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Nashville Predators: New Years Resolutions for a Rebuilt Team

By Chad Minton

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 10: Mattias Ekholm #14 of the Nashville Predators is congratulated by teammaters Ryan Johansen #92 and Calle Jarnkrok #19 after scoring the go ahead goal during the third period of a 6-5 Predators victory over the Capitals at Bridgestone Arena on October 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 10: Mattias Ekholm #14 of the Nashville Predators is congratulated by teammaters Ryan Johansen #92 and Calle Jarnkrok #19 after scoring the go ahead goal during the third period of a 6-5 Predators victory over the Capitals at Bridgestone Arena on October 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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“That kid is going to be special”

How cool would it be to see a Predators rookie take the NHL by storm this season?

To be considered a rookie in the NHL, you have to be younger than 26 and not played more than 25 games in a previous season. The rules are a little more complicated than other major sports.

With that being said, the Predators have two players that could hit a hot streak and make some noise on the rookie stage. Those two are Eeli Tolvanen and Philip Tomasino.

Tolvanen only has seven games of NHL experience despite being drafted with a lot of hype back in 2017. That’s not to say he’s a lost cause, and in fact he has a great chance to be a regular on the Predators roster this season.

Is it likely Tolvanen is going to blaze through the NHL and be in consideration for the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2021? No, but I can dream can’t I?

The more likely candidate and the one with more raw talent is Tomasino, but can he find himself on the roster initially on opening night? That’s the question to ask yourself that we’ll know in the near future.

If Tomasino were to play wire-to-wire this upcoming season, then you better believe he should be on the short list of rookies who have a chance to make some serious noise.

The last Predators rookie to be in the mix for the Calder Trophy was 2014-15 when Filip Forsberg came in fourth place in the voting when he had 63 points and had only played in 18 career regular season games before.

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