Wanting on the Nashville Predators’ draft wants and technique, there are clearly some vital deficiencies of their pipeline at sure positions. Based on the New York Occasions prospect pipeline rankings, the Predators have only one full-time middle and one defenseman of their high ten prospects rankings (Wheeler, The Athletic/New York Occasions). Six of the gamers within the high ten are listed as wingers, and ahead Matthew Wooden (their second-ranked prospect) is perhaps shifting to wing full-time this season at Minnesota. The Predators have apparent wants at each the middle place and protection, and I anticipate them to focus on these positions within the early rounds of the draft.
Basic supervisor Barry Trotz has been far more tight-lipped than final season about his draft technique, however we will look again to get a touch on what it is perhaps this season and what he might be focusing on along with his first-round decide. In an interview final season, Trotz stated he needed his scouts to “Take some swings, take some high-end swings on some guys… I can discover you third line, fourth line guys, no downside. Go get me some guys that get folks out of their seats.”
It’s evident that the Predators wish to inventory their pipeline with gamers who can grow to be showstoppers and gamers who excite the followers. With these wants and a few perception, let’s break down the 5 more than likely choices for the Predators at decide No. 22.
Adam JiĹ™ĂÄŤek
Adam JiĹ™ĂÄŤek is a extremely versatile and aggressive defenseman with no actual holes in his recreation. Regardless of being 17 years outdated and having room so as to add power, he already makes use of his dimension successfully on the defensive finish. His sturdy skating and offensive recreation make him a strong future NHL defender. JiĹ™ĂÄŤek’s imaginative and prescient permits him to establish the best play at tempo and infrequently deceive opponents from the blue line to create openings. His passing is impeccable, and he can simply feather pucks via visitors.
Associated: THW’s 2024 NHL Draft Information
When wholesome, JiĹ™ĂÄŤek has demonstrated good mobility and mature puck-moving capabilities. He performs the sport confidently and deliberately, showcasing actual ambition towards his a lot older friends. His four-way mobility, balanced capturing mechanics, and eye for spacing make him a priceless asset on each side of the puck. JiĹ™ĂÄŤek has actual talent with the puck and is environment friendly in his puck-moving skills. Whereas he’s nonetheless growing bodily, his offensive abilities are anticipated to mature. He excels within the defensive zone as an efficient checker and can possible be an all-situations participant.
Sacha Boisvert
- Heart
- 6-foot-2
- 179 kilos
- Ranked #25 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
- Ranked #21 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
- Ranked #20 by Peter Baracchini
Sacha Boisvert is likely one of the high pure goalscorers on this 12 months’s draft. He possesses a misleading wrister and a strong one-timer and is all the time a risk from a distance. His net-front abilities and off-puck timing improve his in-tight ending. He additionally excels at playmaking, simply navigating layers of sticks with slip and saucer passes, even off the backhand. His passing abilities shine primarily off the frenzy, discovering cross-ice targets for high-value entries and faking photographs to create cross-slot lanes. Boisvert is tall and lean, with room and potential so as to add extra weight and power. His skating has improved considerably during the last season, making him a extra constant risk off the frenzy. He has good size and makes use of it properly in defensive duties. Whereas his puck abilities is probably not the flashiest, he handles them successfully, making performs in small areas and slipping off checks.
His aggressive nature and intangibles, equivalent to dropping the gloves when obligatory, add to his attraction as a whole ahead. Boisvert’s peak, attain, NHL-level talent, and competitiveness make him a promising prospect as he tasks to be a second-line NHL ahead. Although there are moments the place he leaves you wanting extra, his potential to be a difference-maker offensively is plain. With additional progress and improvement, Boisvert is poised to turn into a big offensive contributor on the NHL degree.
Michael Hage
- Heart
- 6-foot-1
- 190 kilos
- Ranked #21 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
- Ranked #24 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
- Ranked #14 by Peter Baracchini
Michael Hage is a dynamic attacker who can beat you along with his inside drives, flashy dekes, and give-and-go playmaking. His crossover burst will get defenders’ toes shifting, permitting him to search out and exploit vulnerabilities. His imaginative and prescient within the offensive zone is elite, making him a pure middle with professional dimension, skating, and dual-threat talent as a shooter and passer. He’s naturally proficient as a handler, able to creating for himself or elevating a line. Hage is a big risk off the frenzy in transition, utilizing his fast catch-and-release and right-shot to generate scoring possibilities. His means to drift smooth saucer passes to the slot or hearth crisp passes to the again door showcases his unbelievable imaginative and prescient with the puck on his stick. Although his shot isn’t an elite weapon, he locates it properly and doesn’t hesitate to get in entrance of the online. Hage’s offensive component is his clear-cut power, which has made him an enormous risk to attain targets and create offense on the ability play. Nonetheless, he wants to enhance his defensive element and energy to spherical out his recreation, notably off the puck.
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Hage performs with a bodily edge and has proven the flexibility to take over video games late within the season. He processes the sport mentally quick, making high-level performs and difficult defenders with quickness and hand abilities. Whereas his play can typically be inconsistent, he tasks as a middle-six ahead with an opportunity to be extra. With added improvement, Hage has the potential to turn into a wonderful two-way middle able to enjoying on each the penalty kill and energy play.
Cole Hutson
- Defenseman
- 5-foot-10
- 159 kilos
- Ranked #26 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
- Ranked #47 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
- Ranked #48 by Peter Baracchini
Cole Hutson is likely one of the high offensive defensemen within the draft and epitomizes the kind of thrilling participant Trotz wishes. He has elite creativity, deception, and puck-handling abilities and excels in one-on-one conditions on the level. His agility, hesitation strikes, and skill to get previous the primary layer of protection permit him to drive down the faceoff circle, faux photographs, and ship good cross-ice passes to open forwards. Hutson possesses exceptional playmaking capabilities and has additionally proven a refined goal-scoring contact this season. He aggressively will get into performs, demonstrating a bodily component to his recreation by delivering hits and battling alongside the wall. Whereas his defensive recreation wants enchancment to keep away from being a legal responsibility on the NHL degree, he has the desire to defend and is accountable in his personal zone. Hutson’s power lies in skating into the offensive zone, assessing choices, making fast passes, or discovering open lanes to create harmful scoring alternatives.
He’s an electrical participant with the potential to be a powerplay quarterback on the NHL degree, serving as an offensive catalyst from the again finish. If he can spherical out his defensive recreation, Hutson tasks to be an thrilling offensive defenseman within the NHL. His skating, playmaking, edgework, and shot make him an elite offensive risk at five-on-five and on the ability play.
Cole Beaudoin
- Heart
- 6-foot-2
- 210 kilos
- Ranked #28 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
- Ranked #29 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
- Ranked #34 by Peter Baracchini
Cole Beaudoin is a sturdy ahead with a relentless compete degree and super hockey IQ. He grinds alongside the boards, spins off opponents, drags the puck out of visitors, and isn’t afraid to drive to the online. His means to win puck battles, tip photographs, and get open for tap-ins makes him a formidable presence in entrance of the online. Beaudoin’s skating wants enchancment, but it surely isn’t a misplaced trigger. As soon as he will get into his stride, he turns into a robust and durable skater, excelling in forechecking and backchecking. His influence is felt in all three zones, the place his heavy skating is all the time heard as he typically crushes opponents on the boards, lifts their sticks, and regains possession.
Beaudoin is a well-conditioned athlete with a robust left-handed shot and a skillset that can be utilized in numerous roles. He can rip pucks from the weak facet flank or arrange web entrance, in search of suggestions and rebounds. His offensive recreation won’t be notably flashy, however he performs a model of hockey that helps groups win video games. Beaudoin’s playstyle possible tasks as a middle-six ahead within the NHL who provides depth to scoring and playmaking. His shot is one in every of his largest strengths, enabling him to carve out a job on the ability play and penalty kill. His relentless puck pursuit, high-end motor, and skill to use fixed stress make him a priceless asset.
Wanting Forward
Because the Predators put together for the upcoming draft, it’s clear they should handle vital gaps of their prospect pipeline, notably at middle and protection. Trotz’s concentrate on drafting thrilling, high-potential gamers suggests a method geared toward buying prospects who can ultimately turn into top-tier contributors, even when their improvement takes time. If the Predators can purchase any of those 5 gamers within the first spherical, it could fill a big want and match what they’re in search of in a prospect.
