Tanner Molendyk is Ready to Become Nashville's Next Top D-Man
Tanner Molendyk arrived in Nashville during a time where the team's top defensemen were disappearing. Mattias Ekholm had just been sent over and not too much later Tyson Barrie and later Luke Schenn waved their goodbyes. With Roman Josi getting up there in age, Nashville needs a young replacement. Molendyk is the guy to go to.
The 20-year-old left-handed defenseman is the most promising among his peers on the blueline. He has an offensive archetype in his game. In his season split with the Saskatoon Blades and the Medicine Hat Tigers, he put up 47 points (9 goals, 38 assists). He was the one of the primary playmakers behind the madman that is Gavin McKenna.
He isn't the tallest defender, only standing at 6', but his impact sure isn't the smallest. He is a silky-smooth skater with nice hands. EliteProspects once said that "even speedier, skilled opponents struggle...forces them wide...darts across for the steal in a blink of an eye." For a team that needs skilled puck movers on the blueline, Molendyk fits the bill.
Mols has a couple more years on his ELC and has yet to play a single AHL game. If he is ready, maybe he doesn't even need to begin in the AHL. The NHL squad needs more defenseman and while he isn't the ideal RHD, he still will find a way to benefit the team. Let's hope he can make the jump and rally for a roster spot this camp.