Nashville Predators: Ranking the Prospects Who are Next in Line for NHL

1. Connor Ingram, Milwaukee Admirals, AHL

The no-brainer choice for the top spot in the Next in Line prospect list for the Predators is Connor Ingram. Quite frankly, he could be Juuse Saros’ fulltime backup right now and it wouldn’t give me any reservations about it.

Ingram is once again lighting up the AHL after getting off to a slow start, along with the entire Milwaukee Admirals team. Now the team is playing up to the high level many expected, and Ingram is driving the train.

With five shutouts on the season, Ingram is giving the Predators front office and coaches every reason to have confidence in him to be the backup to Saros going into 2022-23.

Check out this sequence of saves Ingram made recently in a 42-save win for the Admirals, courtesy of the Milwaukee Admirals Youtube channel:

Veteran David Rittich, who was signed over the offseason by the Predators to a one-year deal, is the current backup to Saros. He’s rarely getting any starts, so it’s a better position for Ingram to be getting regular action with Milwaukee than being in the NHL and riding the bench.

Ingram did perform commdendably in his first two NHL games earlier this seaosn while Rittich was out due to Covid-19 protocols. Ingram made 58 saves on 64 shots faced, good for cracking the 90 percent plateau. Not bad for your first two NHL games.

The Predators franchise have always had trouble developing elite scorers, but they should count their blessings for always having the goaltender box checked off. Ingram is another addition to that.

Honorable Mention:

There were plenty of other prospects that I thought about putting into the list that are also getting close. David Farrance is a highly-touted offensively skilled defenseman that everyone wants to see on the Predators.

Farrance has just 13 points in 36 games for the Admirals this season. Way below the scoring level you’d like to see if you think he’s ready for the NHL. He’s only 22-years-old and should eventually get another NHL call-up assuming the Predators don’t trade away any prospects ahead of the March 21 trade deadline.

Iaroslav Askarov was left off the top-five list because Ingram is ahead of him, simply put. And Askarov is playing overseas in Russia, so the path to the NHL is a little more complicated.

The expected next step for Askarov is taking over in Milwaukee once his contract is up in the KHL. He’s just not getting much playing time or support in his development over there, so let’s get him to the states as soon as we can.

Finally, Cody Glass comes in as an honorable mention, and would be No.6 if the list was extended. His point production is great in Millwaukee with 29 points, 24 of those assists, and he’ll fully be in the mix to reclaim a starting spot in training camp next season.

Glass is due to become an RFA this upcoming offseason, and I’d expect the Predators to easily re-sign if they want him back for a modest price.