Nashville Predators Take their Big Swing by Selecting Matthew Wood at 15th Pick
By Chad Minton
There was massive speculation leading up to the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and what the host Nashville Predators would do in the first round, but in the end they stayed put by selecting Matthew Wood with the 15th-overall pick.
Wood is widely-regarded as a potential top-10 talent who could hit his ceiling of being a consistent goal scorer in the NHL. With that, there are also concerns around his skating that might not translate well to the NHL unless he shows major improvement in that area of his game.
Nashville Predators Stay Put at 15, Take their Swing for Matthew Wood
Leading up to the draft, the term of “taking some big swings” was the theme surrounding new General Manager Barry Trotz’s strategy. We didn’t know if that meant trading up to the top-5, which was gaining steam as the draft was unfolding after Connor Bedard was first taken.
It only took the second pick before the draft went off course from what many mock drafts predicted. Adam Fantilli was the consensus projected No.2 overall pick behind Bedard, but instead the Anaheim Ducks selected Leo Carlsson.
By the time it got to the Nashville Predators at the 15th pick, Zach Benson had just come off the board to the Buffalo Sabres at No.13 and Brayden Yager at No.14 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Although I was thinking Gabe Perrault or Axel Sandin-Pellikka would’ve been safer picks, I can’t argue with the notion that Wood has a much higher ceiling and home run potential.
“When you look at the profile – goal scorer – he’s a long way to grow. He’s a big body, he can score, we’re just gonna let them develop. You gotta score goals in this game, and you need some size to win in the playoffs. So hopefully he checks two of those boxes.” –Barry Trotz told ESPN on what Matthew Wood can bring
Wood was a star with the University of Connecticut and is the highest draft pick in that school’s history for men’s ice hockey. Putting up 34 points in 35 games as a freshman is no easy feat.
Trotz highlighted the goal scoring potential in Wood’s game, along with his big frame at 6’3″ and 190 pounds. I’ve even seen some sites list him at 6’4″.
Either way, he’s a big-bodied forward who obviously has to improve on his skating and speed, but the potential to be a x-factor in scoring goals is tantalizing to say the least.
The important thing to remember surrounding this pick is the Nashville Predators can be patient in their development of Wood. Now it’s the job of coaches to properly develop Wood into an eventual top-six talent.
This is a long-term pick for sure. The front office has a vision and a long-term plan and they realize that although this team might be able to compete or the postseason in 2023-24, they’re still a long ways off from realistically competing with the top tier teams in the playoffs.
The Nashville Predators last picked at No.15 back in 2004 when they took Alexander Radulov.
Later in the first round at the 24th-overall pick, the Predators chose defenseman Tanner Molendyk of the Saskatoon Blades from the WHL.