Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Dante Fabbro poses for a photo after being selected as the number seventeen overall draft pick by the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Nashville Predators Day Two NHL Entry Draft
Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Auston Matthews sits in the stands before the start of the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Fourth Round, #108, Hardy Haman Aktell, D
Hardy Haman Aktell, a big Swedish left-handed defenseman was the fourth defenseman in the fist five picks by the Predators. So much for filling that pipeline. Besides having one of the most entertaining names in the draft, Aktell is 6’3″ and 200 lbs and still growing. He was ranked #60 by NHL Central Scouting European rankings so may be a scouting pick that the Preds saw.
He played last season for Skellefteå AIK which is the same team Viktor Arvidsson played for three years ago. He played for three separate U-18 teams last season, moving up and scored a total of 30 points in 28 games.
#Preds scout Lucas Bergman on Hardy Haman Aktell: “He’s been a little bit under the radar. I think he’s a top-four profile, lots of upside.”
— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) June 25, 2016
Fifth Round, #138, Patrick Harper, C
In the fifth, the Nashville Predators took another undersized center with potential. Patrick Harper is only 5’7″ and 150 lbs. He is attending Boston University in the fall and will be a teammate of fellow Pred Dante Fabbro.
He is also a project but that’s what you get at this point in the draft. Described as slippery-fast and elusive with great puck skills and control. He has a great hockey IQ and supposedly is able to go around defenders easily. Justin Bradford of Penalty Box radio had a quote describing him as a young Paul Kariya. That wouldn’t be bad.
Nashville Select Patrick Harper (5th Round, 138th Overall) https://t.co/gPjz4krHr9 via @adsroundtable pic.twitter.com/BovIIPJ7Y9
— Admirals Roundtable (@adsroundtable) June 25, 2016
Sixth Round, #168, Konstantin Volkov, G
In the Sixth Round, the Nashville Predators chose their normal “late-round goalie”. Pekka Rinne sure worked out that way. Konstantin Volkov is a big Russian goaltender at 6’3″ and 212. Not a lot is known about him as he actually came from a lower level league in Russia and it’s hard to equate his stats.
Admirals Roundtable mentioned this in finding out anything about the young Russian, “It took searching Константин Волков to find just who this Konstantin Volkov is!”
Nashville Predators scout Martin Bakula was quoted by Brooks Bratten of the Predators, “He is a big goalie that moves very well for his size. We are really happy to have him.”
Nashville Select Konstantin Volkov (6th Round, 168th Overall) https://t.co/HU8LvsHPV2 via @adsroundtable pic.twitter.com/2NP1B6Rwkm
— Admirals Roundtable (@adsroundtable) June 25, 2016
Seventh Round, #198, Adam Smith, D
Lo and behold, with their final pick of the day, the Nashville Predators took yet another defenseman. At least we know who this guy is. Adam Smith is 6′ and 181 lbs. He split time last season between the Newmarket Hurricanes in the OJHL and Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He had 17 points in 54 games.
He is a good skater with good puck skills. He was rated #103 overall by ISS Hockey on Elite Prospects so that is a good bit below #198 and could be a value pick.
Adam Smith Drafted By The Nashville Predators: Bowling Green, Ohio – Bowling Green State University sophomore… https://t.co/MMfJXPIm7l
— BGSU Falcons (@BGSUFalcons) June 25, 2016
These are the players we may be cheering on in the near future in Nashville. They say that 30% is fantastic, hopefully, this group does even better.
