Erik Haula is Ready to Prove Himself in His Return Nashville
"I don’t think there’s going to be a guy in the locker room who wants to feel the way that they did last year."
When the Predators released their training camp roster, Erik Haula’s name caught me off guard. I’m not sure what was going on in my life when the trade happened, but I looked up the details and realized why: I was heavily focused on what the Predators were going to do with the 5th overall pick in the draft. That’s about the time when the team traded Jeremy Hanzel and a 4th round pick (in the at-the-time upcoming 2025 draft) to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Haula and his affordable, short term contract.
The last time Haula donned Nashville gold, it was 2021. Fan attendance was still limited due to COVID restrictions and most were (supposed to be) wearing masks. “I don’t remember much from that time I was here. We were in an apartment with a 4-month lease, a newborn baby, and a mattress on the floor. Honestly, I lived worse than I did in college,” Haula said after day one of training camp yesterday. He considers it to be his “COVID story”, but thinks he came out of the experience stronger.
Haula played in 51 games that season and never got to truly experience a full-capacity Bridgestone Arena, a real training camp, or really anything else that Nashville has to offer. Whether or not missing out on those experiences was a disappointment, he didn’t mention. However, this season, he’ll have the chance again.
Since he’s been gone, he spent one season with the Boston Bruins and three with the New Jersey Devils. One of those seasons (22-23) in Jersey found Haula playing under Andrew Brunette, who was an assistant coach. Haula cites his familiarity with Brunette as one of the big draws in coming back to Nashville. A glance at the stats will tell you that Haula’s production has declined over the last few seasons. Haula even admitted that his performance probably played a big role in New Jersey’s willingness to trade him:
“When you get traded, there’s a reason why you get traded. It’s not like they traded me because they were super happy with my season. You’ve got to be honest with yourself.”
Haula continued to explain that this is why he’s a good fit in Nashville. He talked about how team struggles (like the Predators had last season) not only help build camaraderie in the locker room, but also mean “guys are going to have a chip on their shoulder. I don’t think there’s going to be a guy in the locker room who wants to feel the way that they did last year. Nobody’s giving this team much of a chance, so we’re going to embrace that challenge.”
It might seem strange that Haula wanted to join a team in that situation, but he explained, “I have a lot to prove as well. Struggling last year, and coming in with a little chip on my shoulder myself, I think it’s a good fit.”
Haula is in the last year of a 3-year contract worth $9.45 million, meaning a reasonable cost of $3.15 million for the Predators this season. While it may be more than the team paid him in 2021, he’s bringing back a few more years of veteran experience to help guide the younger players on the Predators roster. A role he seems more than ready to embrace.
Haula says he has no expectations for where he’ll line up this season, but has full confidence in the coaching staff to put him in a position to help the team. I’m interested to see how Andrew Brunette decides to utilize Haula compared with how John Hynes used him in his short time in Nashville.
As you may remember, there’s a Colton Sissons-sized hole at center in the lineup this season. I believe that hole will be filled quite nicely by Erik Haula. I imagine we’ll see him centering the 4th line. He also fits nicely in the role of a gritty net-front disruptor that’s willing to stand in front of the goaltender and clean up rebounds. It sounds like a recipe for success to me.
Overall, I’d say this was a quality pick up in a season that will be haunted by the buyout of Haula’s former Predator teammate Matt Duchene. With a year remaining on his contract, Haula is incredibly low risk/high reward. If things don’t go well, there’s no long term commitment. If he has a great season (and they don’t see him as a part of the team next season) he would be a great depth pickup for a playoff bound team. Most of all, I’m looking forward to seeing what Erik Haula, a little older, a little wiser, and a little chip on his shoulder, can do on a team that’s set out to prove everyone wrong.
-featured image c/o Nashville Predators/John Russell-