The Nashville Predators traded 24-year-old forward Luke Evangelista to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday evening.

In return, the Predators get a conditional first-round pick in 2028 (Colorado’s) and the Devils’ second-round pick in 2028.

For the conditional first-rounder, Colorado’s 2027 first-round pick is not transferred to Toronto; or b.) Colorado’s 2028 first-round pick falls within the Top 10, Nashville shall instead receive Colorado’s 2029 first-round pick.

President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Chris MacFarland addressed the trade shortly after the call was made official.

“We have a lot of right-handed shots. We’ve got Forsberg, Stamkos, Marchessault, Wood, and Bourque. I think the pieces for us as a management group, it’s that next layer that we expect at some point to filter into that top nine again,” MacFarland said.

“Whether that’s Brady Martin, Egor Surin, or Cole O’Hara. Guys that have been on the Preds reserve list for a few years. That next layer of guys like Surin who is hopefully going to get over here at the end of the year and be able to add to the group.”

Evangelista was moved to the Devils as a pending restricted free agent. Last season, the Oakville, Ontario native put up a career-high 56 points and 44 assists.

MacFarland said the Predators weren’t shopping Evangelista by any stretch, but he and the staff spoke with the Devils; this is who they wanted.

“That was a name that popped up for what they were trying to do, and I think in the last week or so it rounded into shape,” MacFarland said.

Nashville felt that adding those picks put another bullet in the holster to use, as MacFarland said. The conditional pick and the second-rounder may not be used soon, but Nashville will be open to business with the assets they have.

“Our goal is to try and build something that can have sustained success, and right now we think while the roster is improved it’s still got a long way to go in certain areas,” MacFarland said.

“This arms us with the high draft pick that is going to be potentially attractive in a lot of different ways. When that will be, we don’t know. High picks are liquid, and we’ll be curious to see how and what that looks like.”

Just last year, before training camp, the Predators were trying to re-sign Evangelista. The forward held out for the first handful of days before he and his agent Judd Moldaver agreed to terms.

MacFarland said that he wouldn’t talk about contract negotiations, but that he wanted to see Evangelista play before he engaged in any extension conversations.

“The fact that Luke was entering his last year, he’s on a real good number, for us it didn’t really come into it,” MacFarland said. “As a management group, we felt this deal was the right deal to make at this time.”

Depth at wing for the Predators

As the first training camp for MacFarland rolls around, he seems to think he has the pieces required to get his plan in motion.

Getting draft picks in return for Evangelista threw fans off, but while it feels questionable in the moment, it signals that Nashville is ready to see what other younger players have to offer.

Matthew Wood played at wing before the tail end of last season, and forward Cole O’Hara made his debut in April.

There’s also the possibility of Martin coming in to play on the wing as a roster spot opens up. This open spot specifically benefits Martin as he comes in for his second training camp.

Then there are recent additions like Nils Hoglander, Alex Kerfoot, and Adam Edstrom. The open spot being there is like having the proverbial carrot on a stick for a handful of players. Ozzy Wiesblatt falls under this bracket too since he’ll require waivers if he doesn’t make the opening night roster.

“As a management group, we feel good. If you asked every other team in the league moving into camp, you always feel good, and your expectations are just that. You have to get it done on the ice,” MacFarland said.

The competition for the vacated roster spot will open on September 17 as the Predators take the ice in Bellevue for camp.

Nashville will need to see who can step up and fill into the top six and support the long-term plan of MacFarland’s vision. Perhaps that player isn’t fully developed or still part of a different organization.

Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick

NHL prospects don’t have a linear path to make it to the professional ranks. It’s been like that for most of the 109 years that the league has operated since 1917.

Among the paths available, there’s going the route of playing in the NCAA or junior system. Added that most prospects spend time, sometimes extended periods, in the AHL before growing into a full-time NHL skater.

So, what league is it best to develop in before jumping to the NHL right now?

Prospects can play around 68 games in the Canadian Hockey League or 34 regular-season games in the NCAA. In the AHL, it’s up to 72 games for growing skaters or depth NHLers who found a role in the minors.

LBH had several conversations with sources in the hockey industry to get a better sense of what each path currently looks like.

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Ahead of the 2026-27 season, the Nashville Predators have something they haven’t had in quite some time: A healthy amount of options at the center position.

One of those is 24-year-old Belarusian Vitali Pinchuk, who signed a one-year entry-level deal worth $1,025,000 this spring after scoring 31 goals (No. 3 in KHL) last season.

With Dinamo Minsk in 2025-26, he was tied for the sixth in points (66) across the KHL, appearing in 65 games. Moreover, Pinchuk was also one of 10 KHLers to produce at a point-per-game pace.

So, that raises the question. Did the Predators acquire a player that can jump right into the NHL?

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Today, we dive into the historical context of Andrew Brunette’s career numbers as the head coach of the Nashville Predators.

• Andrew Brunette’s three seasons in Nashville

• Historical data around coaches with similar records

• Probability of a long tenure

• Active co…

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After an 11-year career spanning 566 regular-season games, former Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Calvert finds himself back in the NHL.

He was hired as a Forward Development Coach back on July 17 after being approached by Predators President and General Manager Chris MacFarland.

“I missed being part of a team. It’s probably one of the most flexible jobs you can have when working for an NHL team. Scott Nichol gave me a call, and I thought it was too good to pass up,” Calvert said.

The curtain called on his playing career when he needed to get spinal fusion surgery on his L5-S1 in 2021. Before that, he was in and out of the lineup with concussions for the last few seasons.

“You never want that back surgery, but it was probably a blessing in disguise just because when you feel good it’s hard to want to stop,” Calvert said.

“I had two younger boys then. You get to a point in your career where enough is enough. You might not quit, but someone else might have to tell you to.”

It’s worth noting that MacFarland was in the front office for every team Calvert played on during his NHL career.

Over time, MacFarland became a mentor to the Brandon, Manitoba forward, and now Calvert gets to help him establish his version of what it takes to build a successful franchise.

Calvert is hopping in with one of the most analytically driven GMs in the NHL, and that will influence how he does his job to help work with draftees. Including some scouting work, which he did at the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase.

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One area on the ice where the Nashville Predators have consistently had a respectable reputation is defense.

Not just that, but drafting and developing defensemen into some of the best blue line players in the NHL.

The list of formidable D-men is long: Shea Weber, P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Ryan Suter, Mattias Ekholm, Kimmo Timonen, and Ryan Ellis.

There’s even Dan Hamhuis, Marek Zidlicky, Kevin Klein, Dante Fabbro, Alex Carrier, and Ryan McDonagh, who are just a few members of the supporting cast over the years.

But what does the corps of defensemen look like now? Is the current makeup of the team one that the front office can mold into becoming more like the ironclad blueline we’ve seen in years past?

Let’s run through pairings we’re likely to see this October - with a little bit of a shuffle from my prediction after crunching the numbers.

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Following the Nashville Predators’ roster overhaul this summer, there is a resounding theme from president and general manager Chris MacFarland’s acquisitions: pair talent with hard-working skaters.

MacFarland has done his due diligence and decided changing half of the starting offensive line-up was best f…

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After the NHL schedule drops this week, the next big event Nashville Predators fans are eyeing will be the start of training camp on September 16.

Which begs the question: Who will be on the team in October?

There’s plenty of time for President and General Manager Chris MacFarland to make more moves before anyone reports to Nashville.

When currently looking at the roster, there are 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and the goalies. Toss in a few more NHL-capable skaters, i.e., Reid Schaefer, Joakim Kemell, Ozzy Wiesblatt, and Ryan Ufko; the roster is up to 27 players.

MacFarland is likely to part ways with more players before camp in September.

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At the beginning of the offseason, forward Mavrik Bourque felt that a trade out of Dallas was possible.

When the 24-year-old found out it was a move to the Nashville Predators, he was excited about the possibilities of a new destination.

Especially with the new president and general manager Chris MacFarland joining the franchise.

“I’m looking to show them what I’ve got and deliver. As a young guy, I’m grateful to receive a contract like this from a new team,” Bourque said.

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The blueprint for Chris MacFarland’s plan with the Nashville Predators has started to come to fruition. He’s begun to load up the depth chart with pieces that fit the identity he wants to implement.

So, will he be making more moves with cap space to use?

“Maybe… Maybe. In all seriousness, if we’re going to improve the team, we’re going to try to do it. The backend is where we want to find a little bit more puck skill, a little more transition as part of our game,” MacFarland said.

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Newly acquired Nashville Predators forward Mavrik Bourque is one of the latest additions made by new president and general manager Chris MacFarland.

Bourque is a restricted free agent whom multiple NHL teams were targeting this offseason. The Dallas Stars are also in the middle of trying to re-sign forward Jason Robertson (RFA) to a long-term deal as free agency opened on Wednesday.

Nashville traded away its second-round pick in 2027 and Vegas’ third-round pick in 2028 to the Stars for Bourque and right-handed defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin.

Whether it be by trade or an offer sheet, the 24-year-old was coveted after putting up a career-high 41 points in 82 games.

“Bourque is a quality, two-way player who will fit perfectly with what we are trying to build here in Nashville,” MacFarland said in a statement. “At just 24 years old, his age and style of play fit in with the type of players we are looking to bring in to help make us better. In addition, Lyubushkin is a veteran defenseman with significant experience who can log minutes and be a physical presence in our own end. We are excited to welcome both players to Nashville.”

According to a source close to Bourque, the RFA is looking for a deal between four and six years with an average annual salary of $5.5 million.

Five years would be the sweet spot as MacFarland and Bourque look to start their relationship on a positive note.

Keep in mind that Bourque could still be issued an offer sheet from another NHL club should that deal be more attractive. The right of first refusal is with Nashville since they’ve acquired him from the Stars.

Keeping the $5.5 to $6 million range in mind, if Nashville wanted to, they could accept a first and third draft pick from a club willing to submit an offer sheet, or the Predators match and keep Bourque.

Anything between the $7.1 million to $9.5 million range, which is unlikely in this case, would warrant compensation of a first and second round pick.

The clock is ticking, but Bourque’s camp doesn’t think it will come down to an offer sheet. Since Bourque was qualified by the Stars, his camp was allowed to speak with other organizations.

Conversation will pick back up on Thursday as MacFarland and Bourque’s camp aims to agree on a deal that’s amicable for both sides.

Bourque’s career so far

The Plessisville, Quebec, native was picked 30th overall by Dallas from the Shawinigan Cataractes in 2020 after putting up 71 points in 49 games.

In 2022, he made the jump to the AHL, where he put up 47 points with the Texas Stars and began to shape the kind of professional player he wanted to be.

Then, in the 2023-24 season, he was the AHL MVP, in which he led the league in scoring with 77 points. That spring, he was the Stars’ top scorer in the playoffs with 11 points in seven games.

Bourque’s top linemate this past season was Jason Robertson. According to LBH’s Adam Vingan, they had 615:35 shared ice time at even strength.

Money Puck had Bourque, Robertson, and Wyatt Johnston together for 49 games this season and had 14 expected goals for.

During the 25-26 regular season, Bourque was a reliable forward for the Stars. At EV, he had the second-most shots (136), second-most goals (19), and the fourth-most points (36).

Bourque performed well for the Stars after being re-signed on a one-year deal last summer worth $950,000.

This is the sixth player MacFarland has added who is under the age of 30 this summer.

He’s likely not done with the roster surgery he’s started, and the Predators may keep going for skaters in the age bracket of the mid to late 20s.

Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick

It’s one thing to have a dream. It’s another thing altogether to achieve those goals.

Nashville Predators draft picks Tommy Bleyl and Charlie Puglisi defined those dreams together at a very young age. Those hockey careers began together before grade school started in Troy, New York more than a decade ago.

Dave Randall is the owner and coach of the North American Hockey Systems, Inc in Troy, New York. Randall was one of the first coaches for Bleyl and Puglisi and he helped set a lasting foundation that would eventually allow the duo’s dream of being drafted to become a reality.

“I’ve skated with him ever since I was five for about a decade,” Bleyl said the night he was drafted. “I give him all the credit for my skating ability. I spent thousands of hours training there, grinding away, and it’s really paid off.”

Bleyl’s mom and dad would make the trek to the Randalls’ ice facility in order to give their son the chance of becoming the hockey player the Predators took 31st overall this summer.

“It was about 40-50 minutes each way from our house. We did those multiple times a week. I’m really fortunate to have them in my life; they sacrificed a ton for me,” Bleyl said.

Randall has seemingly always had a passion for hockey, and it propelled him into becoming a coach.

“He made us into the players we are today.” Puglisi said.

Randall is a skating specialist with unique knowledge in footwork and skating sciences, and has done psychological studies as well to help children develop on and off the ice.

“We have a lot of fun working with kids like Tommy because they have so much go factor early in their careers,” Randall said. “If you start teaching them how to have the dream, set the goals, chase that dream, get the goals accomplished on schedule, adjust as needed, then away they go.”

Randall said Bleyl is overtrained in skating. He can do edges and maneuvers that most hockey players don’t even know exist on a pair of skates.

The young defenseman’s early ability to be quicker than his opposition led to him scoring 30 goals in one of his earliest games. However, it was one goal less for the defenseman when he thought back to that contest.

“It was 29 goals and one assist,” Bleyl said. “I think that was a small ice game. It was pretty fun for me.”

Video of Tommy Bleyl courtesy of Ryan Secor

Bleyl’s skating coach sees him only getting better as he matures into a professional athlete.

“He can do a one-leg weave around the rink; he could probably go three times around the rink on one leg backwards faster than the best peewee skating forward and take a puck with him too, then do the other leg,” Randall said.

At different times of the year, Randall and his staff at NAHS have over 700 kids a week in their programs.

“I specialize in starting kids right from the beginning. I’m like a Tony Robbins on ice for kids,” Randall said. “I preach and teach success to kids long before they even know what it is. They do potty training before they know any better; why not do everything else as much as you can?”

Randall said Tommy was a stubborn kid, and he loves it when he comes across that type of personality. They’re the ones who will usually do whatever it takes and apply it to hockey.

“Tommy is sitting on the ice; you’re not telling me what to do. He had his arms folded, and he wasn’t participating in class,” Randall said. “I told him that only he knows what is best for him and to let me know when he is ready. I would do that five to 10 times a class.”

Four weeks later, he got up and has never stopped moving since then. Some of the most difficult kids can be the most wonderful athletes, and then hopefully one day executives or high-level professional business people later in life.”

Randall realized early on that Bleyl had a natural toe out in his skating stance and had remarkable balance as he became a comfortable skater. As soon as he learned to go from forward to backwards skating, Tommy was the demo kid out on the ice.

He was often one of the first ones doing new drills at the development camp in Nashville this week, too.

“We found out real quick that Tommy likes to perform. We kept using that as a benefit moving forward, and the next thing you know, he gets into an 8U game, and he scored 30 goals,” Randall said.

In Randall’s eyes, he thought Puglisi was a promising player too, but Bleyl was just wild and wired. Tommy would finish drills as a seven-year-old, then be dancing and singing in the back of the line.

Video of Charlie Puglisi (green jersey) courtesy of Ryan Secor

Local hockey for the Bleyl family was a couple of hours away because they lived in mid-state New York near Albany, and they were going all the way to southern Connecticut for many years.

“Everybody thought they were nuts, and now they’re all gonna say they knew he would make it,” Randall said. “Driven people do things differently from normal people, and regular people will never understand because they can’t see themselves doing that, and that’s okay.”

One of Randall’s instructors is Ryan Secor, who has been on the ice with him over the course of nearly 20 years. Secor was a student of Randall’s as well before pursuing his own career, which inevitably led him back to New York.

Secor also met Bleyl and Puglisi when they first started skating and saw them on a regular basis.

“They were doing two-hour lessons with us in a row, two hours straight. They stayed on task, and they didn’t leave to go to the bathroom or need a drink of water often. Some kids just sit out and take long breaks, but these guys stayed on the ice the entire time and just worked, which was pretty cool to see at a young age,” Secor said.

Bleyl and Puglisi would get into tussles every now and then as well at practice in York. Puglisi was the quieter of the two, but that focus paid off for him as well.

“Working on skating for the last 10 years has made me into the player I am today,” Puglisi said. “Without that training, we wouldn’t be the same players we are today. I focused on that to get me to the next level.”

Going to the OHL is next for Puglisi as he continues his development. He’s joining the reigning Memorial Cup Champion Kitchener Rangers this fall before heading off to Cornell in two years.

“I feel like I owe it all to them and that skating crew to make me into who I am,” Puglisi said.

Bleyl is heading to Michigan State this fall to play in the NCAA. After one season in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats, putting up 81 points in 63 games and winning CHL Rookie of the Year.

Now the duo is back together in the Predators organization, trying to fully reach their goal of making it to the NHL.

They’re closer than most, with an opportunity to fulfill their dream soon over the next handful of years.

Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick

Today, we dive into the Nashville Predators 2026 NHL Draft class.

Read: Predators draft Wyatt Cullen and Thomas Bleyl in first round

Read: Evaluating the Predators picks in Round 2-7

• Chris MacFarland’s first NHL Draft in Nashville

• What did we learn about his vi…

Read more

The Nashville Predators made six more picks on Saturday after the opening night of the draft in Buffalo, New York.

There were a few trades made as well. Nashville traded pick No. 148 and forward Massimo Rizzo to the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Adam Edström.

Edström played in 35 NHL games last season and put up five points. He enters the final year of his contract this season and will be a restricted free agent.

Nashville also moved pick number 160 to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a fifth-rounder in 2028.

Here is how the rest of the class played out for the Predators.

Round 3, Pick 70: Dmitri Borichev, G, Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)

After other NHL teams didn’t think he would fall to the third round, Nashville took goalie Dmitri Borichev out of the MHL in Russia. He was NHL Central Scotuings No. 1-ranked international goalie after playing for Loko-76 Yaroslavl this past season.

Borichev was down in Miami, Florida, with his agency, Gold Star, and will be at development camp next week. The Predators have now taken a goalie in four straight drafts.

“For him to get to us in the third round, we were really excited about that,” assistant GM Jeff Kealty said. “We were able to see him last weekend at the Gold Star camp in Florida. Watched him there and interviewed him there.”

He joins a pool of Jack Ivankovic, Jakub Milota, Ethan Haider, and Isak Posch, who are all eyeing a spot in the AHL or NHL over the next few years. Odds are Borichev will remain in Russia and play in the KHL much like Egor Surin has.

“Both Borichev and Ivankovic were rated high, and we had their skill sets and their talent rated highly to the point where we hope they have the potential to be No. 1 goaltenders,” Kealty said of Nashville’s top goalie prospects.

“Hopefully, down the road, we do have a tandem of both of them. Big picture-wise, after taking the two of them, our goaltending depth for the future looks really good.”

Round 4, Pick 106: Jakub Floris, RHD, Rauman Lukko (Liiga)

Nashville added some more size to the blue line in Slovakian D-man Jakub Floris, who is 6-foot-3 and right around 200 pounds. According to Dobber Prospects, he is a rangy, highly mobile defender with a mean streak and some offensive upside. The tools are clearly there for a top-four defender, and the positive trend is encouraging.

From watching clips of Floris, he drives the play from his own defensive zone when a lane is open and has the skating ability to back it up. He takes away lanes and uses the reach he possesses to his advantage, no matter what zone he’s in.

“The profile was very attractive. He plays hard down low in the defensive zone. He has to refine some things, but he’s of high character and work ethic,” Kealty said.

“He’s from Slovakia, but we moved to Finland for better training and coaching. He played well for Slovakia at the U-18 World Championships, and I think he solidified himself as far as a guy we’d look at come draft time.”

Round 4, Pick 118: Justin Graf, LW, Cedar Rapids (USHL)

After being passed over in last year’s draft, the Predators took Justin Graf. He put up 55 points in 52 games this past season for the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders.

Graf made the jump from prep hockey to the USHL and was primarily used as a third-line winger in Cedar Rapids. During the season, Graf had 17 points in 10 games, which was the longest active streak in the USHL last fall.

His brother is Collin Graf, who plays for the San Jose Sharks, was a development camp invite for the Predators back in 2023. Justin will be attending Harvard this fall after a breakout performance in the USHL.

“With him, it’s the hockey sense and execution ability. Those are a lot of the same attributes that his brother has. We’re hoping he’s a good pick for us,” Kealty said.

Round 5, Pick 138: Philip Hemmyr, LW, IF Björklöven (Sweden)

The second over-ager was taken after Graf in the fifth round. The 19-year-old forward scored 44 points in 27 games for the U-20 IF Björklöven team last season.

Hemmyr’s hockey sense stands as his single-best quality. He offers ample support to both his wingers and his defensemen, taking intelligent routes and providing value on the forecheck, not as the main puck hound, but instead by dropping back and reading out defenders’ passing intentions, then stepping in just at the right time for an interception.

Round 6, Pick 179: Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte, RHD Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL)

Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte is the third RHD taken by Nashville in this draft and the second out of the QMJHL. The 6-foot-1 defenseman had 38 points in 62 games last season and donned a jersey that could only read ‘C. Ayotte’ on the back.

Another two-way defender picked up by Nashville and was the No. 106-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. He was the second overall pick in the 2024 QMJHL draft and is known for clearing out the front of the net in the defensive zone.

Round 7, Pick 202: Charlie Puglisi, C, The Wichendon School (USHS-Prep)

The lone centerman taken by the Predators closed out the 2026 draft class. He put up 76 points in 35 games with The Wichendon School in Massachusetts.

Puglisi also signed as a free agent with the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) back in March. He’s also committed to Cornell University for the 2028-29 season. Current Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis was Charlie's coach with the Mid Fairfield Rangers (Connecticut) in 2021.

The 18-year-old told NSCA College Recruiting: “I can make quick decisions and make the right plays in key situations. On the power play, I tend to play in the hole, where I can tip shots and take quick one-timers.”

Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick

The Nashville Predators selected winger Wyatt Cullen No. 10 overall from the U.S. National Under-18 Team and defenseman Tommy Bleyl from the Moncton Wildcats No. 31 to kick off their 2026 draft class.

The Predators moved picks No. 42 and 57 to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for 31.

This is new general manager and president of hockey operations Chris MacFarland’s first two picks with the franchise.

“You’re trying to project what they’re going to be when they’re 24 to 25, and in Wyatt’s case, we feel there is an extremely high ceiling with him. That’s what we’re always trying to target,” assistant general manager Jeff Kealty said.

Kealty continued to say that as a staff, they had an idea the first round could play out to Cullen falling to 10.

“He was a guy we talked a lot about, anticipating he could be there. The top of the draft felt pretty well on par with how we thought it would go. It was all the same names,” Kealty said.

Country music star Luke Bryan made the announcement up on the stage in Buffalo, New York, for the Predators’ first pick.

“It was everything I ever dreamed of. So happy to be with my family, it was unbelievable,” Cullen said after being picked by Nashville.

He was 6 years old when his father Matt played for the Predators (2013-2015) and ran around the local arenas with his family.

Matt won three Stanley Cups and played in 1,516 regular-season games over the course of his NHL career. He is one of three American-born players to skate in at least 1,500 NHL games.

Cullen is going to the University of Minnesota this fall after committing there last August.

“Looks like he’s just scratching the surface of what he can be. He’s one of the young players in the draft,” MacFarland said of Cullen.

“Super excited about where he’s going and what his path might look like over the next year or two.”

Matt Cullen is the director of player development at Minnesota, and his 19-year-old son, Brooks Cullen, will be on the roster as well.

Now, Matt gets to be alongside his sons as they jump into the NCAA. It’ll be a continuation of what Wyatt has experienced over the last year since he lived with his dad in Plymouth, Michigan.

“My dad moved out with me and helped me so much to keep a level head,” Cullen said.

“You’re going to have good games and bad games in the draft year. Keeping a level head was the biggest thing he harped on for me. He’s also helped me with how to use my body and make plays.”

To start last season, Cullen suffered a tough hip injury during preseason testing. Cullen told Mark Masters from TSN that he pulled his hip flexor off the bone.

“Was out for two months. Once I got back, it was a little tough, in and out of the lineup a little bit with injury problems again, with that same thing, but once I got healthy, everything kept getting better and better,” Cullen told Masters.

Cullen hit a growth spurt this past year as well, jumping up from 5-foot-5 to 6-foot-1. He was able to use that to his advantage on the ice to further develop his game.

“After Christmas, I figured out how to be a lot better and create a lot more space. I got stronger and faster throughout the year as well to be able to beat guys more one-on-one,” Cullen said.

After the holiday, the winger had 37 points in 32 games for the USNTDP.

Cullen will join fellow Predators prospects, forward Erik Pahlsson and defenseman Jacob Rombach, with the Golden Gophers.

Tommy Bleyl was named the CHL Rookie of the Season after he posted 81 points in 63 games with the Moncton Wildcats.

“Jeff and his guys were really high on Tommy, and we were trying to get back into it for a couple of picks before,” MacFarland said.

He led the QMJHL with 68 assists and finished the 2025-26 season with the most points among rookie defensemen across the league and with the most assists by a defenseman in a single season in franchise history.

“That’s a really good skater that’s gonna add a little bit of a dynamic offensive component from the backend. I think that’s really important,” MacFarland said.

Bleyl is touted as one of the top skaters of this draft class, and he attributes that part of his game to learning from Dave Randall, who owns North American Hockey Systems in upstate New York.

Randall works with kids on their skating, and Bleyl is now one of his skaters who has made it to the NHL.

“I’ve skated with him ever since I was five and went on for about a decade,” Bleyl said. “I give him all the credit for my skating ability. I spent thousands of hours on it on a smaller rink with him and grinded away.”

Bleyl, a Schenectady, New York native, is also committed to Michigan State and will be on campus for the 2027-28 season.

He’s the No. 17-ranked North American Skater and averaged 1.33 points per game through the 2026 playoffs.

Entering the second day of the draft, Nashville has picks 70, 106, 118, 138, 148, 160, 179, and 202.

Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick

Better late than never to get a mock draft up before the Toronto Maple Leafs go on the clock tonight. It’s silly season this time of the year in the NHL, and teams will be doing their best to get what they want right now.

For the Nashville Predators, assistant general manager Jeff Kealty and his staff are mapping out the future with the new President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Chris MacFarland.

In this scenario, Michael Gallagher and I conferred on what picks 1-9 will potentially look like. Then we traded off selections to complete the Predators’ current 11 picks, barring any more trades.

Read: How Nashville’s Big Board at No. 10 should look

Here is how it all starts this summer up in Buffalo, New York

1. Toronto: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn St

The Leafs aim to remain competitive and opt for the highly skilled forward who has dazzled scouts since he was 15-years-old. After one year at Penn State, McKenna will slot in with Auston Matthews and the Leafs as the franchise turns a page in their history after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.

2. San Jose: Ivar Stenberg, LW, Sweden

It’s clear that after trading William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators, the Sharks would plan to grab Stenberg — the consensus No. 2 player in the draft class — with the second pick and then use the No. 9 pick on a defenseman. That strategy will yield San Jose an offensive dynamo to pair with Macklin Celebrini and a future first-pairing defenseman to pair with Sam Dickinson.

3. Vancouver: Caleb Malhotra, C, OHL

Seemingly every mock draft has Malhotra going to Vancouver, where his father Manny did as the head coach, so this one almost makes too much sense not to happen. Vancouver gets its rebuild going with family working together and Ryan Johnson in town as the new general manager.

4. Buffalo: Chase Reid, RHD, OHL

If Reid goes to Vancouver (which is possible) and Malhotra falls, he will almost certainly be the pick. But if not, Reid makes a lot of sense for Buffalo here. The team has top prospect Radim Mrtka ready for NHL minutes right now, so there’s no need to rush Reid to the NHL. This is a luxury pick for Buffalo.

5. New York Rangers: Carson Carels, LHD, WHL

Barring any trade to acquire Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks, the Rangers would be wise to bolster their blue line early in this draft. Adam Fox will need some stability in the future if he’s to stay with the team, and Carels’ sound defensive play and offensive ability make him one of the most appealing options here.

6. Calgary: Viggo Bjork, C, Sweden

The speedy but undersized center might be the most talented offensive player in the draft not named McKenna. He will definitely not make it beyond Winnipeg at eight. Here’s better he goes earlier than that.

7. Seattle: Daxon Rudolph, RHD, WHL

The Kraken aren’t far off from needing a right-handed shot on the blue line. Rudolph ripped up the WHL and played top minutes doing so. He’s a proven winner, picking up three medals with Team Canada. Notably, he can quarterback a power play comfortably, and Seattle hasn’t had many solid two-way defensemen so far.

8. Winnipeg: Alberts Smits, LHD, Germany

The No. 2-ranked international skater in the NHL scouting ranks would be hard to pass up on early for the Jets. Smits had to grow up quickly after leaving his family in Latvia at the age of 13. His effort since then has paid dividends and led him to be on he top defensemen in this class. Smits’ IQ and positioning put him ahead of others at this stage of his development.

9. San Jose: Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota

After grabbing Stenberg second, San Jose is in a position to grab whoever is left of the top five defensemen. And the Sharks may have grabbed the best of the group behind Reid. Verhoeff likely won’t need as much time to develop as the players ahead of him, and San Jose lands a stud to pair with Dickinson for the next decade.

Nashville Predators Picks

10. Wyatt Cullen, LW, US-NTDP

I was torn between Cullen and Ethan Belchetz here, and initially I had Nashville taking Belchetz — a 6-foot-5 bruising power forward who can hurt you just as much with his slap shot as he can with his hits. However, if the goal is to get the best offensive talent available (and I think it will be with the top five defensemen off the board), then Cullen has to be the pick. He’s got future 30-goal scorer written all over him, and he is the kind of scorer the Predators can’t afford to pass up. - Michael Gallagher

42. Luke Schairer, RHD, US-NTDP

Adding to the defensive corps isn’t a bad idea for MacFarland as he begins his tenure. Schairer is due to play college hockey for Boston University in 2027. He skated for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program this year and will continue to develop into a puck-moving defenseman who possesses good speed and hockey IQ. - Nick Kieser

57. Ryder Cali, C, Providence

There’s a good chance Cali might be gone by the time this pick is up, but if he’s available, he should be the pick. He’s got great size for a center (he’s 6-foot-2 and 214 pounds), he’s got great top-end speed and acceleration, he makes plays, and he’s a great distributor of the puck. Simply put: he’s got all the tools scouts look for in an NHL center. - Gallagher

70. Jonas Kemps, LHD, Chicago (USHL)

A lanky defenseman who has room to fill out as he develops. Kemps has the reach to be a shutdown D-man and close the gap quickly on his opposition. He’s ranked as the No. 67th best North American skater and isn’t afraid to join the offensive rush. He signed a WHL Scholarship and Development agreement on May 19, 2026, with the Seattle Thunderbirds. - Kieser

106. Landon Nycz, LHD, UMass

Nycz isn’t going to blow anyone away with his offensive prowess, but he’s not afraid to be physical, he sees the ice well, and he’s arguably the best skater among all defensemen in this draft class. In fact, UMass head coach Greg Carvel recently said Nycz’s skating is not only elite, but it’s the best he’s seen from a college hockey player behind only Cale Makar. Nashville could use a blue-liner like that. - Gallagher

118. Dylan Dumont, RW, Drummondville (QMJHL)

A two-way forward for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, who posted 44 points in 62 games last season. Dumont is a solid playmaker who is consistently trying to drive the pace of play when he’s on the ice. Dumont finished his plays and was often a reliable net front presence for the Voltigeurs. - Kieser

138. Phoenix Cahill, RHD, Prince George (WHL)

Cahill is all about size (he’s 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds) and strength. He’s the prototypical stay-at-home defenseman who plays an exhausting, wear-you-down game in the defensive zone. After going with the smooth-skating Nycz earlier, adding a heavy-hitter like Cahill just makes sense. - Gallagher

148. Sawyer Dingman, LW, Swift Current (WHL)

A little more sandpaper in the Predators organization may not be the worst. The forward put up 27 points in 63 contests with Swift Current last season and played a heavy game, amassing 98 penalty minutes. Chris Dingman is his father and was a tough guy in the NHL from 1997 to 2006, playing 385 career games. Dingman may not have been the flashiest skater with the Broncos, but he has a knack for taking up lanes and forcing mistakes. - Kieser

160. Dayne Beuker, C, US-NTDP

Beuker has offensive upside — he scored 14 goals and 43 points in 62 games for the USNTDP and six goals and 18 points in 25 games in the USHL last season — and he’s certainly worth the gamble at this point in the draft. Nashville needs more centers with offensive upside, and Beuker’s versatility to play anywhere on the ice as well as special teams, could be an asset in the middle six in the future. - Gallagher

179. Brett Olson, C, Vancouver (WHL)

Across 68 games for the Giants, Olson posted 30 points in 68 games playing down the middle of the ice. Played well on both sides of the ice and put himself in good pockets of opportunity in the offensive zone. His persistent style of play meshes well with other positionally sound skaters, which stands out to NHL teams. Elite Prospects’ report stated Olson is even better in the defensive zone; he combines a thoughtful positional game with some all-out effort plays. - Kieser

202. Lucas Ambrosio, LHD, Erie (OHL)

Ambrosio might not be a future top-pairing defender, but he’s worth a flier with Nashville’s final pick. He plays on both the power play and penalty kill, he has some offensive upside (he scored 20 points in 64 OHL games last year), and he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes in his own zone or with the puck. - Gallagher

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators wanted to join the NHL’s trading frenzy ahead of the NHL Draft this week.

On Wednesday afternoon, Chris MacFarland completed his second trade with his former team the Colorado Avalanche. Nashville acquired centerman Jack Drury, winger Chase Bradley, and a 3rd round pick in 2029 for forwards Fedor Svechkov and Zach L’Heureux.

“Jack Drury is a hard-working, reliable, full-sheet of the ice center who can handle the tough assignments while being elite in the face-off circle,” MacFarland said in Nashville’s press release.

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He didn’t expect to get a call when he was drafted, and needless to say, he didn’t imagine this day would come either after a 15-year career in the NHL.

Pekka Rinne was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, June 22, five seasons after he last appeared in a game for the Predators.

He joins former defenseman Shea Weber and former Nashville general manager David Poile in the Hall of Fame just two years after they were inducted.

“I was at home in Finland, I had my kids running around, and I had this weird phone number on my phone, and then I picked it up,” Rinne said.

“I couldn’t believe it. I was with my wife, and I had a blank stare in my eyes. I was just looking at her, and I tried to try to whisper. I'm like, ‘It's the Hockey Hall of Fame,’ but an unbelievable moment. I never in a million years thought that I would get that call.”

Rinne was picked in the eighth round, which doesn’t exist anymore, at 258th overall in 2004. He posted a record of 369-213-9 across 683 regular-season games, all in a Predators sweater.

Nashville’s director of goaltending Mitch Korn knew as early as Rinne’s first development camp that the Predators had something special in him.

Korn had a feeling after just one practice seeing Rinne in action.

“I got off the ice at Centennial, and Barry Trotz met me at the door there. We looked at each other, and we said that’s the one and that was [Pekka],” Korn told LBH.

“He has great hands and competes. For a big man, he moves like a little man. We saw it that day, and he lived up to it.”

Among goalies with at least 500 games played, Rinne ranks fifth in NHL history with a .917 save percentage. It’s Rinne and former longtime starting goalie for the Predators, Tomas Vokoun, who are even at that record.

The only difference is that Rinne is now one of eight goalies in NHL history to be named to the Hockey Hall of Fame after playing his entire career for one team.

“I’m so proud that I had an opportunity to play for Nashville throughout my career, and obviously I'm also representing the players before me and players who are playing for Nashville,” Rinne said.

“That’s how I feel, and all of us agree that we wouldn't be here without our teammates, and that's exactly how it is. They made me a better player, and I'm just so honored to be representing myself, but also the Nashville Predators for this honor.”

While he did not win a Stanley Cup, Rinne did capture the Vezina Trophy in 2018. He also won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2021 for his efforts in the Nashville community, exemplifying leadership on and off the ice.

Korn said that the best goalies he’s coached loved to play and that brought the best out in them.

“He was a reaction guy with great hands. He caught pucks no one else could catch and had great stick skills with the puck, taking care of his own zone that way,” Korn said.

“His competitiveness and his ability to track the puck and all of that. He hated to give up goals, even in practice.”

One microcsm that depicts Rinne well to Korn was how the goaltender ended practices with Weber and former forward Patric Hornqvist.

“Pekka would end his morning skate with Weber one-timers and Hornqvist deflecting him. Those two guys were special in what they did. Hornqvist saw the pucks how goalies did, in slow motion,” Korn said.

Rinne also came into his own as a starter with Nashville as the NHL became a higher-scoring league. Korn saw how Rinne worked to remain one of the most reliable goalies in the league.

“The game now I call high-speed chess. The offensive players are so deceptive. They show pass, they make a shot. They show shot, they make pass. They show glove, they shoot blocker,” Korn said.

“The hands are crazy, and from when Pekka started to now, even the technology in sticks has changed. They’re not sticks anymore; they’re slingshots.”

Rinne is one of four former Finnish players in the Hall of Fame, with the others being Jari Kurri, Teemu Selanne, and Riika Sallinen.

Additionally, Rinne is the all-time winningest Finnish netminder in NHL history. For comparison, Juuse Saros (230) needs 140 more victories to surpass Rinne to claim that record, with goalies like Tuuka Rask and Miika Kiprusoff in front of him.

Nashville has already showered him with a few other honors in his post-playing career. Most notably, Rinne has a statue in front of Bridgestone Arena and was inducted into the inaugural Golden Hall with Poile and Weber.

Now Rinne reflects on all that he accomplished across his career to this point and the magnitude of it all.

“Who would have thought? It’s an unbelievable honor. First of all, I share this honor with my family, but secondly with my former teammates and then the people of Nashville,” Rinne said.

“I never thought this phone call would come to me. I’m still trying to take it all in. I played all of my career in Nashville and met so many wonderful people. I share this honor with them as well. “

Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick.

For the first time in franchise history, the Nashville Predators will have a draft class selected by a general manager who isn’t David Poile or a Poile disciple.

Assuming the home-run prospects — Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Caleb Malhotra, Chase Reid, Carson Carels — are gone by the 10th pick, and the Predators don’t trade up, there should still be some promising talent still on the board.

While Nashville will miss out on the truly elite, top-of-the-draft prospects (that seems to happen quite a bit), the team should land a solid B-level player to add to their farm system.

Below is my big board of the top 10 payers the Predators should consider with the 10th overall pick, and another five who could be potential options if the team trades back.

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Now that all 32 teams are in full offseason mode, trades are beginning to be made as the NHL inches closer to a new league year.

Chris MacFarland pulled the trigger on his first trade as president of hockey operations and general manager of the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

Who better to make a deal with than the Colorado Avalanche?

MacFarland got Joe Sakic to trade forward Ross Colton and goalie Isak Posch for two third-round picks (2026 3rd, NSH, 2027 3rd, COL) and pending restricted free agent goalie Magnus Chrona, who signed a two-year deal with Brynäs in the SHL in May.

“We are very excited to add Ross Colton to our forward mix,” MacFarland said in a team press release. “Ross is a versatile, two-way winger who will add sandpaper and grit into our middle six group.”

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