Welcome back.
It’s time to kick off Daily Faceoff’s second annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.
The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Skaters over 23 years old are not included, with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.
Today, we’re looking at the Nashville Predators.
If there’s one thing the Nashville Predators took a swing at during the 2024 NHL Draft, it’s upside.
I really liked their selections, especially early. Egor Surin is a pure menace out there, and as long as the decision-making improves, I think he has top-six potential. And then there’s Teddy Stiga, one of my favorite players in this draft. He’s a buzzsaw out there at all times, and you need guys like that. Viggo Gustafsson and Miguel Marques were both great value picks in the third round, and I can see Hiroki Gojsic really surprising people after a fantastic first year with the Kelowna Rockets.
Beyond that, a few years of solid drafting has given them a nice pipeline. It’s nothing too flashy, but they have one of the best goaltending prospects in the game in Yaroslav Askarov, a slick puck-moving defender in Tanner Molendyk, and some good support pieces throughout. They might not have a star skater prospect, but they’ve got some decent depth at most positions, and that’s honestly good enough.
Biggest Strengths
I love how many different styles of forwards they’ve got here. From the energy of Stiga, to the forceful impact of Zach L’Heureux and the shots of Matthew Wood and Fedor Svechkov, they’ve got so many players who can play outside of pure scoring roles if needed. The big fish is Joakim Kemell, who had a fantastic first year in the AHL, but Surin can also blend talent and physicality. Marques and Reid Schaefer are both interesting forwards, too.
Biggest Weakness
This group could use some more defensive help on the right side. That’s not overly important in a lot of cases, but without Andrew Gibson and Ryan Ufko, I’m not sure there’s a ton to get really excited about on that side of the ice. Jack Matier is fine, and Dylan MacKinnon could still be something, but there’s not many sure-bets on that side so it’s something they’ll want to address in future drafts.
Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Barry Trotz
Dir. of Scouting: Jeff Kealty
Dir. of Player Development: Scott Nichol
AHL Affiliate: Milwaukee Admirals
ECHL Affiliate: Atlanta Gladiators
TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. Yaroslav Askarov, G, 22 (Milwaukee, AHL)
Acquired: Drafted 11th overall, first round in 2022
Even though the season fell apart slightly in the closing stages, it was quite the year for the two-time AHL all-star. He posted a 30-13-1 record with six shutouts and a .911 save percentage, with his season highlighted by a 14-game win streak in the winter. By all accounts, the 6-foot-4 keeper is ready for full-time NHL duty – but the team seems to have different plans with Juuse Saros signed long-term and Scott Wedgewood brought in on a two-year term. So you do have to wonder what the future holds in store for Askarov in Nashville, but I still think he’s one of the best goaltenders in the league. I don’t think it’s worth having him share the net with Saros – both are starter-caliber.
2. Tanner Molendyk, LHD, 19 (Saskatoon, WHL)
Acquired: Drafted 24th overall, first round in 2023
An injury limited Molendyk’s season to just 50 regular season games, and he missed out on representing Canada at the World Juniors. But he still came away with a 56-point regular season, while boasting another 10 points as a key piece of the competitive Saskatoon Blades. Molendyk is probably the best pure skater in this draft class, and he also has the confidence you love to see with the puck. I love his game with the puck, and I think he figured out how to handle his gap control even more this year to keep his game well-rounded. Molendyk isn’t big, but I’m not sure that’s going to cause him too many issues in the pro ranks. I expect Molendyk to play a big part with Canada this winter before pushing for a full-time NHL roster spot the following year.
3. Joakim Kemell, RW, 20 (Milwaukee, AHL)
Acquired: Drafted 17th overall, first round in 2022
Kemell had a fantastic first season in North America, scoring 16 goals and 41 points in 67 games as a key piece of the Admirals. Now heading into his second, 60 points feels like an attainable goal – plus a few outings with the big club. Kemell loves to shoot the puck, with the 2022 first-rounder being one of my favorite goal-scorers in his draft year. He anticipates open space well, which allows him to score from just about anywhere. Kemell still needs to work on his two-way game, but I still see top-six potential.
4. Matthew Wood, LW, 19 (University of Minnesota, NCAA)
Acquired: Drafted 15th overall, first round in 2023
After two years with the University of Connecticut – which included a points decrease in 2023-24 – Wood is hoping to hit it big with the University of Minnesota. Wood has an excellent shot, and when he’s feeling it, he can dominate any given shift. But his poor skating gives some scouts pause – will that hinder him in the pro ranks? So far, so good, especially after playing at just under a point per game as a true 17-year-old freshman in 2022-23.
5. Zachary L’Heureux, LW, 21 (Milwaukee, AHL)
Acquired: Drafted 27th overall, first round in 2021
I love human wrecking balls, and that’s exactly what L’Heureux is. I asked a few AHLers this year which player they’d absolutely hate to go 1-on-1 against the most. L’Heureux’s name was brought up a few times. The 21-year-old isn’t huge, but he’s strong and downright nasty. He immediately made a massive impact as a pro in Milwaukee, scoring 19 goals and 48 points along with 197 penalty minutes in 66 games. He also had 10 goals, 15 points and 62 penalty minutes in 15 postseason games, making sure his muscle wasn’t being ignored. Sure, L’Heureux’s intensity can get him into trouble – a lot – but he has shown the skill to back it up at every level and I expect to see that remain the case once he cracks the NHL.
6. Teddy Stiga, LW, 18 (Boston College, NCAA)
Acquired: Drafted 55th overall, second round in 2024
Just like ZLH, Stiga is one of my personal favorites. He brings boundless energy to every shift, buzzing through the ice like his life depends on it. After putting him as a mid-second rounder last time, I feel confident pushing him up because he has been my favorite draft-eligible USNTDPer way too often this year not to. I think he’s a middle-six player in the NHL, but he can play with anyone and in just about any role. That type of versatility makes him very useful, and he’s the type of guy fans are going to love.
7. Egor Surin, C, 18 (Yaroslavl, MHL)
Acquired: Drafted 22nd overall, first round in 2024
Surin was a man on a mission throughout the MHL playoffs, only getting outpaced by Ivan Demidov. He played great during the second half, where it seemed like he was more in control of his own body and not trying to hit guys for the sake of throwing a hit. Discipline can still be an issue at points, but he’s so skilled with a great shot and quick hands. If Surin can put everything together consistently without trying to get too cute with the puck, he’ll be a steal. The upside is real here, but he’s got to play smarter. I feel like 22nd overall was a bit of a stretch, but the Preds snagged a hard-hitting forward with good hands.
8. Fedor Svechkov, C/LW, 21 (Milwaukee, AHL)
Acquired: Drafted 19th overall, first round in 2021
I imagine the Preds had to be thrilled with Svechkov’s first season in North America. He struggled for ice time in the KHL the previous year, registering just four points in 27 games as a Draft+2 forward. But in Milwaukee, he had 16 goals and 39 points, playing a much more prominent role for a high-flying team that had plenty of scoring options up and down the lineup. Svechkov needs another year like that to show some sustainability, but it was a great boost for a player who really needed it.
9. Andrew Gibson, RHD, 19 (Soo, OHL)
Acquired: Traded by the Detroit Red Wings in 2024
Gibson was a surprise acquisition by the Predators ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft, but it gave the team’s pipeline a nice boost. He had a strong 12-goal, 44-point sophomore season with the Greyhounds, and received rave reviews from development camp back in early July. He’s big, punishing, and loves to throw the body around, but adding the extra offensive touch makes him even more dynamic. Is he mobile enough for the next level? I’m not sure yet, but trading for him was worthwhile for a Predators team that needed some extra defensive depth
10. Ryan Ufko, RHD, 21 (Milwaukee, AHL)
Acquired: Drafted 115th overall, fourth round in 2021
I’ve been high on Ufko for a long time now, and I’m glad to see he took to the pro ranks so quickly. The 5-foot-10 defender spent the 2023-24 campaign with the University of Massachusetts Amherst and registered 10 goals and 26 points in 37 games. He ranked second among team defensemen in points, while also showing some good consistency over his three-year run with the school. Ufko then joined the Admirals to close out the season, scoring a goal and six points in nine games to finish things off strong. Expect some growing pains during his first full year of pro, but I still see a puck-moving defender who can play on the power play and, at worst, challenge for a spot on the bottom-pair in a few years.
Other notables: Reid Schaefer, LW (20), Nolan Burke, C (21), Austin Roest, RW (20), Kalan Lind, LW (19), OZzy Wiesblatt, RW (22), Narvin Mutter, LW (23), Hiroki Gojsic, RW (18), Miguel Marques, RW (18), Viktor Norringer, C (17), Erik Pahlsson, C (20), Aiden Fink, RW (19), Sutter Muzzatti, C (21), Felix Nilsson, C (19), Joey Willis, C (19), Adam Ingram, C (20), Cole O’Hara, RW (22), Ben Strinden, LW (22), Simon Knak, RW (22), Isak Walther, LW (22), Jeremy Hanzel, LHD (21), Jack Matier, RHD (21), Luke Prokop, RHD (22), Viggo Gustafsson, LHD (17), Dylan MacKinnon, RHD (19), Kasper Kulonummi, RHD (20), Anton Olsson, LHD (21), Luke Reid, RHD (22), Semyon Chystyakov, LHD (22), Juha Jatkola, G (21), Jakub Milota, G (18)
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