Even though the ice is dormant at Bridgestone Arena, the Nashville Predators are still in the process of adding pieces.
As the Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, other teams are thinking about their futures. The Predators are a team looking towards the future, after missing the playoffs and being in the middle of an identity crisis.
As they figure out whether they are rebuilding or retooling, and who exactly is going to be in charge of leading that mission, the Predators have turned one of their prospects into a pro by signing him.
After a successful season in the Swedish Hockey League, Felix Nilsson inked his 3-year entry-level deal and will join the ranks of professionals playing in North America next season. He'll come into camp with a shot at making the big club, but could also be in play to start the season with the Milwaukee Admirals, who have been one of the better AHL teams the last few seasons.
The #Preds have signed forward Felix Nilsson to a three-year, entry-level contract. The 43rd pick of the 2023 NHL Draft led his Swedish club in scoring last season --> https://t.co/ZsqZQnjs5m
— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) May 29, 2026
Yes, you caught that right, he led his club in scoring last season as a 20-year-old. Through 52 games, he scored 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists) and had a +18 rating on the season. He did all of that while only spending 14 minutes in the penalty box.
It is an improvement over what he produced last season by 18 points, and it shows a lot of growth and poise at just 20 years old playing in one of the better pro leagues in the world. When Nilsson was drafted it was remarked that while he had plenty of visible offensive talent, he also had a head for the game and could play in all three zones effectively.
The Predators invested a 2nd round 2023 draft pick (43rd overall) into him, and clearly, everyone agrees that this is a player who is ready to take the next step in his development. Nilsson is going to have to be ready sooner rather than later because the Predators have a lot of forwards in the pipeline, and since Nilsson is a winger, he'll have plenty of competition.
What might set him apart is that while Nilsson isn't projected as a top-line player, he could be a 2nd or 3rd liner. If Nilsson is able to develop into that kind of player it becomes very valuable for the Predators.
Support scorers and defensive forwards with offensive upside are players who shine in the playoff atmosphere and players who tend to fetch high prices around the NHL trade deadline. The ability to develop that kind of player means one less trade the Predators will have to make,
Whether he starts with the Predators or ends up with the Admirals, we will be watching the development of Felix Nilsson closely. The Nashville Predators have made a lot of draft picks and are signing more and more of them to their pro deals. The future of the team is just around the corner, and players like Nilsson are going to be leading the youth movement.
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