As the summer heat rages on, we're continuing through our player previews. You can check out the previews of players like Filip Forsberg, Ryan Ufko and Vitali Pinchuk. In this piece though, we're looking at the Nashville Predators defender that might end up being the lynchpin of the entire crew.
Nicolas Hague is signed up for the next three seasons at $5.5 million per year. As the cap goes up, it makes the deal Barry Trotz swung a little better. Now that he's 27, he's firmly entrenched in what are considered "prime" years. The Predators are going to need the best version of Hague to head back to the playoffs.
Last season, he played in 62 games, scoring 3 goals and adding 12 assists for 15 total points on the season. That is just 2 points off his career high of 17. If you consider that he left 20 games on the table, he very easily could've passed it.
Now the NHL has added 2 extra games to set the schedule at 84 games this season, so Hague is going to have plenty of time to push his offensive totals up, but he's got to stay healthy in order to do so. He's only played more than 70 games twice in his 7 seasons. The best ability is availability, and Hague has had an issue with that in his career.
Hague's challenge involves him playing heavier minutes and being deployed mostly in the defensive zone for his starts. He's going to take on the toughest 20 minutes of the night, on penalty kills, and against the opposing top ine.
What is interesting is that Hague's play driving stats to an uptick last season. It is possible that with his minutes increase and a full season, they could be pushed even higher. With the added depth at the forward position, it might be easier for Hague to pick up 1st and 2nd assists, especially off of rush plays.
If there is an area that needs some obvious improvement in the 2026-2027 season, it is Hague's ability to get shots on goal. He attempted 166 shots last season, but only 56 of them managed to come shots on goal. If he's going to improve offensively and boost the Predators, he's got to get more than just 1/3 of his shots through to the net.
Now, when you evaluate the other defenders, Hague is the one who jumps out as likely being the 2nd most important behind Roman Josi. While Josi is your #1, Hague is your go-to in defensive situations. You won't find the team turning to Brady Skeji to hold leads, or expecting 20 minutes a night from guys like Nick Perbix or Ufko. Adam Wilsby is still learning how to be a pro as well, and it feels like Justin Barron is barely hanging onto a roster spot.
It won't be a huge shock if a healthy Hague finishes just behind Josi in time on ice for defensemen, and in importance.
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