{"id":15076,"date":"2017-08-26T09:00:46","date_gmt":"2017-08-26T13:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=15076"},"modified":"2025-10-10T22:55:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T02:55:35","slug":"tsp-nashville-predators-prospects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/08\/26\/tsp-nashville-predators-prospects\/","title":{"rendered":"TSP: Nashville Predators Prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the 2017 edition of \u201cTop Shelf Prospects\u201d. During the summer, I will feature a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. I will follow the order of the first round of the NHL draft (as if there were no trades). You\u00a0can find all the articles here<\/a>. Since we had an\u00a0extensive NHL Draft preview<\/a>, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted this year. There have been no games since then, and my reports on them will not have changed.<\/em><\/p>\n

I will link you to those articles; as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year\u2019s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2017-18 roster.\u00a0<\/em>I will also bring you one sleeper pick \u2013 a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later; or an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as a dark horse to make the NHL. 50 NHL games played or being 25 years old is the cut-off for prospects. These are not hard or fast rules though, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.<\/em><\/p>\n

TSP: Nashville Predators Prospects<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>The huge P.K. Subban<\/a><\/strong> – Shea Weber<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>trade in June 2016 immediately raised expectations for the Nashville Predators<\/a>. Many analysts, and EA Sports simulation had the Predators winning the Stanley Cup. Injuries hit the team hard during the regular season, and they never quite looked as good as advertised. The Predators squeaked into the playoffs. At that point everything change. Things just seemed to click and they disposed of the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a>, St. Louis Blues<\/a>, and Anaheim Ducks<\/a> en route to the Stanley Cup Final<\/a>. It was a hard fought series, but the Predators came up short, falling in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Predators off-season saw James Neal<\/a><\/strong> taken by the Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> in the expansion draft. It also saw the team lose captain Mike Fisher<\/a><\/strong> to retirement<\/a>. Assistant coach Phil Housley<\/a> <\/strong>left to take a job as head coach<\/a>\u00a0of the Buffalo Sabres<\/a>. Even with all the losses, general manager David Poile\u00a0<\/strong>did not sit idly by. He signed<\/a> Nick Bonino<\/a> <\/strong>to a big free agent deal, replacing Fisher down the middle. He also traded<\/a> for Alexei<\/strong> Emelin<\/strong>, adding depth to the defence. Poile also locked up his restricted free agents, signing centre<\/a> Ryan Johansen<\/a><\/strong>, and winger<\/a> Viktor Arvidsson<\/a><\/strong> keeping his top line intact. The team also brought back<\/a> Scott Hartnell<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>after he was bought out<\/a> by the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a>, while trading<\/a> Colin Wilson<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>to the Colorado Avalanche<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2017 NHL Draft Picks:\u00a0Eeli Tolvanen<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Grant Mismash<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0David Farrance<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Tomas Vomacka<\/strong>,\u00a0Pavel Koltygin<\/strong>,\u00a0Jacob Paquette<\/strong><\/a>
\nGraduates: Kevin Fiala<\/a><\/strong>,<\/p>\n

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Top Prospect: Eeli Tolvanen<\/h2>\n

The Predators drafted Tolvanen with the 30th overall pick in this year\u2019s NHL draft. Prior to the draft, we did an in-depth scouting report on Tolvanen. As no games have been played since that report; we will not repeat it. You can\u00a0check out the report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Prospect #2: Pontus Aberg<\/a><\/h2>\n

Right Wing — shoots Right
\nBorn September 23rd, 1993 —\u00a0Stockholm, Sweden
\nHeight 6’0″ — Weight 198 lbs [183 cm \/ 90 kg]
\nDrafted by the Nashville Predators in the 2nd round, #37\u00a0overall at the 2012 NHL Draft<\/p>\n