Nashville Predators: Five Key Prospects to Watch at Rookie Camp

We have Nashville Predators hockey coming up on the horizon as the 2021-22 NHL regular season is just over a week away with the preseason opening up. Until then, we have an appetizer as the Predators prospects head to rookie camp this week.

With the Predators becoming such a younger team over the offseason with so many impactful roster moves, seeing how their prospects are developing in game action will be entertaining to watch this weekend down in the Sunshine State.

The Predators are entering the season with a new era and a fresh look as much of the veteran core was dismantled over the offseason.  There are still key veterans that remain, but there is opportunities abound for prospects to get that coveted NHL call-up this season.

Rookie camp will open up this Thursday and run through the weekend down in Florida for the Prospect Showcase, which will feature four teams including the Predators, Hurricanes, Lightning and Panthers.

I’ve got five prospects I’m really intrigued to see in action this weekend and hoping to see them stand out above some of the rest. It’s a rookie camp roster full of exciting talent.

Tomas Vomacka, G, 2017 5th-round draft pick

Here’s another Predators prospect who since being drafted has seen extensive action in the collegiate ranks, but is now ready to take their talents to the professional level of the AHL.

Tomas Vomacka has an impressive showing in the Predators development camp last month, including making some difficult saves in the Future Stars Game against other fellow Predators prospects.

The Predators lost their all-time great goaltender Pekka Rinne to retirement over the offseason, but still appear to be solid in net for years to come with Juuse Saros as the starter, and 2020 first-round draft pick Iaroslav Askarov pegged as the eventual franchise goaltender after his KHL obligations come to an end.

With that said, the Predators look to keep the goalie pipeline strong, and Vomacka looks like a promising goaltender for the AHL ranks in the near future. Of course we also still have Connor Ingram as the No.1 starter for the Admirals.

Vomacka has spent the last two seasons with the University of Connecticut and has appeared in 50 games and has posted a GAA hovering around three goals allowed per game. We’re looking for a strong camp showing from him as he looks to make an impact in the AHL in the near future.

David Farrance, D, 2017 3rd-round draft pick

And here’s another prospect with high potential that has benefited from a quality collegiate career. David Farrance played for the highly-respected Boston University as a standout player, and is now expected to make his AHL debut with the Milwaukee Admirals this coming season.

If you ask me, Farrance’s time with the Adimrals might be short lived. I won’t be shocked in the slightest if he gets the call-up to the Predators after the first month or so of the regular season. Especially if the Predators are struggling in the standings and need a shake-up.

In the meantime, Farrance will get his feet wet in the AHL and should be one of Milwaukee’s top players. He looked good at the development camp with his puck handling and skating.

Farrance also already has made his NHL debut as he got into two games last season, and really didn’t look uncomfortable or out of place at all. Now with more playing time in the AHL, he’ll be ready sooner rather than later to be a regular NHL starter.

Expect Farrance to stand out in rookie camp and against the other teams’ prospects this weekend. He seems the most ready out of all of the prospect pool for the Predators to be an NHL starter right now. Well, him and one other highly-touted prospect, that is.

Philip Tomasino, C/W, 2019 1st-round pick

Aside from Eeli Tolvanen, it’s been awhile since a Predators prospect has built this much excitement to make their NHL debut. Philip Tomasino is right on the cusp of making that NHL splash, but unfortunately I’m not betting on him starting right away in the first game.

However, Tomasino does have this opportunity at rookie camp to really shine and impress coaches even more than he already has. All eyes are naturally going to be on what Tomasino can do against other competition.

Tomasino is just beyond his years in terms of all-around offensive play. He’s such a smooth skater entering the zone, moves the puck effortlessly, has a great shot and just looks like a smart hockey player. All the traits you are thrilled to see from a guy who just turned 20-years-old in July.

Even if Tomasino has a subpar rookie camp showing, he’s still on track to eventually make his Predators debut this season. Maybe a little more time in the AHL can benefit him at the start, but I’m already on record of saying start him in the season-opener. Let’s see how he performs against other prospects this weekend, first.

Tomasino has flourished on every level of hockey he’s every seemed to play in, and there’s no reason to expect anything different in the prospect showcase this weekend in Tampa.

Egor Afanasyev, C/W, 2019 2nd-round draft pick

Drafted the round right after Tomasino was drafted in 2019, Egor Afanasyev has always had the intrigue of the fans. His physical size alone at 6’3″ as an offensive forward instantly got me interested in what he can become.

Still only 20-years-old, Afanasyev is on the right track to being in the NHL within the next two seasons. I see him as a vital part of the Milwaukee Admirals this season as he’s making his AHL debut. He’s already gotten valuable experience in the very competitive and difficult KHL.

Afanasyev should play very well in the prospect showcase this weekend. He’s already gotten so much international playing experience, and quite honestly moving from the KHL to the AHL shouldn’t be too difficult of a transition for him.

Upon being drafted in 2019, Afanasyev also got a full season in the OHL and put up the dominant numbers you would expect from a player of his talent level as he posted 67 points over 62 games before moving on to international action in Russia.

I can’t wait to see Afanasyev translate that to the AHL this season. Aside from Tomasino, he’s the player I’m most interested in watching on the AHL level this season.