The Nashville Predators are trying to get something going after beating the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes over their last five games, but the NHL team isn't the only thing fans should be watching. The prospect pool is as deep as ever, and some intriguing players will make the jump in the next few years. If you want a closer look, you can't go wrong with the World Junior Championship over the holidays.
Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis released a projection of Team Canada's roster on Tuesday, which included three Predators prospects, with one on the bubble. Even more exciting for Nashville is that it will have a player at every position, which is exactly the kind of young core you want coming through the system.
Ellis projects that Brady Martin, Cameron Reid, and Jack Ivankovic will be on the roster, with all three playing massive roles. Martin could be featured on the first line and potentially be the team's captain, while Ivankovic will likely be the starting goaltender as Canada looks to break its gold-medal drought. Reid will be a complementary piece on the blueline to start but could get a bigger role, while Ellis projects Alex Huang to be on the bubble.
Martin was a key figure for Canada at last year's tournament, tallying eight points in six games. The team lost in the semi-finals and settled for a bronze medal, but the mix of high-end prospects and players with AHL experience on this year's team sets them up for success at this year's tournament.
After losing the Olympic gold medal last season, Hockey Canada will be desperate for a win to silence doubters who think Canada is losing its grip on the national game. With questions about Canada losing its identity as a rough-and-tumble, skilled hockey nation, Martin is the type of player who may make it a point to bring back some old-school Canadian hockey to Red Deer over the holidays.
Canada-USA rivalry could feature Predators on both sides
Daily Faceoff took an early look at Team USA in the summer and had three Predators prospects on its roster: Wyatt Cullen, Tommy Bleyl, and Jacob Rombach. Team USA will likely feature a heavy college presence, so it only makes sense for all three to make the roster.
Cullen will bring some skill up front for Team USA, while Bleyl and Rombach will fill two different roles: one as the offensive driver and the other as the stay-at-home shutdown defender to face guys like Martin.
A Predators future that includes Martin and Cullen up front, with Reid, Huang, Bleyl, and Rombach on the blueline, and Ivankovic in net sounds pretty good if you're a Nashville fan.
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