints, and more to beat defenders, complete difficult passes, and pick corners with his strong shooting skills. If he can’t find his way to a high-danger scoring area, he’s likely to find a pass there instead. Cullen isn’t perfect in his playmaking, but his trial-and-error puck-handling should smooth out with development, and the skill is a great foundation for filling out other aspects of his game.

Malte Gustafsson (D) | HV71 | SHL

The brother of Predators prospect Viggo, Malte Gustafsson should be the third — fifth defender off the board on Friday night. The Sharks adding another top-ten pick suggests they’ll take a defender at nine (or two), but the wildcard of Keaton Verhoeff remains. Regardless, Gustafsson would be my choice amongst defenders likely available at ten.

The 18-year-old blueliner is already 6’4” and 200 pounds and has spent the past few seasons in the HV71 system with his brother. Last year, he posted 12 points in 19 U20 games and added three assists in his first 27 SHL contests; on top of that, he was nearly a point-per-game player at the U18 WJC for Team Sweden.

Gustafsson is as sound as they come and would be a nice complement to the likes of Cameron Reid, Tanner Molendyk, and Ryan Ufko. Given his size, Gustafsson’s footwork and skating strides are strong; as the season progressed, he worked in a robust arsenal of dekes to beat forecheckers and connect his first passes. His defensive positioning is consistent from shift to shift, and he pairs stickwork with smart physicality to force turnovers and pressure opponents out of high-danger areas. Gustafsson doesn’t have the best accelerating gear, but he can recover well and rarely puts himself in harm’s way. His puck decisions improved across the year as he developed into a strong two-way bet.

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Ryan Lin (D) | Vancouver Giants | WHL

The opposite of Malte Gustafsson, Ryan Lin is a 5’11” defender coming out of the WHL; in 53 games with the Vancouver Giants, Lin posted 14 goals and 57 points.

Lin is defined by his shiftiness, puck skills, and offensive instinct. His understanding of player movements and awareness of passing opportunities give his offensive game a buttery quality. At his best, Lin thrives with give-and-go touches, needle-threading passes to the slot, and quick hands to cast aside opponents. He moves okay without being an elite skater and enjoys jumping into (if not leading) his team’s transition.

Defensively, Lin maintains good positioning with strong backward skating strides. He works hard to keep himself between his man and the net and fights to win every puck battle. Despite that, Lin’s game isn’t without errors. He can be careless with his passing at times, and his lack of top-end speed can hinder his recovery when caught up the ice or in separating from some forecheckers. I have questions about how much he can score in the NHL, but the University of Denver is as good a place as any to develop a top-four pro blueliner.

Oscar Hemming (F) | Boston College | NCAA

I don’t expect Nashville to take Oscar Hemming tenth overall, but I don’t think it’s a crazy idea either. Hemming had a disastrous year off the ice, which prevented him from playing for a big chunk of the calendar. Contract disputes saw him bounce between Finland, the OHL, the BCHL, and eventually, college hockey. In 19 games with the BC Eagles, Hemming scored one goal and eight points.

That’s not a stat line for a top-ten pick, but it’s hard to hold anything against Hemming. At his best, Hemming dazzles with his size, puck skills, scoring touch, and offensive instincts. He barrels down the ice with the puck, dropping his shoulder to target the net or battling away from defenders off the wall, all while maintaining good vision of his teammates’ sticks. While his skating stride isn’t perfect, Hemming moves fluidly in transition, finds open ice off the puck, and has good strength and accuracy in his shooting arsenal.

Improving his timing, physicality, and quickness at the college level will be key to success in his sophomore year, but the tools are there for a top-six power forward in the NHL.

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That quote is attributed to American author and writer Richard Bach, and it’s been used countless times by countless people. Heck, I’ve used it my fair share of times. But through most of my young life, I never really understood the truth in it.

Then, I went to college. I experienced things I never had before. I met new people, explored new places, dealt with new weather conditions, laughed, cried, got angry, but, most of all, I was happy. However, through all of those experiences, I was forced to let things go, including writing about the Nashville Predators.

If you don’t know me, my name is Jeff Middleton. I was born and raised in Nashville, and I recently graduated from Miami University (no, not the one in Florida. That’s the University of Miami) with degrees in Journalism and Sports Communication and Media. I’m somewhat of a familiar face in the Nashville Predators writing sphere and on Preds social media (for various reasons depending on who you talk to). But I’ve loved the team all my life, and, more importantly, I’ve loved talking about the team, both good and bad. So, in the end, it all came back to me, and I write to you now as the newest member of the PenaltyBoxRadio staff.

As I join the group here, there’s a mix of nostalgia and excitement running through my veins.

When I first began my hockey writing journey six years ago at the ripe age of 16, I started on this very platform, Substack. All I had was an eagerness to write more characters and words than what an Instagram caption could hold. I had no experience. I had no editing mechanism or person to send my stories to. The process was simply writing a story, and after I felt satisfied reading over my work, I sent it out into the ether, hoping that it would be good enough for even a few people to enjoy.

Now, I’m back on Substack, writing not just with a team of people, but with a group of friends I have come to cultivate since beginning my journey writing about the Predators.

For those who aren’t familiar, I initially worked with this PenaltyBoxRadio group (save for Boyd Farrish, whom I interacted with enough on Twitter to essentially qualify as having worked with him) at the former Predators SB Nation site, On The Forecheck. Alongside our fearless leader Kate Rice, my two “writing dads” Bryan Bastin and (now head honcho) Shaun Smith, and, of course, Ann Kimmel, Eric Dunay, Eamon Smith, Nick Morgan, and a handful of others, I was able to do what I loved about the team I grew up loving.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I didn’t feel as if I could give my all to the On The Forecheck site and staff, and as everyone slowly began going their separate ways, I did the same.

But since that fateful day arrived, there was a part of me missing. My focus was (and still is to some extent) on the Miami hockey team and college hockey as a whole. Tweeting about the Predators was not in my best interest, whether from a social media engagement standpoint or a professional one. So, I spent a long, arduous while keeping my many, many, many thoughts on the current happenings within the Predators organization contained to family group chats or, of course, the EGOAT Afanasyev group chat, which has been part of my Predators Twitter life since I joined the app.

Then, I graduated.

I didn’t have the responsibility of staying focused on Miami sports. The mental wall fell like Jericho. And here I am because of it.

I’m here not just to boost my resume or get my “Predators writing kicks” in. I’m not even primarily here to work with my friends again (although that is easily the biggest bonus about this). I’m here because I believe Nashville Predators fans deserve the best coverage they can receive. Whether that’s through features, columns, in-depth news pieces, video breakdowns, or prospect profiles (although Eric D probably doesn’t need any help in that department), I believe that the more Predators coverage and things to talk about, the better.

I’m extremely excited to begin this journey with this great group of people. While I technically worked for a Penalty Box Radio rival early in my career, I’ve always admired and continued to read the coverage from this outlet. It’s an important piece of the Nashville Predators media puzzle, and being able to contribute here is an exciting idea come to fruition.

So, you may agree with what I say; you may not. But I’ll always be happy to give Predators fans something to talk about from a site that is a staple of the team’s coverage. It’s the least I can do for a franchise and fanbase that has done so much for me.

He ran in the highest echelon of hockey circles. He coached future NHL player Steve Christoph in high school. One of Larry’s sons was named Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey and went on to play and coach in the NHL. Hockey legend and “Miracle on Ice” coach Herb Brooks was often at the Hendrickson home.

“Herb was a guy that was around our house a lot,” Larry’s son Danny said.

“We had a pool, and they would be talking hockey. We were just young kids around, them drawing plays on a picnic table and having a Coors Light, just doing their thing.”

Even with the accolades and acquaintances collected over a lifetime, Larry believed his life’s greatest accomplishment was the foundation he started in 2011. The Hendrickson Foundation’s mission is to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families through the game of hockey.

“It was the thing he was the most proud of when he passed away eight years ago,” said Danny who now serves as the foundation’s executive director.

The foundation’s “Super Bowl” is an annual adaptive hockey festival.

During the last weekend in May, the Hendrickson Foundation hosted their tenth annual Hendrickson Foundation National Hockey Festival, also known as “Hendy Fest”. On May 28th, over a thousand youth and adult athletes arrived in Blaine, Minnesota to kick off a three-and-a-half day hockey festival unlike any other in the world.

“It’s the biggest, most inclusive hockey tournament when we talk about the disciplines that we support in the world,” said Danny.

Athletes competing in sled hockey, warrior hockey, blind hockey, deaf/hard of hearing hockey, and special hockey arrived in Blaine from all over the country. The Nashville Sled Preds youth team attended.

“We had 90 teams. We had 1,500 athletes. We had 170 games over the weekend,” Danny said.

Despite the name, the Hendrickson Foundation National Hockey Festival is not about Larry or the Hendricksons.

“Larry said this has to be fun, and it’s about the athletes and their families, and we’ve always looked at it like that,” Danny said.

“Every decision has to be based on how do we impact each athlete and each family. And we’ve never swayed from that philosophy.”

The weekend centers around community and competition. It’s a giant undertaking for the foundation, its sponsors, and over a hundred volunteers, but the priority is always the athletes and their families.

“I watch the parents who have been through different challenges and the joy they have on their face,” Larry’s son and Predators assistant coach Darby Hendrickson said.

“You see people engaged and in the moment, which is wonderful. Whether it’s sled or special or the warriors or blind or hard of hearing or deaf, I watch the parents. I watch the joy on their face. I watch them supporting their children. All the things they’ve been through, it’s a moment where they’re not thinking about the different times they’re in the hospital, a different time they’re with a specialist. They’re just in the moment, and their son or daughter is competing.”

The Faber family experienced that joy watching their daughter Paige compete in special hockey at this year’s festival. Paige’s brother Brock had just recently wrapped up a postseason push with the Minnesota Wild and was part of her cheering section.

“Brock Faber obviously won a gold medal on the men’s [Olympic] team,” Danny said. “We got a gold medalist that’s out there cheering on his sister, just like she cheered him on in Italy.”

“It’s a family affair, and the Fabers are just one example.”

The Foundation is also committed to helping athletes expand their skills. In the summer, they host a sled hockey combine in Ely, Minnesota that focuses on on-ice skill work, off ice strength and conditioning, and character development. Last year Josh Pauls, captain of the gold medal winning USA Paralympic sled hockey team and Erika McKee, one the best female sled hockey players in the world, attended.

“We don’t mess around,” Danny said when it comes to investing in the athletes and recruiting top-tier talent to help out.

Along with the combine and Hendy Fest, the Hendrickson Foundation supports adaptive hockey programs throughout Minnesota. They are committed to removing any barrier that might keep someone from participating.

“[Larry] had a vision, and he wanted to help,” Darby said.

Larry’s vision grew from small seeds planted after a terrible tragedy.

In his late 20s, Larry suffered a devastating hockey injury while playing seniors hockey. He broke his neck during a game, and his condition was so critical he was given last rites. The hospital where he was treated had never seen a patient recover from this type of injury.

They hadn’t met tenacious and driven Larry Hendrickson.

Larry spent nearly a year in a full-body cast and halo working tirelessly on his recovery. During that long recovery, a friend mentioned the sport of sled hockey to Larry. This brief conversation put adaptive hockey on Larry’s radar for the first time.

Larry’s accident also marked a spiritual awakening.

“He began to think about his life and what he could do to help others,” Danny said.

After his recovery, Larry remained committed to pursuing strength in body and mind.

“He used his body like a temple,” Danny said of his dad.

“How strong can I make it? How strong can I make my mind as well?”

Years later, Larry converted his garage into a gym and invited hockey players of all ages and skill levels to work out together there. His commitment to strength didn’t go unnoticed by Herb Brooks. When the opportunity came to help Brooks’s 1980 Olympic hockey team get stronger, Larry donated his gym equipment to the team who didn’t have the budget to buy new equipment outright. Later in his career, Larry would work with Brooks as a strength coach for the Minnesota North Stars.

After his impressive coaching career ended, Larry launched the Hendrickson Foundation in 2011. Larry decided it would be a family affair.

Darby explained how that conversation went.

“When he first started, he didn’t say ‘Can you help?’ He said, “You guys are gonna help.”

The foundation is now a part of the Hendrickson DNA with each of Larry’s four adult children playing a role in the foundation’s work.

Moving to Nashville to serve as an assistant coach for the Predators has changed Darby’s hands-on availability, but that hasn’t diminished his commitment. He missed this year’s Festival because he was serving as an assistant coach for Team USA at IIHF Mens World Championships, but he makes himself available whenever his schedule allows.

“I do my best in a support role to help in any way I can, whether it’s adult tournaments, different events. Obviously a lot of years I was in Minnesota. I was able to help and be present, but if Danny needs something he reaches out,” Darby said.

On a personal level, the lessons Darby learned from his father helped shape his own coaching experience in Minnesota and now in Nashville.

“How you are as a team, every different part of the game, how you work, there’s a lot that probably goes back to Herbie [Brooks] and my dad,” Darby said.

“I’m not his personality,” Darby said. “But he had a positive influence on people. He was strong in his beliefs. There’s a number of things that come out.”

Larry’s influence in Nashville is perhaps more clearly revealed through Andrew Brunette. Larry and Bruno became friends decades ago and remained close until Larry’s death.

Danny explained how that friendship came to be.

“In 2004 you have the lockout. Darby’s pro career is going to transition a little bit. My dad was kind of a band-aid [high school] coach and Bruno was his assistant. Never missed a practice.”

After the high school games, Danny and Darby would find Larry and Bruno hoping to break down the game as a group.

“They didn’t want to see us. ‘Get out of here, Darby. We’re talking high school hockey.’”

“They were best friends and we’re like ‘Can we just hang out with you after the game?’ And they wouldn’t let us,” the brothers reminisced.

“So Bruno’s coaching career started with my dad, and now he’s made it to Nashville,” Danny said.

Darby hears echoes of his dad at the rink in Nashville every now and again.

“Sometimes when [Bruno] does talk, I’m like ‘Oh, is that my dad? I’ve heard this before.’”

To learn more about the Hendrickson Foundation and the events and programs they support, check out their website at hendricksonfoundation.com. For more information about sled, blind, deaf/HoH, warrior, and special hockey opportunities in Middle Tennessee, contact USA Hockey’s disabled hockey disciplines program.

New Nashville Predators president of hockey operations Chris MacFarland has a laundry list of items to tackle in his first months on the job. He has to evaluate the front office (already in progress) and coaching staff, prepare for the NHL draft and free agency in a couple weeks, plus determine a path forward for a roster in the midst of transition. When it comes the roster, most of the attention naturally turns to the multiple veteran players who have been in trade rumors for over a year and could net sizable asset returns. But there also appears to be a more clear direction with multiple prospects seeing significant NHL ice time last season. The bigger job for Chris MacFarland is figuring out what to do with the Predators’ defense corps.

The Nashville Predators defense has been difficult to analyze in a comprehensive fashion. Analytically, they are… fine. Yes the Predators give up a ton of shots (6^th most at 5v5) but when you look at expected goals and high danger chances they rank 14^th and 21^st most, respectively. That’s not too bad. In terms of defensive zone time, the Predators ranked 5^th in the NHL. That’s pretty good! All together the defensive metrics might not be world beating, but its not terrible by any means. At the same time, however, the eye test saw the Predators struggle with zone exits and spend long stretches of time in their own end. So when they’re working together it goes well, but if anything gets out of sync the results go downhill quickly. Also, after Roman Josi’s 55 points the next closest contributor was Brady Skjei with all of 26 points. That is simply not good enough. To be a contending team your defense has to be more of an offensive threat than that. Without a clear identifier for the Predators defensive inconsistency the resulting viewpoint is that its a collection of players that don’t quite fit together.

The upside is the Predators have a number of good players still ascending. Adam Wilsby has shown a real ability to produce at the NHL level and he’s still only 25 years old. Ryan Ufko parlayed his strong close to the season into a role on Team USA’s World Championships team. Cameron Reid just finished an excellent season captaining his Kitchener Rangers team to the Memorial Cup championship. Tanner Molendyk and Andrew Gibson are both growing their games at the AHL level and look to be ready for a taste of NHL action soon. Even the oft-maligned Justin Barron had some of the best offensive metrics among the Predators defense corps. That is a very deep group of potential contributors where they don’t all have to have to hit for the Predators future defense to be in good shape.

The challenge for Chris MacFarland is that each of Roman Josi, Brady Skjei and Nic Hague are signed for at least two more seasons plus Nick Perbix has another year on his contract as well. With four of the six defensive slots occupied by veteran’s with term remaining, how will MacFarland create opportunities for the rising prospects? The move that makes the most sense would be to find a way out of Brady Skjei’s contract but that would seemingly almost take an act of Congress. Chris MacFarland is known to be a bold GM who isn’t afraid of the big decision but it will be interesting to see just how far he is willing to go to untangle the defensive mess.

“We are very excited to add Ross Colton to our forward mix,” MacFarland said. “Ross is a versatile, two-way winger who will add sandpaper and grit into our middle six group.”

The Chris MacFarland era of the Nashville Predators took the next step as the team announced that forward Ross Colton has been acquired from the Colorado Avalanche along with goaltender Isak Posch in exchange for a 2026 3rd round draft pick, a 2027 3rd round pick and the rights to goaltender Magnus Chrona. Ross Colton was originally a fourth round selection of the Tampa Bay Lightning and was a part of the 2020-21 Lightning team that won the Stanley Cup. Colton was traded from Tampa to Colorado in June of 2023 and has spent the last three seasons with the Avalanche. Over his career, Colton has notched 89 goals and 176 points in 404 regular season games plus another 28 points in 75 Stanley Cup playoff games. Colton is in the final season of a 4 year, $16M contract originally signed with Colorado.

Ross Colton will likely fit as a versatile middle six forward who can play both center and wing across multiple lines. With forwards Erik Haula and Tyson Jost set to hit free agency Colton fills the role of a veteran presence who plays with some edge, contribute offensively and take some of the pressure off the multiple young forwards growing into the NHL game. Also, as Chris MacFarland looks to establish a new culture in the Predators organization he is able to bring one of his guys into the room to help set the tone.

Isak Posch is a young goaltender who just completed his first full season of professional hockey. With Magnus Chrona heading overseas and Jack Ivankovic still competing at the NCAA level the acquisition gives the Predators another option in net below the NHL alongside Matt Murray, Ethan Haider and TJ Semptimphelter.

Quotes and statistics courtesy of the Nashville Predators, the NHL and Elite Prospects

MacFarland takes the reins at a critical time for the franchise. The Predators have missed the playoffs their last two seasons and haven’t moved beyond the first round of the postseason since the 2017-2018 Presidents Trophy winning season. Even with big offseason signings under Barry Trotz, Nashville remains firmly in the mushy middle…at best.

There is plenty of work ahead for Chris MacFarland. Wednesday’s press conference offered insight into the hiring process, MacFarland’s biggest question for the Predators, and his initial assessment of the franchise.

Top target

Majority owner Bill Haslam revealed that MacFarland was a top target for the position from the start of the GM search.

Initially the Predators hired the firm CAA to help in the process. While CAA stepped away shortly after the search began, the company’s early work immediately caught the attention of Haslam and the hiring committee.

“They gave us an initial list of people and when they did I looked and I said, ‘Wow, if we could get Chris MacFarland that would be terrific’.”

That was the consensus from a number of NHL executives Haslam spoke with during the process.

“I said, ‘If you were me, who would you go get?’ And Chris’s name came up time and time again from the very best people in the league.”

“They all said the exact same thing.”

MacFarland had a year remaining on his contract with the Avalanche. It was evident that Colorado would make a deep playoff run, so Haslam used the time to investigate and interview other potential candidates. Once Colorado’s postseason wrapped up, Joe Sakic granted MacFarland permission to talk to the hiring committee in Nashville and a deal was made relatively quickly.

“When we finally could talk to Chris, we immediately took every advantage to jump in there quick with a conversation, because I knew that we would have an opportunity, but it wasn’t a given thing that he would like us.”

It seems Colorado wanted to keep MacFarland but weren’t able to match the opportunity and offer from Nashville. While details of the deal haven’t been made public, it is rumored to be a financially substantial six year contract.

MacFarland’s one question for Nashville

While the hiring committee had plenty of questions for MacFarland, he had one very important question he needed answered right away.

“I said, ‘Mr. Haslam, is the goal here to make the playoffs, make a wild card, feel good about that, and high five each other? Or is the goal here to build a team that can compete and try to bring a Stanley Cup to Broadway?’”, MacFarland shared.

“And he didn’t hesitate. ‘The goal here is to try to win.’ And that’s really quite honest, that’s all I needed to hear.”

Assessing the Predators

MacFarland’s first step is to assess the Predators in their current iteration. Does he see this as a team close to contention with some roster tweaks or is this a team that needs to step back from some veteran contracts and play a long game back to relevance?

MacFarland admits he has a lot of work to do to answer that question succinctly, but he was frank about how he views the process of becoming a consistently competitive franchise in the league.

“Sometimes there’s short term pain. Sometimes there’s - and I’m not even sure it’s pain. I, for me, it’s just part of the journey. It’s part of the process to building a team that can win consistently and have a chance,” MacFarland said.

“We’re not where we want to be,” MacFarland said.

MacFarland has a working knowledge of the Predators roster and prospects but will be spending time learning more about what Nashville has in house. He said the players will let him know exactly who this team is with their play on the ice.

“I’m going to need time to poke around under the hood here and to truly get a feel for that,” MacFarland said of the current state of the franchise.

“Some of it might not come until the fall and rookie camp and training camp and the start of the season. I always say at least the players will tell us how the season starts where we’re at.”

“We’re going to look to get better,” MacFarland said. “How quick that happens, again the players will dictate that.”

MacFarland pointed out that Colorado’s return to contention happened incrementally and not with one or two big, sweeping moves. He referred to the process as “small step by small step”.

“Sometimes that takes time, and sometimes that take honesty about where you’re at in an organization - honesty with the players and the coaches and the fans and the narrative to the people, the Preds fans,” MacFarland said.

Acquiring top talent

MacFarland left a franchise that drafted top talent like Nathan McKinnon, Cale Makar, and Gabriel Landeskog via high draft picks. Nashville’s new GM understands the long game of drafting and developing top talent.

“These guys usually aren’t traded, right?” MacFarland said. “You usually have to go through some pain to get those guys in the draft, and the acquisition cost on those types of guys in the marketplace is astronomical, to be quite frank.”

“The true franchise player is usually drafted, and it’s usually going through some organizational - I don’t like the word pain, again, it’s just part of the journey, right?”

That doesn’t mean MacFarland is already committed to the “tank for a top pick” philosophy for Nashville. He acknowledged that even with a top pick, franchise changing talent isn’t always available in every draft.

As he learns the strengths and weaknesses of the roster and prospect pool, MacFarland is committed to using that information to make the best moves for the future.

“What I can say is, whether it’s a trade, a free agent, or whatever, we will leave no stone unturned. I think you can build a competitive team that can win hockey games and be dangerous in different ways, and we will be ready.”

“If there is an opportunity to strike from the outside, we’ll have done the work, we’ll be prepared, we’ll have the information and be ready to go,” MacFarland said.

“There’s a lot of different ways to skin the cat.”

Next steps

MacFarland will spend the next few days meeting with the coaching and hockey ops staff.

“I’ll talk to [Brunette] today or tomorrow and we’ll get a feel for things,” MacFarland said.

He knows Andrew Brunette from the scouting circles and had Derek McKenzie and Luke Richardson as players during his Columbus days.

“I’m going to call all those guys this week. I’m going to meet with Jeff Kealty and Scott Nichol and the staff,” MacFarland said.

The introductory press conference is out of the way. Conversations with staff and players are up next, and MacFarland has just a few weeks to prepare for the NHL draft.

It’s been a long interview process for Nashville but a quick turnaround for MacFarland. Nashville’s newest President of Hockey Ops and GM is looking forward to this new opportunity.

“It was going to take a hell of an opportunity and situation to get me to think about leaving Colorado,” MacFarland said.

“I’m super excited to get to work.”

Over the weekend, a post circulated on Twitter detailing how the two Stanley Cup finalists built their rosters, and there was a lot of noise that the two clubs featured just one top-five pick. This, of course, ignores the fact that both teams traded for multiple early first-round picks, but it does provide some insight into the lessons the Nashville Predators can learn—or re-learn—from the Vegas Golden Knights.

I’ve been firmly on the record that a key to Nashville’s future success is bottoming out and securing as many top-five draft picks as they can. But that is not a panacea to their problems, and they have advantages that, if exploited properly, can lead them back to contention.

When Vegas entered the NHL, they began a ruthless path of roster building that broke the traditions of every old-guard manager in the league. They’ve cut ties with fan favorites when the on-ice product needed changing, they’ve taken big swings at nearly every star on the trade market, and they’ve siphoned their future at every turn; of the 15 first-round picks they owned from 2017 through 2028, they’ve traded all but one of them (2024). Anytime a big name has been on the block, they’ve made an offer, picking up Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, Ivan Barbashev, Tomáš Hertl, Noah Hanifin, Rasmus Andersson, and more.

As a result, they’ve made the playoffs in all but one year, making it to two conference finals, two Stanley Cup Finals, and winning a title.

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Every year, the hockey world grumbles at Vegas’s lack of loyalty and cutthroat hockey operations. They argue they’ll have no prospect pool down the line, that free agents won’t want to sign with them, and that they’re not doing things the right way. But it turns out, they keep restocking, they keep attracting top talent, and they keep winning. One reason why? It’s a destination city.

Don’t get me wrong, being a desirable place to live isn’t the only key to winning. But Vegas can attract so much talent—despite its perceived reputation—because players want to be there, whether it’s financial considerations, weather, amenities, or anything else.

Fortunately for the Predators, Nashville has this reputation, too. Voices around the league constantly fawn over the city, players who never skated for the Preds retire there, and the community has built itself a positive reputation. With that in mind, it’s time the organization gets back to old habits, takes a note or two from the Golden Knights, and fully unleashes this potential.

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At the height of its powers, Nashville used to operate (at least somewhat) in this vein. David Poile flipped a top-five pick in Seth Jones for Ryan Johansen; he traded franchise icon Shea Weber for P.K. Subban; he swapped Patric Hornqvist for James Neal, and more. He was even notorious for limiting trade protection even for the team’s biggest stars.

Since then, however, things have soured. Nashville started chasing big free-agent price tags, focusing on name-brand over value; they got more careless with trade protection; they panicked and jettisoned first-round prospects with little return, and they assigned too much impact to replacement-level skaters.

It’s time to right the ship. Chris MacFarland needs to take their compounding problems and turn them into compounding solutions—with the help of playing in a destination city.

They don’t need to turn full Vegas, but the playbook is there: draft early and well; develop gamebreakers, not role players; flip prospects at the height of their value; take swings at the league’s top players, and don’t get bogged down by following the rules.

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“We’ve tried to operate as we always have,” Assistant GM and Director of Scouting Jeff Kealty said.

“This week and the coming weeks leading up to the draft, we’re trying to just look straight ahead and do the best we can with it. No matter who the GM is here, [the draft] is going to make a large impact on the organization going forward.”

Kealty and Chief Amateur Scout Tom Nolan spoke to the media Wednesday about the Predators prospect pool, this year’s draft class, and what Nashville is weighing as they work on their final draft rankings.

Prospect Pool

The Predators have cashed in on a boon of picks in recent years, and the players they’ve selected are trending in the right direction. Nashville was ranked the fifth best prospect pool by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic last month.

The fan base is starting to glimpse those picks paying off. Luke Evangelista (2020) became a regular in the top six this season. Matthew Wood, drafted fifteenth overall by the Predators in 2023, played 71 NHL games and recorded 17 goals and 30 points in his first full NHL season.

After a busy trade deadline, players like Zachary L’Heureux, Ryan Ufko, and Fedor Svechkov (all 2021 picks) stepped into bigger roles vacated by trades.

“When you see what happened at the end this past season, I think it was exciting for the future,” Kealty said.

“All these young players that came up and helped keep us in the playoff race, and they were playing competitive games right down to the very end.”

Other recent draft picks have progressed in their respective leagues. Yegor Surin (2024 first round pick) had a strong season in the KHL. Although Surin still has one year remaining on his contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Kealty envisions the 19-year-old forward being ready to jump in at the NHL level when the time comes.

“I think he could play in the NHL right now with the way he…contributes over there in a really good league, in a men’s league,” Kealty said.

“The attributes that he has will translate right away over here.”

Last year’s three first round picks have also impressed in their respective seasons. After playing three games with the Preds to start the season, fifth overall pick Brady Martin returned to the Soo Greyhounds. An injury at the World Juniors kept him out for most of the second half of the season, but when healthy, Martin looks like he could be a key piece for the Predators down the line.

Fresh off of a series sweep in the OHL Championship, defenseman Cameron Reid affirmed Nashville’s assessment with the 2025 twenty-first pick. In 57 regular season games, Reid score 15 goals and 56 points. The Kitchener Rangers captain scored 2 goals and 14 points in his 18 postseason games. He and the Rangers are preparing for the Memorial Cup tournament later this month.

In his freshman season with Michigan State, Ryker Lee scored 15 goals and 30 points in 35 NCAA games. Nashville’s final first round pick in last year’s draft has been a lot of fun to follow this season.

“He’s our highlight reel guy,” Jeff Kealty said of Lee who had several goals make the rounds on social media this season.

Lee is the youngest player to make Team USA’s preliminary roster for the upcoming IIHF Men’s World Championship kicking off on Friday.

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This Year’s Draft Class

While last year’s three first round picks are trending in the right direction, the Predators only have one chance to get it right in the first round come June. Nashville will be selecting tenth overall.

The scouting department is confident they can get a good player there.

“We feel [the draft] is really deep. We’re going to get a really good player,” Tom Nolan said.

“There may not be that McDavid or Crosby or that type of player - Celebrini - but there’s going to be some high end players that are going to help your organization for a long time.”

Four of last year’s seven draft picks for Nashville were defensemen, but this year’s talent could have the Predators looking at the blue line once again.

“It’s a very deep draft in the top fifteen for defensemen,” Nolan said.

“All of them bring a different type of skill set, but they all have size, really good skaters, so we’re hoping one of them can fall.”

“It is pretty deep this year with some D both right and lefty, so it’s a good situation to have, and we’ll see what things kind of fall.”

While confident they’ll get a good player with the tenth pick, the scouting department knows they are still searching for that elite franchise changing player.

“The biggest thing we need is the high, high end guys, and those guys are hard to come by,” Kealty said.

“We haven’t picked high in the draft. We did last year, but in general, we haven’t,” Kealty said. “We talk about upside a lot trying to find those types of guys.”

“It can come in the first round, but it can also come in a second round or the fifth round. It’s well documented that it can come in all areas of the draft.”

Weighing the Talent

Nashville’s draft philosophy remains the same regardless of round- select the best player available.

The scouts spend hundreds of hours watching these young players in leagues around the world. There are specific skills sets the scouting staff prioritizes.

Hockey sense, competitiveness, and hockey IQ are non-negotiables.

“Those are the things we talk about a lot,” Kealty shared.

“A lot of times those intangibles, non-negotiables, whatever you want to call it, they’re kind of ingrained. And you know, hockey IQ and competitiveness are tough things to put into people, so we try to identify whether they have that or not. That’s a big part of the evaluation process for us.”

Nashville needs to add speed as well.

“We got to get faster,” Nolan said. “I thnk that’s from…our coaches down, we got to get faster and we know that.”

Nashville uses the NHL Combine to give an overview of a player’s athleticism but also relies heavily on Predators strength and conditioning coach David Good for his insight as well.

“We really rely on out strength guy with Goody. He comes in and he gives us where he thinks this one player can go,” Nolan said.

“We want to see what type of athlete they are, and if they have that ability to put on muscle, put on explosiveness, stuff like that.”

Drafting isn’t an exact science. Projecting potential for 17 and 18-year olds is part wisdom, part wizardry. Seeing into the future is perhaps the toughest part of the scouting job.

“It’s just a hard aspect to tie into because they’re just so young, we don’t know where they’re going to go,” Nolan explained.

“The NFL Combine, they’re men already, you know? We definitely put a lot of work into it. We do a lot of homework in it.”

Plenty of time is spent learning about the player off ice as well.

Area scouts do a lot of background work on each potential pick, and character weighs heavily with the Predators organization. Teams spend time talking to the people who may know the players best.

“At the combine we find out a lot of it, but they talk to trainers, coaches, anyone they can talk to, even billet families.”

All of this research and work happen for potential first round picks and for players likely to go in later rounds. The Predators have a total of twelves picks in the seven rounds.

“It’s a good scenario to have,” Nolan said.

The NHL Draft will be held June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

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The Milwaukee Admirals begin their Calder Cup push today in an expanded playoff field featuring 23 teams. Since joining the AHL in 2001, the Ads have missed the playoffs three times in a normal season; if the league hadn’t expanded the playoff field, they would have missed it by 13 points this year.

Only once before have the AHL Admirals finished a regular season with a sub-0.500 record: the 2001-02 season. This year, they finished at 0.493.

They’ll face the Manitoba Moose in a best-of-three play-in series, and if they win, they’ll face Grand Rapids. It would be ironic if—after years of regular-season dominance and playoff sputters—this is the year the Admirals win the Calder Cup. But regardless, what do this season’s struggles tell us about the future of the Nashville Predators?

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First and foremost, it’s time to clean house. Not necessarily with the roster but with the coaching staff and front office. I generally like Karl Taylor. He’s a smart coach who gets a lot out of his players. But after eight years at the helm in Milwaukee, maybe his shelf life is up. Despite his AHL success, Taylor has not been able to break through on NHL radars, and the Admirals—who invest equally in winning and development—have reached the conference finals just three times since their Calder Cup win in 2004.

With a new general manager coming to Nashville, it’s time to move on from Scott Nichol as well. Nichol has served as Milwaukee’s general manager since 2018-19 and Nashville’s Director of Player Development since 2013-14.

By the Predators’ measure of success, Nichol has done an excellent job. Baked into his DNA is this organization’s modus operandi: draft for character, develop for grit and tenacity, and ignore the need for game-breakers. In more than a decade, Nichol has developed just three 50-point scorers (an extremely low bar) through Milwaukee: Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, and Luke Evangelista. That cannot be an acceptable standard in the modern NHL.

I’ve thought a lot about Nashville picking Brady Martin over Porter Martone last summer as the latter shines in the NHL playoffs. I’m not yet worried about Martin—and the team has taken some recent swings at skill (Lee, Surin, Wood, Kemell, etc.)—but years of conservative drafts and an emphasis on depth, replaceable players in the farm system have left this franchise in no man’s land. Frédérick Gaudreau, Colton Sissons, Mathieu Olivier, Yakov Trenin, Cole Smith, and more have all been AHL darlings and carved out successful roles in the NHL, but there’s a reason they’ve all been traded out of Nashville. I suspect the likes of Reid Schaefer and David Edstrom are headed down a similar route.

Despite that, the Admirals iced some exciting offensive talent this year. I like Fedor Svechkov, Zach L’Heureux, Cole O’Hara, and Aiden Fink, and I still believe Joakim Kemell can make an impact in the NHL. But each of those prospects reinforces how desperate Nashville is for game-breaking talent. No one in the pipeline is a threat to score 100 points in the NHL; none are a threat to chase a scoring title, and none elevate this organization to the upper echelon of the league. Together, these prospects are a decent NFL roster with absolutely no quarterback.

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On the back end, while Barry Trotz has repeatedly boasted about the size of the organization, Milwaukee has shown that the next general manager should focus on something else. Mobile, offensive blue liners are taking over the league: Bouchard, Makar, Hutson, Hughes, Schaefer, etc. The modern NHL doesn’t just require three-plus scoring lines; you need dynamic point producers on the blue line, too. If you look at the 2026 NHL Draft class, you see the same thing: Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff, etc. Roman Josi does not have many years left, but the Admirals can develop something positive in Ryan Ufko, Tanner Molendyk, and maybe even Daniel Nieminen.

If the Admirals under- or overperform in the playoffs, it won’t matter much. But the new brass in Nashville must use this opportunity to set a new tone and catalyze this organization out of its just-good-enough attitude and persistent mediocrity. There are enough pieces in place to build a highly competitive organization, but the new brass must be willing to make hard decisions to push both the NHL and AHL teams forward.

“It still stings a little bit I think. We all play the game to be playing it at this time of year,” the Stanley Cup winning veteran said during the season’s final media availability on Monday.

“That’s the expectation here…which still is the expectation here, so it stings a little bit,” Stamkos said.

“You saw the potential of what can be…it was there.”

While what happens next for the Predators franchise may be hotly debated among the fan base and ultimately decided by a-yet-to-be-named new General Manager, the message to and from the veterans is that the immediate future does not include a rebuild.

When Stamkos was asked how things stand, he shared his takeaway after meetings earlier in the day.

“We had some meetings today and I think the message was the expectation is still to be a competitive team and to push for the playoffs.”

“I don’t anticipate any huge chances, right? We’ve kind of talked about ‘Is there gonna be a rebuild’ this, that. I think that’s safe to say that’s probably not going to be the case.”

Ryan O’Reilly had a similar takeaway.

“From what we’re hearing, it’s plans to get back into the playoffs next year,” O’Reilly said.

“There’s a lot of good character here, and hopefully we can add to it and get back and be successful,” O’Reilly said. “The character’s just too good to waste.”

Outgoing General Manager Barry Trotz outlined the reasons he sees the franchise being a potential contender in the near future.

“The building blocks are starting to fall into place,” Trotz said.

“There’s a lot of different outlets have us as having the fifth best prospect pool in the National Hockey League, a number of young players developing in the National Hockey League. Lots of draft capital. We got 33 picks in the next three years. We got lots of cap space to work with.”

With the Predators roster going from the third oldest team at the start of the season to the tenth youngest team at the end of the season, Trotz still sees a way this organization can “thread the needle” and use both veterans and young players to become a legitimate contender.

Those statements are interesting in context. Nashville is currently in the thick of searching for a new General Manager. On February 2, Trotz announced his plans to retire and a search began for the next GM of the Predators.

The decision to try and thread the needle, which veteran pieces should stay and which provide more benefit on the trade market, and a timeline for Nashville to become a serious postseason threat rest with a yet unnamed GM. The message to the players sounded clear Monday, but who will have the final word remains unknown.

Sticking to a particular course is not a prerequisite for the hiring committee.

Trotz was asked directly Monday if there were any scenarios in which potential GM candidates were told that they can do “X, but you can’t do Y” or that there are “untouchables”.

“No,” Trotz replied. “Not to my knowledge. I don’t think that’s how we operate.”

The players are clearly disappointed in the season outcome, but they also say there is a lot here for a new General Manager to build on.

Filip Forsberg believes the team’s performances after a slow start to the season show prospective candidates that there is a lot to work with in Nashville.

“I think it’s pretty clear that we have something exciting coming, especially down the stretch here, the last few games,” Forsberg said.

“We showed progress especially down the stretch, showed there’s a lot of youth, got a lot of excitement on that. We showed that some of us old farts still got some good hockey in us and obviously not slowing down anytime soon.”

“I think that’s a great opportunity for anyone really to come in and take advantage of,” Forsberg said. “It’s not like you’re coming in on a team that’s at the bottom and needs to be blown up, in my opinion.”

“I think whoever we hire I’m sure is going to share that view and at the same time, you know, we need to adapt. We need to evolve. We need to be better next year and make the playoffs.”

For now all the Predators players can do is watch playoff hockey and wait. They believe the franchise has potential to become a contender and the plan is to build on what is here. When a new GM is named, they will know for sure.

“Regardless of how the season went you want to end the regular season on a good note,” Steven Stamkos said.

“We weren’t able to do that.”

The team put together a solid performance for the fans at Bridgestone despite missing veterans Roman Josi, Jonathan Marchessault, and Erik Haula, but it wasn’t enough to get the win.

The game was tied 2-2 after the first period, and the Predators had a 4-3 lead and a bit of power play time to start the third period. Instead it was the Ducks who scored two goals in the final twenty minutes to earn the last available two points from the regulation season.

“I think it was a fun hockey game. I think entertaining to get some goals, showed some of our youth that organizationally is on its way,” head coach Andrew Brunette said postgame.

“Too bad with the ending, unfortunately, because I thought it was a game you’d like to see keep going, the way it was played.”

Three Takeaways from the season finale

Filip Forsberg reaches forty goals

Forsberg entered game 82 second on the team in goals this season behind Steven Stamkos. Stamkos reached the forty goal mark in Saturday afternoon’s game and added two more against Anaheim. With his second goal of the game at 14:37 in the second period, Forsberg also reached that scoring milestone.

“They really wanted to get Fil to forty,” Brunette said. “That was definitely - they wanted to find some joy in tonight, play for something.”

Forsberg scored a power play goal in the first period and an even strength goal in the second.

This is Forsberg’s third career forty goal season. He reached the forty goal mark for the first time in the 2021-22 season (42 g, 84 pts) and again in 2023-24 (48 g, 94 pts). Forsberg finishes this season with 40 goals and 75 points.

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Cole O’Hara’s NHL debut

Forward Cole O’Hara made his NHL debut in game 82 after being recalled earlier on Thursday. The 23-year-old Ontario native has 19 goals and 25 assists in his 65 AHL games this season with the Milwaukee Admirals. He played three seasons of NCAA hockey at UMass from 2022 through the end of his 2025 collegiate season.

O’Hara shared ice time Thursday with two veterans, Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly. The rookie called playing with the vets a “surreal moment”.

“Playing with Factor and Stamkos there was a really cool experience, something I’ll remember for a long time,” O’Hara said after the game.

O’Hara earned his first NHL point with a primary assist on Steven Stamkos’s first goal of the game.

“Factor did a good job hounding. I just tried to get on the D man there on the other side of the net and just found Stamkos in the slot,” O’Hara explained.

“It was nice to see him put it in.”

O’Hara called his NHL debut a learning experience. He was encouraged by Stamkos and O’Reilly to enjoy the game, have fun, and make plays.

Aiden Fink was potentially going to play in game 82 as well, but an issue with immigration postponed his NHL debut.

Special teams

Special teams ultimately decided the outcome of Thursday night’s season finale. Nashville took too many unnecessary penalties, but a strong penalty kill kept Anaheim from scoring on the power play until late in the game. An unfortunate double minor high stick call on Tyson Jost with 3:57 left to play in the third period allowed the Ducks to finally cash in on the man advantage. Troy Terry cleaned up a loose rebound to score the game winner on the ensuing power play.

Nashville’s penalty kill went 5/6 while the Predators’ power play accounted for half the goals of the evening. The Predators were 2/3 on the power play with Stamkos and Forsberg each scoring on the man advantage.

Nashville finished the regular season ranked eleventh on the power play and fifth on the penalty kill across the league.

The players and Andrew Brunette will address the media one final time next week. Fans will have to wait to see which players from game 82 will be back in gold jerseys for game 1 of the 2026-2027 season as the Predators continue their search for the franchise’s next General Manager and learn more about what direction the new GM will take the organization.

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“It’s kind of a funny term. I kind of like ‘middle child’,” Andrew Brunette said.

Evangelista has played 241 career NHL games. After Barry Trotz traded Michael McCarron (370 career games) and Cole Smith (281 career games), Evangelista stands alone as the forward bookended between veterans with 550 plus games and young players with 110 games or fewer.

While the joke about middle children is that they are often overlooked or neglected, that’s not been the case this season. Evangelista appreciates the upside of where he falls on this forward roster.

“I’m kind of in that sweet spot where I still feel like I’m learning every day from the older guys…and then also transitioning to that role with some of these younger guys where I can kind of keep a look out for them,” Evangelista said.

Much of Evangelista’s ice time this season has been with the “older brothers” of the team. Accordng to Natural Stat Trick, Evangelista has spent the majority of his minutes playing with veterans Steven Stamkos, Ryan O’Reilly, and Filip Forsberg. The line of Forsberg, O’Reilly, and Evangelista has been one of Nashville’s most dangerous, leading the team in both expected goals for and high danger chances. Evangelista, O’Reilly, and Stamkos have been together through Nashville’s recent four game win streak.

The opportunity for consistent minutes with the vets isn’t lost on Evangelista.

“You play top line minutes with Factor for example. You kind of got a responsibility to contribute offensively.”

Evangelista is contributing. Currently he has 39 assists, just one behind O’Reilly for the team high. Twenty-three of Evangelista’s assists are primary.

Ryan O’Reilly has been a big influence. Evangelista played just 24 NHL games before O’Reilly joined the Predators in 2023, so he has grown up in the NHL next to the Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, Selke, and Lady Byng winner.

When asked what the most important thing he’s learned from a player like O’Reilly, Evangelista was hard pressed to find a succinct answer.

“It’s tough to say just one,” Evangelista said.

“I think one of the first things I noticed about him was, in terms of his game, his compete level and his puck battles. I think he’s probably the best I’ve ever seen in terms of that.”

“I think also just having him around in practices. He’s running drills before practice for us. He’s running drills after practice for us.”

If media members want to talk to O’Reilly or Evangelista after practice, they know to be patient. Those two are usually last off the ice.

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Brunette believes the veterans surrounding Evangelista can help him take yet another step in his development.

“He can learn from our veterans just the moment, these big moments and big games and to see it and live it,” Brunette said. “There’s some that he grabbed and some that he let go, and how do you wake up the next morning and grab it back?”

This next stretch of hockey will be a testing ground for Evangelista’s growth. The Predators currently hold the second wildcard spot. The final twelve games of the regular season are critical if Nashville wants to play bonus hockey.

This wouldn’t be Evangelista’s first crack at the postseason. He played six games in the 2023-24 playoffs against the Vancouver Canucks.

“I’m so glad I got that experience,” Evangelista said of that playoff series.

“It’s a different game, it’s a different atmosphere, different energy. It was such a valuable experience for me. It’s such tight hockey. The margin of error - any error - can come back and bite you. It was a huge experience, and I’m glad I got that under my belt.”

Even with almost 250 NHL games to his name and plenty of ice time with the older veterans, Evangelista doesn’t feel that far removed from the younger players on the team. He was in a similar position just three seasons ago.

“I’ve been in their shoes,” Evangelista said of the younger players on the roster now.

“My first call up, I came right up after the deadline. We were making a playoff push. It was a very similar situation.”

“[I’m] kind of transitioning to that role with some of these younger guys where I can keep a look out for them and offer them some advice or kind of help them,” Evangelista said.

Nashville’s “middle child” is positioned well to learn from the veterans around him and provide support for the newer faces in the room.

For Andrew Brunette, there is another responsibility that Evangelista must focus on in this final stretch of hockey.

“He’s had a great year. Now he’s got to finish his great year.”

Tonight Evangelista and the Predators will work towards a strong finish as they host the San Jose Sharks, a Pacific team desperate to challenge Nashville for a wildcard spot.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm CT at Bridgestone Arena. The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network, and 102.5 The Game Nashville will have the radio call.

Tonight’s game won’t win the Predators anything, but it is the first in a string of games this week that could potentially end Nashville’s hopes for a playoff appearance.

Andrew Brunette and the team know how important tonight’s two points could be.

“We should have some excitement,” Brunette said after morning skate.

“This is what we worked hard all year to get into a game that’s meaningful, that we control our own destiny.”

Four Keys to the Game

1. The first ten minutes

The Predators only regulation win on their recent five game road trip came against the Kraken on March 10. Nashville had an abysmal first period in that game, allowing Seattle 19 shots on goal in the first twenty minutes. The Predators found themselves down 2-0 halfway through the first period.

Nashville had a much better start in Winnipeg against the Jets on Tuesday. Brunette wants to see the Predators kick tonight’s game off like that.

“We barely allowed a shot the first ten minutes. Got a little bit into our game,” Brunette said of Tuesday’s win over the Jets.

“So can we build on that?”

It won’t be easy. Seattle also knows the value of tonight’s two points, and they are coming off of a frustrating 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier in the week. They’ll be looking to get high volume of shots on goal and pressure the Predators early.

2. Everyone must contribute

Tonight Nashville will need their best players to be their best players. Andrew Brunette said there would be some game time line up decisions, but there’s little doubt Steven Stamkos, Roman Josi, Ryan O’Reilly, and Filip Forsberg will be on the ice. Those are the players who will need to lead the way offensively. Stamkos scored against the Kraken on March 1, but hasn’t had a point in the three games since. Forsberg snapped a four game dry spell with a goal and assist against the Jets on Tuesday. The veterans will need to produce tonight if Nashville wants to get the win.

That isn’t to say there isn’t an important role for the young players. The youth have been contributing on offense, but tonight they also need to bring the vibes.

“I think all these young guys coming in, myself included, we just want to bring that energy, bring that compete level and help us win games,” Zachary L’Heureux said after morning skate.

“It starts tonight.”

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3. Special teams

The Predators have the statistical special teams advantage against the Kraken, but they need to convert those statistics into scoring. Seattle ranks 31st on the penalty kill while the Predators are 11th in the league on the power play. If Seattle finds themselves in the penalty box and Nashville can convert, special teams could be the deciding factor in this game.

Conversely, the Predators need to stay out of the box. They have given up two goals on nine kills in their three games since facing the Kraken on March 10. Seattle currently ranks 15th on the power play and their second unit has found success in recent games. If Nashville commits any infraction, they’ll need their best from the penalty killers for the full two minutes.

4. Goaltending showdown

Seattle’s goaltending duo of Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord has put together an impressive season in net. Grubauer and Daccord boast .909 and .902 save percentages respectively.

Saros’s season stats aren’t nearly as good, but since the Olympic break he has been a reliable .889. Saros stopped 43/45 in an onslaught from Seattle on March 10 and helped steal a win for the Predators against Winnipeg earlier this week.

The Kraken will be looking to repeat that high shot volume, so Saros will need to be at his best and get more reliable help from the defense in front of him.

While a win tonight won’t guarantee the Predators anything, a lost tonight and losses in their next games against Vegas, Chicago, and San Jose could be a nail in Nashville’s proverbial playoff coffin. Tonight’s game will feature two desperate teams who each need this win.

The Predators and Kraken drop the puck tonight at 7:00 pm CT. The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network and 102.5 The Game will have the radio call.