AHL's leading scorer Vinnie Hinostroza gets his shot with skidding Nashville Predators

An under-the-radar free agency signing from the 2024 offseason is finally getting his shot for the Nashville Predators, and that's the AHL's current leading scorer Vinnie Hinostroza.

Hinostroza was signed back in July as a free agent to a standard contract for two years at $775,000. These deals often are easy to overlook, especially in the midst of a free agency period of adding Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei.

Hinostroza has absolutely earned this call-up to the Nashville Predators

This isn't the typical AHL call-up of a young player looking to capitalize on their first NHL opportunity. Hinostroza is 30-years-old with 374 games of NHL experience. But his career seemingly went backwards back to the AHL beginning in the 2022-23 season and into 2023-24 for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Hinostroza is proving without a doubt that he should be playing NHL games on a regular basis.

In what is a really cool story out of the AHL this season, Hinostroza is leading the league in points with 33 in 26 games. The caveat is, Hinostroza isn't waivers eligible, so the Predators might have a hard time getting him back to Milwaukee. He should be here to stay with the Predators for a while to see if he can provide a spark to the lackluster offense.

With Juuso Parssinen being traded to the Colorado Avalanche, that opened up a roster spot for another forward, and Hinostroza has absolutely earned this call-up. He has an NHL single-season career high of 39 points set back in 2018-19 for the Arizona Coyotes. He appeared in 14 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.

Hinostroza brings an element of speed the Predators desperately need. He is a little undersized, but he makes up for it with his shot, speed and overall offensive IQ. The expectation is that he can provide depth scoring on the wing, but we'll have to see who gets shifted out of the starting lineup. Parssinen was already getting healthy scratched on a regular basis.

Playing primarily as a right wing, where does Hinostroza fit in? Could he take Colton Sissons' spot? I'm already on record of saying that Sissons should be a top trade candidate for the Predators, and that would certainly send a message to bench him for Hinostroza.

The only other option you have at right wing is Luke Evangelista, but I'm not for that at all. As much as I like Sisssons and how vital he has been to the Predators over the years, I'm benching him and giving Hinostroza a shot in his place. A guy with way more offensive upside than Sissons. You are trading off less defensive skills and two-way abilities that Sissons possesses.

The Predators next play on Monday at the Winnipeg Jets, which should be Hinostroza's team debut.