Nashville Predators: Key Prospects to Take Next Step in 2021-22 Season

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As the Nashville Predators offseason rolls on, there’s a lot of optimism surrounding their prospect pool and a fresh look to the roster in 2021-22.

Aside from the obvious factor of Juuse Saros playing on a Vezina Trophy like level down the stretch, the Nashville Predators really relied heavily on inexperience to log valuable ice time as they pushed into the postseason.

Next season will be much of the same for the Predators in terms of relying on youth and inexperience as I expect some long-time veterans to move on either by way of the expansion draft, free agency or via a trade from GM David Poile.

It’s awesome to see that the Milwaukee Admirals, the AHL affiliate to the Nashville Predators, will be returning to the ice in the upcoming season after missing all of last season due to Covid-19 cancellations and restrictions.

The last time we saw the Admirals they were cruising to the best record in the AHL, and those same prospects that were key to that outstanding team will be leaned on again and possibly even get a look in the NHL for the Predators.

I have a list of a few key prospects who I’m looking to make big jumps next season and should be all over your radar once hockey returns for a new, and normal season.

Forward Egor Afansyev #11 of the Windsor Spitfires (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images) /

Egor Afanasyev

We’ve all been excited about Egor Afanasyev since he got drafted by the Predators in 2019 at the 45th overall pick of the second round.

Afanasyev has so much potential to become a full-time player for the Predators in the next couple of years. That’s why he starts off my list of key prospects who I’m looking to take that next step forward with a full season in the AHL.

According to Dobber Prospects, Afanasyev has a very favorable rating of 80 percent odds to become a full-time NHL player per their NHL Certainty scale.

Afanasyev got a lot of valuable experience in 2019-20 for the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL by tracking at over a point-per-game pace with 67 points in 62 games. He has since moved on to some playing time in the KHL, which isn’t an easy league to transition to.

My hope is that Afanasyev gets another full season of solid playing time and experience in so that he can be fully ready to make the NHL jump in the next year or two. His future is bright as a possible top-six player with his size and scoring ability.

Connor Ingram

This is a pretty obvious choice in terms of key prospects for the Predators and need to jump to that next level when the new season starts.

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Connor Ingram finished off in 2019-20 as one of the best, if not the best, goaltenders in the AHL. He was a major reason the Milwaukee Admirals had so much success before the season was cut short due to the pandemic.

Ingram posted a GAA of 1.92 and a save percentage of .933 on his way to an astounding 21-5-6 record in 2019-20 for the Admirals. He suffered some personal health problems back in January, which are so much more important and serious than hockey.

The good news is Ingram got some help and returned back to the ice to play a few games for the Chicago Wolves as the shortened AHL season wrapped up.

I’m really intrigued to see if Ingram can repeat what he did in 2019-20, or even come somewhat close to that dominating performance. Of course a lot of this hinges on Pekka Rinne‘s decision, but I’d prefer to not see Ingram immediately as Juuse Saros’ backup in October.

However, Ingram has a solid chance to eventually become Saros’ backup if 2019-20 was any indication of things to come for him.

Rem Pitlick

You have to think that Rem Pitlick is one of those players that’s “got next” in terms of moving into the NHL roster regularly for the Nashville Predators. There was a logjam of forwards last season, so it was tough to make room for that youth movement until injuries piled up.

Nashville Predators

Pitlick logged 10 games last season and has two assists in just over 11 minutes of ice time per game. He didn’t get a ton of work and had a minor role, but he certainly didn’t fold under pressure.

An encouraging stat from Pitlick’s brief stint with the Predators last season was his Corsi-for was at a respectable 52.7 and spent a lot of time in the offensive zone with a 65.1 oZS%,. He also got 11 shots on goal and put out eight hits, so he made his presence known in limited ice time.

I’d really like to see Pitlick in a more regular role on the NHL roster in 2021-22. Maybe not a full-time starter, depending on what happens with the roster this offseason, but definitely some spot starts in certain situations.

If Pitlick does start off in Milwaukee once again, it’ll be his second season there after putting up 36 points in 63 games in 2019-20, and 10 points in brief action with the Chicago Wolves last season.

Jeremy Davies

The predominant fear among Predators fans is that the front office is going to continue to chase aging veterans and further backlog their prospect pipeline. I don’t think Poile can argue in doing that strategy anymore.

It’s time to elevate this budding NHL contributors and make more room in Milwaukee for other developing prospects who need that experience on that level.

Jeremey Davies was admirable, no pun intended, in his action for the Predators last season. He almost certainly got this chance due to the rash of injuries that the Predators defense suffered. Be that as it may, Davies played fairly well considering his age and inexperience.

The Predators are still trying to solve their defensive lineup issues outside of their main three of Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm. A trio that most teams would kill to have, but the other three slots have been a struggle to find consistency.

Davies is a player that has the talent and skills to fill into one of those three slots on a more regular basis. Most likely on third pairing assuming Dante Fabbro returns.

Davies’ NHL debut came on March 9 against the Carolina Hurricanes, back when the Predators’ season was tanking. In his second career NHL game he logged an impressive 22:19 of ice time as he worked out some of the jitters.

Training camp will be interesting as I see a lot of competition coming for the bottom pairing. Perhaps Ben Harpur sticks around, and you also have Mark Borowiecki and Matt Benning possibly. But Davies needs to be in that mix as well.

Philip Tomasino

And now of course the prospect we all can’t get enough of; Philip Tomasino. There were even rumblings that Tomasino might get into the Predators lineup down the stretch of last season, but that playoff push kepth things intact.

If the Predators continued to fade into oblivion, then I think Tomasino would’ve gotten some NHL experience. Either way, there’s plenty of time for that.

Tomasino ended up being tied for the team lead in points with 32 for the Chicago Wolves in 2020-21. He just excels no matter what league or international tournament you put him in. Perhaps more AHL experience will be good for him initially, but I’m really thinking his next step is actually on the NHL stage. He’s that talented.

light. More. Who Will Be Juuse Saros' Back-Up for Predators Next Season?

Again, this offseason and what the Predators do with the expansion draft, free agency and trades will really affect where Tomasino starts off in the Fall of 2021. I’m expecting him to be with the Milwaukee Admirals at the beginning, but the green light for him to be called up won’t be far off.

Tomasino will most likely be a main catalyst for the Admirals until he gets his much-anticipated NHL call up. Put him on a line with Filip Forsberg, please and thank you.

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