Ryan Ufko entered the season late for the Nashville Predators, but he quickly became a fan favorite and one of the team's top defensemen.
Ufko was projected to be selected in the early to mid-second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, but he wouldn't hear his name called until the fourth round where Nashville drafted him 115th overall. His 5-foot-10, 181-pound frame shied many teams away, but it was the Predators that gave him the chance, and he did everything he could to prove them right.
He joined University of Massachusetts in the NCAA following the draft and immediately made an impact, scoring five goals and 31 points in 37 games. With Ufko's help on the blueline, the Minutemen took home their second Hockey East Conference Championship. His outing earned him a spot on the conference's All-Rookie Team.
In his second season with UMass, he had a smaller point total, but increased goal scoring, with eight goals and 24 points. He had the opportunity to represent USA at the WJC-20, playing seven games and scoring one goal and a tournament-leading nine assists, winning bronze. With every passing day, Ufko was becoming more of steal for the Predators.
Like the season prior, Ufko didn't reach his freshman season point totals, but he once again ramped up his goal production, concluding his NCAA career with a career-high 10 goals and 26 points. He was consistently one of the team's best players. The NCAA took note and nominated him for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the league's most valuable player. The conference named him to its First All-Star Team and gave him the sportsmanship award for his efforts as co-captain of the Minutemen.
Ufko signed his entry-level contract with the Predators shortly after his junior season in March 2024, he joined the Milwaukee Admirals, and he did not slow down. He instantly made a lasting impact with one goal and six points in nine games to help Milwaukee clinch a playoff berth. In the postseason he dominated, scoring another goal and tallying 10 points, leading the team all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
He returned to the Admirals for the 2024-25 season and played well, recording eight goals and 30 points, with an additional three points in 10 playoff games. Towards the end of the regular season, Ufko was called up to the NHL, where he would wear the franchise's first #85 jersey, and play 15:37 of icetime. While he didn't post a point, he quickly caught up to NHL speed and engaged in physical play, a promising sign from the undersized defender.
Now standing at 6-foot, Ufko had more confidence in his game a broke out with Milwaukee in the 2025-26 season, scoring 11 goals and 44 points in 55 games. His All-Star performance earned him his second NHL stint, and he made sure this one lasted. In his first game, he tallied his first NHL point, coming off an assist on the power play. Two games later, he scored one of season's best goals across the NHL.
RYAN UFKO HAS HIS FIRST NHL GOAL AND IT WAS GORGEOUS 😱 pic.twitter.com/Ge7plVWzEO
— NHL (@NHL) March 11, 2026
He played a total of 18 games with Nashville, scoring one more goal and putting up a total of 11 points. Ufko solidified himself as one of the team's best defensemen and became a staple on its power play units. Unfortunately for him, the recent additions on the blueline could limit how many times he could see the ice this season.
Acquisitions of Lyubushkin and return of Barron could limit Ufko's icetime
This offseason was a strong one for the Predators. They added plenty of pieces to the forward group and added some solid depth to the defensive core. Ilya Lyubushkin is a reliable stay-at-home defenseman, and he was a go-to piece on the Dallas Stars blueline. Justin Barron signed a one-year deal to stay with the Predators, and while he wasn't the most reliable player for Nashville, it's still a roster spot taken away from Ufko.
Looking at the lineup, Roman Josi, Brady Skjei, Nicolas Hague and Adam Wilsby all sit as the team's left-handed defenders. This means at least one has to be combined into a line, and that is normally Josi-Skjei, or Skjei-Hague. Wilsby will man the bottom pair, which leaves two spots left. Lyubushkin is an obvious pick, and Nick Perbix is the most likely candidate to fill the other. Unless one becomes injured, Ufko is stuck to either the press box or another stint in the minor leagues.
Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager Chris MacFarland made it clear that one of his main goals heading into this season was improving the defense; does that include finding a spot for Ufko? He is certainly not a trade candidate by any means, but it definitely feels odd to leave him out of the mix. Even if he is a day-to-day roster player, I know I'm not the only who feels like Ufko can outmatch a couple names on Nashville's defense.
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