As the Nashville Predators race into this year's NHL Global Series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Stockholm, Sweden, hopes aren't as high as we thought they would be by now.
Many analysts predicted that the Preds would fail to enter the postseason rush but play better than last season. However, Nashville is actually on pace to record an even worse season. The team posted 68 points last year and currently, they're looking to record 63 at the rate they're going.
It's safe to say that things aren't the best in Nashville. There seems to be only a couple things to write home about on this rough start and that is the youth. Guys like Matthew Wood, Luke Evangelista, and Spencer Stastney are having fabulous starts even though their team isn't doing the same. Let's take a look into the guys who are putting some light into yet another dark year.
Matthew Wood Proving His Case for the Calder
Arguably the best youngster on Nashville right now is none other than the former first round pick Mattew Wood. The 20-year-old is quickly climbing the team leaderboard as he now sits behind Ryan O'Reilly for third in points (10) and tied for second in goals (6).
Despite starting in seven less games than his peers, his impact is just as important and he just registered a hat trick in a loss to the New York Rangers on Monday.
Wood began his career on airplane mode, only recording a lone assist in six games last year. It only took him two games to record another assist. He then scored his first NHL goal a few games later against the Flyers.
Wood's powerful one-timer and net-front presence makes him a threat game after game. If he continues at this pace, he'll end the year with 68 points which would set him first on his squad and among the best rookies in Nashville Predators history.
Luke Evangelista Having a Breakout Year After Inking a New Contract
Since staring in the show, Evangelista has solidified himself as one of the most consistent and reliable wingers on his squad. In his rookie tenure, he posted 54 points consisting of 23 goals and 31 assists. If not for injuries or scratches, he would have back-to-back 40-point seasons. This year, he has two goals and eight assists in 17 games. This would set him on pace for 48 points on the year which would be a career high for him.
Evangelista and Wood are seeing power play success early on as we near the quarter mark of the regular season.
So far, Evangelista has put up four points on an abysmal power play unit. With 15 minutes of ice time per night, he's helping his team out in any way he can. Five of his eight assists are primary, meaning he's right there to start making goal-scoring plays.
Evangelista has also already blocked four shots which sets him up to record his second highest of his career with 19. He's definitely a lineup lock in the future as long as he doeson't get unexpectedly traded in what appears to be a looming team sell-off before the 2026 trade deadline.
Spencer Stastney Enjoying His Time As Nashville's Top Defenseman
Stastney had his ups and his downs on his way to getting consistent NHL minutes. He entered the NHLPA player assistance program and came out better than ever after heavily considering retirement. He's only played 51 games in the past three years, and he is trying his hardest to become a roster lock permantely.
So far, Stastney has done a pretty good job at doing that. In 18 games, he has scored a goal and notched six assists—all of which are primary. He's a workhouse on the ice and a beauty in the locker room. His energy all over is a big boost for his squad.
Stastney draws a lot of penalties for Nashville which is good considering the team needs as much power play team possible to improve. His 14 blocked shots are one of the highest on the team.
Ever since Roman Josi left the team with an injury and has now missed the last 10 games, Stastney has had no problem taking on a bigger role. If he keeps this up, we could potentially see him sign a bigger contract this offseason once his deal expires.
Ozzy Wiesblatt has proven his worth in the bottom-six
We also have to mentioned Wiesblatt who worked his tail off the make the roster out of traning camp, and has proven his value so much that he has played in 15 of Nashville's 18 games. He his a menace out there and brings that energy that this team needs desperately right now.
If you remember, Wiesblatt was traded for by the Predators in June of 2024 in exchange for Egor Afanasyev. Since then, Afanasyev has yet to play a game for the Shark, while Wiesblatt's role continues to show long-term potential with 20 NHL games.
Wiesblatt is still looking to unlock his goal scoring potential. He his in search of that elusive first NHL goal, but all of the intangibles are there to stick around for the duration of the season on the NHL level.
Other Guys Who Aren't In the NHL, but are Dominating in their Leagues
Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds, OHL): 2 goals, 9 assists, 7 games
He's a future top-six center for Nashville. His grit playstyle mixed with an offensive touch is going to be crucial in the near future.
Yegor Surin (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL): 11 goals, 10 assists, 26 games
He is dominating the KHL at 19 years old. The center/left winger is a skilled power forward with a drive for the net.
Ryan Ufko (Milwaukee Admirals, AHL): 4 goals, 8 assists, 10 games
Since joining Milwaukee, Ufko has proven why he is a necessity to the Predators. His playmaking abilities would fit in well with a faster, scoring young core.
Jack Ivankovic (Univ. of Michigan, NCAA): .911 SV%, 2.09 GAA, 12 games
His large frame and incredible speeds in the crease could mean that he's an American version of Juuse Saros. An absolute masterclass in net.