Nashville Predators: An Overview of the 2017 Entry Draft

After the tough loss of James Neal to the Expansion Draft, the Nashville Predators made it their mission to stock up on young talent in the Entry Draft.

The NHL Entry Draft concluded Saturday, and Nashville Predators GM David Poile wasted no time reloading his team with talent. Poile, who already has a roster with 16 players aged 25 or younger, added 6 more over the weekend. The Predators had 6 picks spread out over 7 rounds. Although the Nashville Predators showed their depth of young talent this year, there is always a need for more.

With the departure of James Neal, and the potential retirement of captain Mike Fisher, there will obviously be offensive holes in the Predators lineup. Thus, creating one need for Poile in the draft. The Predators blue line is as solid as any in the NHL, but with the rise of players like P.K. Subban, Ryan Ellis, Roman Josi, and Mattias Ekholm, a money problem could emerge. If the Predators were unable to pay all of their stars, a need for a younger, less expensive talent would emerge. This brings another need to the draft table for Poile.

Finally, Pekka Rinne has been the cornerstone of the Nashville Predators for nine years now. However, he won’t be around forever. The 34-year-old will eventually retire, leading to another need for Poile and the Predators. All these situations, pose issues for Poile, so with the future in mind, he stocked up on young talent over the weekend.

First round, 30th overall

With the 30th overall pick in the 1st round, GM David Poile chose LW Eeli Tolvanen. NHL Central Scouting listed him as the 8th best North American skater. The 18-year-old Finnish winger has spent the last two seasons in the USHL playing for the Sioux City Musketeers. In his time in the USHL, Tolvanen showed scouts and fans just how deadly he is on offense, with 92 combined points in 101 games. Tolvanen is the total package for an offensive forward. He is essentially a point-per-game player, he has a laser shot, deadly accuracy, and finds ways to get open.  The only downside to Tolvanen is his size, as he is only 5 foot 10 inches, 185 pounds.

One of the best aspects of his game, as mentioned earlier, is his shot. This past year in the USHL, he generated the most shots per game of any forward with 4.73. One of the best ways to generate offense is to throw the puck at the net and go from there. That being said,  Eeli’s 5 shots per game, will surely produce great offense for the Predators. When asked about playing in Nashville, Tolvanen said, “That would be unreal to play there”. Tolvanen seemed to be a steal at #30, and he loves the organization already, so what more can a team and fans ask for?

Third Round, 92nd Overall

With their 3rd round selection, and the 92nd overall pick, David Poile chose David Farrance. Farrance, a 5 foot 10 inch, 180 pound defenseman from Victor, New York, was the Predators 2nd American-born selection in this draft. Like Grant Mismash, Farrance spent his last two seasons in the US National Team Development Program. NHL Central Scouting’s 11th best North American defenseman finished last season with 7 goals and 30 assists, in 64 games.

Farrance is slightly undersized like Nashville’s Ryan Ellis, however, his game matches up more to Roman Josi. He is a skilled puck-handler who has an offensive mind. He skates well in all three zones, and has an NHL caliber slapshot. His hockey IQ allows him to control the game and see the whole ice at once. Although he is a strong defender, his lack of physicality is a weakness to his game.

With the Predators finishing the year with the 16th best power play in the NHL, Farrance’s leadership and offense could greatly help the Nashville power play. Overall, Farrance seems to be a strong player that could flourish under the guidance of the Predators strong defensive core. Nashville has done well with smaller, quicker defenseman like him in the past, so I would expect Farrance to thrive in the Predators organization. Nashville Predators fans need to keep an eye out for David Farrance in the near future.

Fifth Round, 154th Overall

With the 154th pick of the draft, the Nashville Predators chose Czech goalie, Tomas Vomacka. Vomacka spent last season in the NAHL with the Corpus Christi Ice Rays. In 41 games played, Vomacka posted a .923 save percentage, with 2.43 goals allowed per game. This past season, Vomacka was named the NAHL’s South Division Goaltender of the Year, and earned a spot on the NAHL’s All Rookie Team, among other accolades. NHL Central Scouting has Vomacka listed as the 14th best North American goalie.

During the 2017 season, Vomacka was named to the NAHL Selects roster, to play in the NAHL Top Prospects tournament. During that event, he led the NAHL Selects to an overtime win over the US National Team Development Program, a team which included Grant Mismash and David Farrance. One of Vomacka’s most impressive stats is the 5-0-3 record with a 1.43 GAA and .951 save percentage that he posted in the playoffs. His playoff stats show his poise and drive when his team needs him most. Under the guidance of the host of goalie talent in the Nashville Predators organization, Vomacka could very well end up being a star in Nashville.

Nashville’s 5th pick of the 2017 draft came in the 6th round, when they selected Russian winger Pavel Koltygin. The 6 foot, 190 pound forward was NHL Central Scouting’s 83rd best skater in the draft. Last season,  in Drummondville, Koltygin posted an even stat line of 22 goals and 25 assists in 65 games. This even stat line shows Koltygin’s ability to shoot and score, just as frequently as he sets up his line mates. Although Koltygin doesn’t have amazing speed, his smooth skating and strong edge work make up for it. He has soft hands that work in tandem with his accuracy on his laser shot and passes. He is good in the face off circle, and knows how to shoot and score, or dish the puck out in the offensive zone.

His offensive weapons make him a threat around the net, while his defensive side poses a problem. Koltygin was a liability on defense this year, which was shown by his -28 in just 65 games. He has all the offensive tools to succeed in the NHL, however a lack of defense could spell trouble for the Russian forward.

Seventh round, 216th overall

In the 7th and final round of the NHL Entry Draft, the Nashville Predators chose Canadien defenseman, Jacob Paquette. Paquette spent the last two seasons in the OHL with the Frontenacs. Here, he amassed only 23 points in 115 games. Paquette saw his draft stock drop after this season, where he suffered from injury. This past season he posted a lower total in goals, assists, and shots than the year before. Similarly, Paquette’s plus/minus went from +24 two years ago, to a -18 this past year. Paquette also saw and increase in penalty minutes. Although the numbers don’t bode well for Paquette, he still brings his fair share of skills to the table.

Paquette stands tall at 6 foot 3, 205 pounds. His size brings good physicality, and a surprising amount of mobility. He controls the puck very well for a defenseman, and is great at moving it up the ice. His shot isn’t very dangerous, although he makes up for it by distributing the puck well in the offensive zone. He is physical in front of the net, and is a reliable defender who can match the elusiveness of the man he is guarding. Paquette’s numbers and draft stock fell this past season, but injury and a weaker team surely didn’t help his production. In due time, Paquette could be a solid NHL defenseman that would continue Nashville’s tradition of excellent defenders.

How did the Predators do overall?

Overall, the Predators drafted well this year. GM David Poile proved once again that he is a master of finding young talent. Poile replaced any void left by the departure of James Neal, and any others that might be lost to free agency.

The Predators covered all aspects with the selection of two forwards, two defenseman, and a goalie. They added sharp shooting forwards in Tolvanen, Mismash, and Koltygin. They skate well, pass well, and play hard-nosed defense. Farrance and Paquette are strong, smooth skaters, who play physical, reliable defense, and see the ice well. Vomacka is a big, solid goaltender who has all the necessary tools to be an NHL star.

Next: How Much is Viktor Arvidsson worth?

Predator fans should be happy with the draft picks, and the state of the franchise at the moment. The players are young and talented, the coach is a winner, and the GM is among the best in the league.