The Nashville Predators Farm System is Rising up the Ranks in 2023
Across three sources, The Athletic, Yahoo! Sports, and the Hockey Writers, the Nashville Predators farm system ranks between 11th and 16th in the NHL. Right now it looks those covering the league are very optimistic about the Predators system, and we are too.
The 2023 NHL draft was absolutely a boost to the rankings. In the Athletic they jumped all the way up from 22 to 16 and the Hockey Writers had them just outside their top 10 at 11th overall.
Matthew Wood is a big reason why. Even though he might not be the most swift of foot, a big body with offensive talent like his has top 6 forward all over it. Ranking him in the draft was a challenge but he could be a steal at 15 going forward.
Another key piece of the system might also be the most confusing. Yaroslav Askarov is a fantastic prospect, but he’s a goalie. Juuse Saros is one of the best goalies in the league and signed on through 2025.
Askarov is also signed on through that term, but will be a lot younger when both are free agents (Saros unrestricted, Askarov restricted).
The Nashville Predators will have to make a decision on how to work with this duo or to pick one or the other. Askarov, The former first rounder from 2020, had a .911 SV% in his first AHL season, and a 2.69 goals against average. He’s ready for NHL time, and probably will jump out of the prospect system very soon.
Now Kevin Lankinen might have something to say about that, who has played well in the limited action that a Predators backup goalie gets.
The Athletic also ranks Luke Evangelista, Philip Tomasino, Juuso Parssinen, among the prospects for the Predators. Those Preds are off the farm and officially in the big city full time now, so they are boosting the ranks a bit.
Related Story. Predators Training Camp Spotlight- Luke Evangelista. light
Another farm hand mentioned by several media parties is Joakim Kemell, a Finnish winger. He’s got a high hockey IQ and it showed last year in the World Junior Championships as well as the AHL. Down with the Admirals he had 13 points in 14 games, and then another 10 in the span of 14 playoff games. He’s got Predators top 6 winger stamped on his forehead if his development continues in this manner.
Lets add in the fact that the Predators also had an additional 1st round pick in 2023 in Tanner Molendyke. He’s a touch undersized, but he’s a very good skater with strong offensive instincts.
Once Molendyk has NHL strength he’s likely to continue the Predators tradition of developing good NHL defensemen. He isn’t likely to be on the farm for very long, but right now he’s adding to it.
Add in that you have another former first round pick from 2022 in Reid Schaefer, who came over in the Ekholm for Barrie trade.
Schaefer had some solid WHL numbers and is a tough physical forward. He’s a leader on the farm at the moment and might just be ready for some AHL or NHL time. He’s a guy to catch during camp. You also have Egor Afanasyev who might be ready for a full time NHL look.
The Nashville Predators have a lot of potential on the farm and we’ll be updating you regularly on the prospects and contenders to be your next Predators favorite.