Are the Nashville Predators missing the mark with their forward development? Dive into the intriguing history of the Predators’ NHL draft picks, focusing on their challenges in nurturing top-tier forwards.
With insights from Ann Kimmel and Emma Lingan, this episode scrutinizes the controversial choice of Yaroslav Askarov and the potential of recent picks like Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L’Heureux. The discussion highlights the Predators’ drafting strategy, the impact of their average draft position, and the ongoing quest for elite offensive talent.
Join the conversation to explore whether the Predators can transform their forward prospects into future stars. Listen now for a deep analysis of Nashville’s player development journey.
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9 Comments
I’m a simple dude and a diehard Preds fan, that can see things in a way more optimistic light that some of my fellow fans (sometimes to my own peril). With us picking in the top 5, my ONLY concern is that Trotz will see a guy that isn’t ranked on EVERYONE’s top 5 and go for him. I don’t think picking 5th is the time for “taking a shot” at a someone you think is being overlooked. Even IF the guy pans out in the future, this fanbase needs a “win”. Making a head scratching move in the draft will be almost as bad as the Carrier/Fabbro moves.
Great one, AK/EL, EL can't disagree on the Askarov thing—it's a very very fine line to go back and look at…the bottom line is goalies very very rarely get picked in the 1st round anymore (should they? Larger question)–but teams right now say "no"….for various reasons rookie goaltenders in the NHL starting for a team are like rookie QBs in the NFL. You don't know if they are fully prepared to handle an NHL workload–in fact teams now largely ride on average goaltending tandems and it's basically "whomever happens to get hot" in the playoffs that wins. Goalies are paid accordingly–on top of that the work load for goaltenders is significantly less than in used to be. I'd say all the forwards you mentioned would have been great on the team, but I'll just maintain the league has changed stylistically and play-wise—I think we just are slow to catch the general play style and draft accordingly. We are kind of a victim of our success on top of the way we scout and draft—when you are picking starting in the 20s on average in the draft–very hard to stay on top of the league and be supplying NHL ready guys ready to go and play the elite speed and skill that much of the league has–or a lot of teams. Anaheim, San Jose, Chicago—speed and skill and we are behind there. Also AK, love the point about the well-roundedness versus drafting a player that has a certain skill set. Listen I just think if you are drafting a guy as a scout or whatever you need to know what they do well and incorporate that into the team. If they have elite speed or puckhandling then you need to find a way to fit that in a team—that's the coach and GMs job and if you can't do that—well uhhhhhh…lol that's a problem with coaching and GM and being on the same page.
With Askarov we traded an 11th OA pick for a 32nd and another 25-32nd. Time and time again history tells us one high pick is more valuable than multiple low picks. Is why you basically never see teams trading up to top picks at the draft
I will be in the minority and agree with Emma that we should not have drafted Askarov, but rather the guys taken 2 spots after Askarov. Seth Jarvis.
Im a die hard Preds and Admirals, hope they start drafting players they keep and dsvelop rathwr than trade
I think Porter Martone has that ability to be something special… if he’s still there at 5th that is.
We passed over Wyatt Johnston for Svechkov in 2021🤦🏾♂️.
Nashville doesn't really have a problem developing forwards, it's more about who they draft. Expectations are high for 1st rounders but guys drafted around 25th overall are probably 2nd line/middle-six guys anyways and it doesn't help when they're just decently skilled junior players with below average size like Tomasino and Tolvanen. They should be drafting more guys like Surin in that range because if they have to draft a middle-six forward anyways, then they should have that extra bite to their game like him.
I’m a simple dude and a diehard Preds fan, that can see things in a way more optimistic light that some of my fellow fans (sometimes to my own peril). With us picking in the top 5, my ONLY concern is that Trotz will see a guy that isn’t ranked on EVERYONE’s top 5 and go for him.