11 – Nashville Predators – Score: 81.8

Top 15 Prospects

Team	Player	Position	Score	Fantrax Roster %
1	Yaroslav Askarov	G	8.7	41%
2	Joakim Kemell	RW	7.1	27%
3	Luke Evangelista	RW	6.9	39%
4	Matthew Wood	C/LW	6.7	23%
5	Tanner Molendyk	D	6.3	13%
6	Zachary L’Heureux	C/LW	6	11%
7	Fedor Svechkov	C/LW	5.8	12%
8	Ryan Ufko	D	5.7	6%
9	Egor Afanasyev	C/LW	4.8	6%
10	Juuso Parssinen	C/LW	4.8	16%
11	Kalan Lind	LW	2.9	4%
12	Felix Nilsson	C/LW	2.6	4%
13	Reid Schaefer	LW	2.6	9%
14	Adam Ingram	C	2.4	2%
15	Spencer Stastney	D	1.9	2%

Individual Breakdown:

Forwards:

Many players that can be touched on but I will cover a few that may have not been covered as much in the past, other than the one obvious in Askarov who will briefly touch on later. Matthew Woods’ potential to become an impactful player on this team is very exciting. He is 6-foot-4 and although he has the size, he also has the hands and a style to his game that makes him different from your prototypical big man. His BCHL and NCAA career thus far has been steady with over a point-per-game pace, with the exception of this current year where he had 28 goals over 35 games.  

I feel like I have been hearing about Luke Evangelista for a while now. I know fellow DobberProspects podcaster, Victor Nuno, has been speaking about him for the past few years and has been telling us to keep an out for him, so I’m surprised his ownership is not higher. He now has over a full year of experience under his belt and has fared well. He will also get some good third line (possibly second line as well) minutes during the playoffs that will only help his career progression.

Defense:

Although I rated Ufko the lowest against my counterparts I am intrigued on his progression and how he will do in the NHL. Nobody is really talking about him but he will definitely make a positive impact on the Predators back end when its his time. Still, he is likely another year out, but his hockey IQ, anticipation and reading plays is strong.  He does not come across as a flashy defenseman but is relied upon to do the right things when on the ice. How that translates into fantasy, that still remains to be seen but I see him as a strong second paring defensemen and at worst a third.

If you have ever caught Tanner Molendyk in action, you’ve probably got a pretty good idea of what’s in store for him on the ice. He’s like the skipper of a smoothly sailing ship, effortlessly gliding through plays with lightning-fast reflexes. He is cool as a cucumber when under pressure but also can play shutdown defense in those clutch moments. Now, he might not be Roman Josi, but keep your eyes peeled for Molendyk—he is shaping up to be the next power play quarterback for this team.

Goalie:

What do we really need to say other than the fact that this Askarov is the real deal. Fantrax ownership is 41% which I thought would have been slightly higher considering that elite goalies are hard to come by and this panel has him rated as the top prospect on the team. The Predators are synonymous for their goaltending.  From Pekka Rinne to Jussi Sarros and now Askarov. That is definitely not an easy feat to potentially have three-star goalies one after another in an organization. Hats off to David Poile and the Predator scouting staff at the 2020 NHL Draft. 

Team Breakdown:

The Preds have got themselves a promising batch of prospects that pose as serious scoring threats with various skill sets. No standout superstar yet, but they have a solid crew who know how to light up the scoreboard. Now, their defense? Well, let’s just say Josi’s like the fortress guarding the castle, but Ufko and Molendyk are holding their own pretty darn well, though they’re not exactly Josi-level scoring machines, Molendyk does look like a top defenseman. Askrov’s the one stealing the spotlight, and with an elite goalie like Sarros who can show him the ropes, he’s got some serious potential to shine. Trotz is on a mission, building this team brick by brick through the draft, and lucky for him, David Polie left behind more than just crumbs in the pantry.