Players to Watch from Nashville Predators Development Camp

With training camp inching closer and closer, the next noteworthy spot on the offseason calendar is the development camp for the Nashville Predators.

Folks, we have a young and inexperienced roster for the Nashville Predators in 2021-22. Some key veterans are still around to lead the way, but a lot of younger players will have to show they’re ready for regular NHL minutes.

The list of players attending the development camp has been officially announced by the team. Here’s full list of the players that will be attending, per Justin Bradford of Penalty Box Radio:

There’s a lot to be intrigued about in regards to the players attending the development camp, which will be held from August 16 to August 19.

Noteworthy players that are attending

Let’s start with a pretty obvious prospect and one that figures to get the call-up at some point during the 2021-22 regular season, if not on opening night against the Seattle Kraken. That player is Philip Tomasino.

More from Predlines

• Nashville Predators 2023 Training Camp Spotlight: Kiefer Sherwood
• Captain Candidates if Nashville Predators Didn’t Have Roman Josi
• The All-Time 25 Games or Less Nashville Predators Lineup
• Nashville Predators 2023 Training Camp Spotlight: Cody Glass
• Joakim Kemell Flashes his Offense in Nashville Predators Loss to Tampa

Tomasino has dominated in pretty much every league or tournament he’s every played in. He finally got some experience on the AHL level last season with the Chicago Wolves, as the Milwaukee Admirals didn’t conduct a season. He kept up his normal efficient point pace by registering 32 points in 29 games for a stacked Wolves team.

I’m very interested to see how experienced and collected Tomasino looks during the development camp. I’m looking for him to be one of the leaders during camp, and show that he’s fully ready for the NHL call-up sooner rather than later.

Another very talented forward that’s getting closer to that coveted NHL call-up is Egor Afanasyev. He’s yet to see time in the AHL, so this is probably the season I would expect to see him get some time for Milwaukee.

Afanasyev is a little farther off than Tomasino, but his skills and big size makes for a prospect you have to be excited about. And he already has some valuable experience in the KHL this past season playing 16 games for CSKA Moscow. He’s another player I expect to shine at the development camp.

David Farrance is a defensive prospect I really want to see perform at a high level during this camp. He’s not far off from getting an NHL opportunity if this young team sputters out of the gate and they need to shift pieces around.

Farrance has played four seasons at the respected Boston University of the NCAA, and in 2019-20 impressively put up 43 points in 34 games while keeping his penalty minutes relatively low.

One last player that really sticks out in this invite list is this year’s first round draft pick Zachary L’Heureux. The fiery competitor who can bring offensive punch and also be a terror in his forechecking and physical play. How quickly does he adapt at this development camp will be something to watch for.

 Key Notes for Nashville Predators development camp

The highlight of the camp will be the 4-on-4 scrimmage that will be held at the Ford Ice Center in Bellevue one the last day of camp. That’s when we’ll get to see these hungry prospects in competitive action and see who is really standing out.

The practices beforehand will also be noteworthy to see what’s being emphasized by coaches, and also what’s observed by coaches in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

This is a big deal maybe more so than previous seasons for this team. Everyone, including the front office, is throwing around the word “rebuild” in some form of fashion. And rightfully so. They’re reloading if you’d rather use that term, but either way there’s likely going to be growing pains this upcoming season.

It’s all about reinvesting in the long-term future, and it starts with strong prospect development. This camp will be fun to follow, and hopefully we’ll see some rising stars impress and brighten up the future for this franchise that’s been going in reverse since the Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2017.