NHL Draft Preview – Nashville Predators

[NashvilleGM]

NHL Draft Preview – Nashville Predators

Situation :

After finishing in the most crucial spot of the Western Conference, 9th place, the Nashville Predators are looking forward to add younger players to their organization in the upcoming NHL draft that will take place June 25th at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. After getting to the Stanley Cup finals last year, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightnings, the Preds finished with a decent 41-34-7 record but failed to get a playoff spot and only have them to blame for this. Nashville will get the 14th pick in the upcoming draft, that is if they don’t trade up or down before this day.

Here’s what the Nashville Predators might be able to do in this NHL Draft in an effort to make up that tiny deficit to get back into the playoffs.

Needs :

Nashville does not have much holes to fill out this offseason but will need to address the departure of veteran forward Jason Arnott whom rights was traded to the Rangers since he had let known he was not interested on coming back with the team. This hole, however, will probably be filled by the signing of a free agent.

The Predators, let’s not lie here, have an old squad upfront with the Sullivan, Dumont, Madden, Legwand and Erat being all over the 30’s. But with young guys like Colin Wilson, Dmitri Kugryshev and last year drafted Steven Shipley it’s not sure the Predators really need a forward.

The goaltender situation is not easy in Nashville but in a good way. They have both Pekka Rinne and Chet Pickard capable of being a starter for any NHL teams out there. Therefore, don’t look for the Predators to draft a goalie.

Leaving us to the defenseman position. With youngsters like Weber, Suter, Blum and Sulzer, the Predators are young and skilled on defense. They also drafted Cameron Wind last year so let’s say they are pretty much stacked up defensively.

Well, unsure sky in Nashville for the upcoming draft but let’s say a trade might be the way to go... or else go with a young forward to replace one of the aging forward in the near futur.

Projection :

Trade up/down

Sven Baertschi
Ht/Wt: 5.10/185 lbs (unofficial)
Position: LW
Team: Portland (WHL)

Boone Jenner
Ht/Wt: 6.01/193 lbs (unofficial)
Position: C
Team: Oshawa (OHL)

Mika Zibanejad
Ht/Wt: 6.01/183 lbs (unofficial)
Position: C
Team: Djurgårdens IF (SWE)