Predators' Hiroki Gojsic: Selected late in Round 3
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Gojsic was the 94th overall pick by the Predators in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Gojsic made his debut in the WHL this past season after a year-plus in the BCHL and played well. He finished with 21 goals and 50 points in 68 games for Kelowna. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Gojsic brings a nice mix of size and speed to the table. It would be nice to see him be a bit more aggressive at times, but as a big kid who can shoot the puck, it's easy to see why Nashville was interested late in Round 3.
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Predators' Miguel Marques: Grabbed by Preds in Round 3
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Marques was the 87th overall pick by the Predators in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
After managing just eight goals and 20 points in 59 WHL games a year ago, Marques upped those totals to 28 goals and 74 points in 67 games this past season. He has already figured out how to score at the junior level. Marques is shifty, particularly side-to-side, and does an excellent job of getting lost in traffic among bigger opponents. He doesn't have the straight-line speed you'd like to see from an undersized prospect (5-foot-11, 170 pounds), but like many good offensive players, he looks quicker with the puck on his stick than without. Seemingly a lock to produce big numbers the remainder of his WHL run, we likely won't get a good idea of Marques' future potential until he eventually turns pro.
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Predators' Viggo Gustafsson: Surprise pick in Round 3
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Gustafsson was the 77th overall pick by the Predators in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
One of the youngest players in the draft, having been eligible by just days, Gustafsson continues to improve. He has more offensive ability than his numbers (19 points in 41 games) for HV71's junior club in Sweden would lead you to believe. He wasn't expected to go anywhere near this high, so perhaps Nashville reached a bit (or a lot), but Gustafsson is an intriguing long-term lottery ticket for the organization.
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Predators' Teddy Stiga: BC commit off to Smashville
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Stiga was the 55th overall pick by the Predators in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Stiga was viewed by some as a fringe first-rounder, so he looks like a great get for Nashville at this point of the draft. His game is very reminiscent of 2023 Columbus second-rounder Gavin Brindley. Stiga, like Brindley, is undersized (5-foot-10, 175 pounds), but he seemingly always finds a way to impact the game despite having average physical gifts. Brindley ended up leading the Big 10 in scoring in his sophomore season at the University of Michigan and was playing NHL games at the end of the year. Stiga is unlikely to hit that type of trajectory, but he could easily outperform expectations this coming fall in his freshman season at Boston College.
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Predators' Yegor Surin: Skill and gnash off to Music City
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Surin was the 22nd overall pick by the Predators at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Surin is a high-skill, risk-reward pivot who could make Nashville's scouts look really, really good. His compete is elite. His game walks a line right now, though, and Surin has been known to cross it. He put up 108 PIM in just 42 games with his junior team in Russia this season and that dreaded 'plays with a chip on his shoulder' description emerged. Still, Surin has good skill and size, and with some maturity, he could be an irritating rat on skates on the Predators' third line. His ability to score and reel in PIM will make him valuable in multi-cat leagues some day.
Saros agreed to terms on an eight-year, $61.92 million contract with Nashville, Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports Friday.
Saros technically can't put pen to paper until the new league year opens Monday, but it seems the two sides have already worked out the details of a max-term deal for the netminder. At 29 years of age, and with one season remaining on his current contract, this deal essentially will tie Saros to the Predators for the remainder of his career -- barring a future trade. Considering the Finn has hit the 60-game threshold and 30-win mark in each of his last three seasons, fantasy players can likely expect more of the same heading into the 2024-25 campaign and beyond.
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Predators' Andrew Gibson: Flipped in trade
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Gibson was sent to Nashville from Detroit on Monday in exchange for Jesse Kiiskinen and a 2024 second-round pick.
Gibson put up solid numbers with OHL Soo this season, racking up 12 goals and 32 helpers in 68 contests for the Greyhounds. Originally selected by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old blueliner could offer decent offensive upside once he makes the jump to the professional ranks -- though that's likely still at least a season or more away.
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Predators' Ozzy Wiesblatt: Dealt to Music City
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Nashville obtained Wiesblatt from San Jose on Sunday in exchange for Egor Afanasyev.
Wiesblatt notched four goals and 17 points in 50 AHL games between San Jose and Milwaukee during the 2023-24 campaign. The 22-year-old forward hasn't had any NHL experience since being taken with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Sharks.
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Predators' Spencer Stastney: Assigned to AHL Milwaukee
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Stastney (upper body) was sent to AHL Milwaukee on Thursday.
Stasney missed the last three games of the Predators' first-round series loss to Vancouver due to an upper-body injury, but his demotion to the minors suggests he's now healthy. The 24-year-old defender picked up four points through 20 top-level appearances during the regular season.
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Predators' Gustav Grigals: Sent to Milwaukee
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Grigals was loaned to AHL Mikwaukee on Saturday.
Grigals was the Predators' third goaltender during their six-game run in the playoffs. He spent most of the season at the ECHL level but did appear in one game for the Admirals, giving up four goals on 22 shots.
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Predators' Kevin Gravel: Returns to Milwaukee
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Gravel was reassigned to AHL Milwaukee on Saturday.
With Nashville eliminated from postseason contention, Gravel will return to AHL Milwaukee for their playoff run. The 32-year-old defenseman last played in the NHL in the 2022-23 season, where he logged one assist in 23 games.
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Predators' Juuso Parssinen: Returned to AHL affiliate
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Parssinen was reassigned to AHL Milwaukee on Saturday.
Parssinen was in the lineup Friday in Nashville's 1-0 loss to Vancouver in Game 6. The defeat eliminated the Predators from the postseason, so the 23-year-old forward will get to play in the AHL playoffs instead. In 44 regular-season games for the Predators in 2023-24, Parssinen had eight goals and four assists. Look for him to suit up as a middle-six forward for Nashville's next campaign.
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Predators' Juuse Saros: Comes up short in Game 6
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Saros stopped 28 of 29 shots in Friday's 1-0 loss to the Canucks in Game 6.
Saros was excellent, going save for save with Arturs Silovs for nearly the whole game. Pius Suter had the breakthrough for the Canucks with 1:39 left in the third period, and that goal was the one to end the Predators' season. Despite a 2-4 record in the playoffs, Saros allowed just 12 goals on 120 shots over six contests, with Friday marking the first time he'd faced more than 21 shots in a game all series. The Finnish goalie is under contract for one more season at a $5 million cap hit, so it's possible his name could swirl in trade rumors if the Predators opt to shake things up.
Schenn (illness) will play Friday in Game 6 against Vancouver, Nick Kieser of 102.5 ESPN Nashville reports.
Schenn will return after missing Game 5 on Tuesday. The veteran blueliner has averaged 15:03 of ice time with 12 hits through four games this series. He'll skate in a second-pairing role Friday.
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Predators' Cole Smith: Unavailable Friday
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Smith (upper body) will not play Friday against the Canucks for Game 6.
Smith is considered day-to-day, indicating he could return Sunday for Game 7 if Nashville avoids elimination. The 28-year-old has 12 hits and no points in five games this series. Juuso Parssinen will dress in Smith's absence for Game 6.
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Predators' Juuse Saros: Tending twine Friday
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Saros will face the Canucks at home for Game 6 on Friday.
Saros turned away 19 of 20 shots in Tuesday's 2-1 Game 5 win to force Game 6. Through five games this series, he's allowed only 11 goals but it's come with a lackluster .879 save percentage. To avoid elimination, Saros will need to earn consecutive wins for the first time since April 4 and 7.
Schenn (illness) is considered day-to-day ahead of Game 6 against the Canucks on Friday, Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean reports.
Schenn's status may not be determined until closer to puck drop Friday but the Preds recalled Kevin Gravel from AHL Milwaukee just in case. The 34-year-old Schenn isn't exactly an offensive dynamo considering he is goalless in his last 31 contests during which he generated a lone helper.
