Predlines
Fansided

How the Nashville Predators Can Improve in 2022 Offseason

By Chad Minton

Nashville Predators center Yakov Trenin (13) celebrates his goal with left wing Tanner Jeannot (84) and center Colton Sissons (10) in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche game in two of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Nashville Predators center Yakov Trenin (13) celebrates his goal with left wing Tanner Jeannot (84) and center Colton Sissons (10) in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche game in two of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Zachary L'Heureux, Nashville Predators
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Keep the momentum up of successful drafts recently

If the Predators are going to continue down the path of youth and retooling, obviously they’re going to need to keep having successful draft classes.

You have to be pleased with how Poile has drafted over the last three drafts taking players who are expected to have to bright NHL futures. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic ranks the Nashville Predators prospect pool at No.12 as of February. 

Look at these draft picks since 2019 that almost all should end up eventually being in the NHL for the Predators:

  • 2019: Philip Tomasino, Egor Afanasyev, Juuso Parssinen

  • 2020: Yaroslav Askarov, Luke Evangelista, Luke Prokop, Adam Wilsby

  • 2021: Fedor Svechkov, Zachary L’Heureux

Unfortunately the Predators don’t have a plethora of draft picks in 2022. Just six picks currently, with the 2nd-round pick being traded for Jeremy Lauzon and the 6th-round pick being traded to the Ducks back in 2020, along with Matt Irwin.

To turn into a consistent Stanley Cup contender you have to build through the draft, and the Predators have been doing that over the last three drafts. Keep that momentum going in 2022.

As far as what position the Predators should target in the first round, I’m not against just taking the top player available on your draft board regardless of position if it comes to that. I’m really intrigued by adding another dynamic scoring center, and Sporting News‘ latest mock draft has Rutger McGroarty going the the Predators at Pick No.17.

Reading McGroarty’s scouting report as a “power forward” with a “heavy shot”, sign me up for that. The Nashville Predators need more of that in their pipeline.

Having a solid 2022 draft class that addressess needs in the prospect pool isn’t an instant fix to next season, but it does continue to build on the retooling that Poile always talks about.

Home/Editorials