With the 2021-22 NHL regular season inching closer, the Nashville Predators continue to turn the page to a more youthful team after having a hectic offseason.
There are still some key veterans around that will be leaned on to get this team to an eighth consecutive playoff appearance, but a new era of Nashville Predators hockey seems to be starting with this upcoming season.
Rookie camp has been officially announced to open on Thursday, September 16 according to the team:
#Preds prospects will report to Nashville for the start of Rookie Camp on Thursday, Sept. 16, before heading to Tampa, Fla., the following day for the 2021 NHL Prospect Showcase >> https://t.co/PJYpHtIWNh
— Nashville Predators PR (@PredsPR) September 10, 2021
Most of the fanbase has surrendered to the notion that this team needs a heavy reset as postseason failure has occurred for four-straight seasons now. Seeing this rising prospect pool in game action against other NHL franchises will be refreshing.
Nashville Predators youth back on center stage
The Predators Development Camp was held last month and was capped off with a pretty entertaining Future Stars Game that allowed us to see some of these same prospects competing each other. Now we’ll get to see them against other teams’ prospects.
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The Predators will be heading down to Florida to face the prospects of the Lightning, Hurricanes and Panthers. Three teams that were temporarily in the Central Division with the Predators last season, but are now heading back to their normal divisions in the Eastern Conference.
By most accounts the Predators prospect pool has steadily risen into the top-half of the league. Recent draft picks since the drafting of Eeli Tolvanen in 2017 are really progressing well in other leagues around the world as they continue their journey to the NHL.
This is why these rookie camps and prospect showcases are so interesting to watch. It’s really going to put those assertations to test and give us a chance to see where these prospects are in their development.
There’s no shortage of intriguing prospects in the Predators’ system right now. Philip Tomasino leads the way and will be a part of the rookie camp and prospect showcase which will start off against the Lightning prospects on September 18.
David Farrance has been getting a lot of positive attention, and rightfully so. He’s another prospect very close to getting a full-time opportunity in the NHL, and the rookie camp gives him another opportunity to shine in front of the coaches.
Other key prospects listed by the Predators that are expected to attend:
- Zachary L’Heureux (F)
- Luke Prokop (D)
- Egor Afanasyev (F)
- Tommy Novak (F)
- Cole Smith (F)
- Marc Del Gaizo (D)
- Juuso Parssinen (F)
- Devin Cooley (G)
I’m looking for the trio of Tomasino, Afanasyev and Farrance to really thrive at this camp and in the tournament. Also really intrigued to see Parssinen bring his talents to the states after already getting some playing time in Finland’s Liiga hockey league as he’s on a loan with them.
Parssinen has already enjoyed a lot of success in Liiga, putting up 42 points in 55 games in 2020-21. Also, there’s this highlight reel goal from him just recently, from Finnish Jr. Hockey:
Juuso Pärssinen with a terrific snipe for the game winner in Liiga season opener today. Kalle Väisänen does a good job of setting up the chance. #Preds #NYR pic.twitter.com/1Ap0bqDUva
— Finnish Jr Hockey (@FINjrhockey) September 9, 2021
Those four will probably get the most attention early on, but I’m also looking to see a strong camp showing from Devin Cooley in net. He’s looking to make an impact for the Milwaukee Admirals this season alongside the expected top starter Connor Ingram.
Other attendees you can expect to see in rookie camp who had strong showings at the development camp last month are Grant Mismash, Zach Solow, Jake McLaughlin and goaltender Tomas Vomacka.
The full Nashville Predators training camp is scheduled to open on September 23, with the first preseason game coming on September 26 in doubleheader action against the Florida Panthers.
Stay patient fellow Predators fans. Hockey is almost here and the long, grueling wait is nearly over. Rejoice.