A hectic offseason is ahead for the Nashville Predators, and they’re already making some moves with some of their younger prospects.
There’s a youth movement that’s about to happen with the Nashville Predators going into 2021, and they’re going to have to show confidence in their younger prospects to grow up fast.
The Predators announced a new contract with forward Michael McCarron, which will be a two-way deal for one year, per the team’s official website:
NEWS: President of Hockey Operations/GM David Poile announced today that the #Preds have signed forward Michael McCarron to a one-year contract for the 2020-21 season. https://t.co/uZ2mDw7E6t
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) September 23, 2020
McCarron is a feisty player that’s not afraid to scrap and impressed the organization enough to make the initial training camp roster to prepare for the Return-to-Play in the Edmonton bubble.
That was a short stay for the Predators in Edmonton, and McCarron never saw the ice. However, the front office and GM David Poile obviously have confidence in him to sign him to a one-year deal worth up to $700,000 on the NHL level.
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Expect McCarron to be an important piece to the Milwaukee Admirals next season, and possibly get a call-up if the Predators struggle early on.
A roster overhaul to some degree is expected this offseason.
McCarron spent time with the Admirals and Laval Rocket last season, recording 15 goals. He’s got excellent size for the position and has room for development at age 25. His next NHL opportunity could be in the not-so-distant future.
Back in 2016-17 McCarron got some NHL experience as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, the team that drafted him at 25th overall. The skills and size are there to possibly become a fourth line contributor and role player on the NHL level.
We’re not going to know for sure just how different the Predators are going to look in 2021 until free agency is conducted. The Stanley Cup Final is underway between the Dallas Stars and the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the offseason calendar will come fast and furious after that.
There are a few other prospects that I put ahead of McCarron in terms of deserving NHL starts first for the Predators on opening night of next season. However, I don’t have him too far back in the pack.
McCarron is a promising prospect that’s great for the organization’s prospect pool. Don’t count him out to get an NHL opportunity in 2021 as the Predators possibly go into a rebuild.