The Nashville Predators experienced a trying season in which many faces departed or joined other teams. Due to some of this turnover, and also injuries, General Manager Barry Trotz went ahead and claimed Andreas Englund off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.
When the team lost Jeremy Lauzon to an injury that didn't allow him to return for the rest of 2024-25, a physical presence on the back end was needed. When Englund went on waivers, Trotz saw a chance to fill that spot.
After joining the team, Englund appeared in 24 games down the stretch, registering 36 penalty minutes and 58 hits. He also wasn't shy about defending teammates, and fought a few times this season. Including fights against two tough customers in Matt Rempe and Barclay Goodrow.
Englund gets a "prove it" year for Nashville Predators
Englund's most common partner with the Predators was Justin Barron. The hope was likely to free up Barron offensively, and it had up and down results. The pair was outscored on the ice three to four, yes, but they also had 63.3 percent of the shots for (SF%). Outshooting opponents 38 to 22, perhaps next year with more chemistry and puck luck, this tandem can stick with better results.
The next most common partner for Englund was Spencer Stastney. The 25-year-old was expected to start the year with the Preds after a brief but positive stint last season. After missing time for personal reasons, it took him a while to rejoin the team however, and he started in the AHL before earning another look with the big club this year.
Stastney is one of many defenders who will be competing with newly extended Englund for a spot on next year's blue line. Englund's return to the Predators next year also makes it more unclear if Marc Del Gaizo is in the future plans considering he is an unrestricted free agent.
Next season, the Predators have nine defenders already signed for next year who played 20-plus NHL games this past season. Englund is signed for just 2025-26 at a minimal deal of $775,000 and will be 30 next offseason, so this is a chance for him to stick around long-term if he can prove himself for the Predators.
Names like Roman Josi, Jeremy Lauzon, and Brady Skjei will be guaranteed spots. That leaves Nick Blankenburg, Jordan Oesterle, Adam Wilsby, Stastney, Barron, and Englund to fight for the remaining roles.
With young blueliners Tanner Molendyk, Andrew Gibson, and Ryan Ufko getting close to taking the step to the big leagues, the Preds could have a logjam on D after training camp.