It's time for the second prospect profile for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft regarding your Nashville Predators.
In our first prospect profile, we turned our sights on forward Tynan Lawrence of Boston University in the NCAA. We'll be shifting our attention to a different position this time around: the defense. The Predators already have a handful of promising blueline chips in the making, but what it lacks is a true game changer.
The game changer we'll be discussing is none other than Daxon Rudolph of the WHL's Prine Albert Raiders. EliteProspects.com, and other analysts, project Rudolph to be drafted by the Predators at 10th overall. Their right-sided defense is in dire need of more young talent, and Rudolph would be enough to bring it up a grade or two.
Let's take a quick look at what would make Rudolph so special for Nashville.
Rudolph's talent extends beyond defense
Rudolph's player archetype is primarily offensive defenseman. His strong suit is skating, speeding past opponents to drive the play into the offensive zone. Even with his solid 6-foot-2, 206-pound frame, he moves freely like a figure skater, changing directions in a blink of an eye. It's his speed that allows him to control the play as most of his opponents struggle to keep up to pace.
When he's in possession of the puck, it's like he always knows what to do with it. His elite hockey IQ is one thing scouts can't stop talking about. He excels at making finishing plays, whether that's passing the puck or scoring it himself. This clearly was demonstrated by his stats at the end of the season, finishing third in the WHL among defenseman with 28 goals and 78 points.
Looking at his defense, there isn't too much to critique. Much like his offensive vision, Rudolph also reads the play well on defense. He positions himself in high-danger shooting lanes and can quickly reposition if the puck is moved elsewhere. Rudolph's willingness to get down low to block a shot is what makes him a valuable asset to any penalty killing squad. His high defensive awareness is what sets him apart from most of the blueline prospects in the draft.
One thing that would need some work, however, is his intensity on defense. Some analysts note that sometimes he hesitates on when to be more aggressive. There are times when Rudolph would sit back and watch the play rather than engage in it directly. Outside of this there isn't a lot more to demand from the 18-year-old.
When looking at his team fit, that's where it begins to get tricky.
Rudolph would require Nashville to reconstruct its blueline
The main reason why we rarely see Predators defensive prospects take the next step is the lack of room on the blueline. Covered by tenured veterans and immovable contracts, the prospects only ever get a chance to play whenever an injury occurs.
Drafting Rudolph would keep the seats warm of guys like Nick Perbix, Justin Barron and Nicolas Hague, requiring a healthy number of playing minutes. Adding in the additional factor of other prospects, like Andrew Gibson and Tanner Molendyk, looking to get their chance to play could force Nashville into a blueline fire sale if not dealt right.
In terms of pure projection, Rudolph has the ceiling of a top power play quarterback and the team's number-one offensive defenseman. When Roman Josi hangs up the skates, Rudolph would take over and thrive under the increased ice time. Drafting Rudolph would not only provide defensive depth but it would also provide scoring opportunities to the young forwards in the lineup.
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