It goes without saying that the Nashville Predators have one of the league's deepest prospect pools, but with every pool comes a few hidden gems.
With the likes of Brady Martin, Yegor Surin and Wyatt Cullen, some fans forget some of the other respectable names. We're going to resurface some names, and what a better time to do that than right after the World Junior Summer Showcase.
Alex Huang
Huang is arguably the most underrated defensive prospects in the Predators system. In his three seasons in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League, he was consistently one of Chicoutimi Saguenéens' best players. Last season, he scored 11 goals and 70 points, which was the second most in the league among defensemen, only behind Predators prospects Tommy Bleyl. To wrap out the year, he helped the team win its third QMJHL championship.
He is a highly touted puck-moving defenseman. Known for deceiving the opponent, it is hard to calculate what his next move, which is what makes him so special. Huang carries the potential of a top four pairing defender with offensive upside. He is also right-handed, which makes his value even higher. He will join Harvard this season, and we can expect great things from him in his first college season.
Felix Nilsson
Nilsson signed his entry-level contract back in May after having a strong season in the Swedish Hockey League, scoring 14 goals and 40 points in 52 games. The SHL is one of the most difficult hockey leagues in the world, filled with some of Sweden's best players and other talented international players. He most recently won silver in the league's championship, where we saw him tally two goals and six points in 17 postseason games.
The 21-year-old center is regarded as an elite two-way forward with talented playmaking abilities. Drafted 43rd overall by the Predators in 2023, he can ultimately be a steal if he translates well in North America. He joins the Milwaukee Admirals this season and it will be his first test at the NHL/AHL level. If everything goes well, he is a solid one to two seasons out from being a permanent piece on Nashville.
Cole O'Hara
O'Hara made his NHL debut last season with the Predators after a phenomenal rookie AHL outing. In 67 games with the Admirals, he put up 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points. He was tied for 10th among rookies in points and eighth in goals. At the collegiate level, he played 109 games with UMass, scoring 33 goals and tallying 53 assists for 86 points. He broke out in his junior year with the Minutemen after recording 22 goals and 51 points.
In his first game with Nashville, he tallied his first NHL point after assisting Steven Stamkos halfway through the first period against Anaheim. He looked excellent in his debut, and it's clear that his skill translated well from his NCAA and AHL days. He creates offense off the rush and is patient with making plays. While he isn't the biggest of forwards, standing at 6-foot and weighing 189 pounds, his fast-paced style of hockey keeps him out of reach of defenders.
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