Meet the Nashville Predators–Seth Jones Leading the Youth Movement

Jun 17, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Seth Jones is interviewed during a press conference for top prospects for the upcoming 2013 NHL Draft at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

If you’ve been paying attention to Gone Puck Wild lately, and shame on you if you haven’t, then you know school has begun as Wild fans brush up on their knowledge of the new teams within Minnesota’s division. This week, that new team just so happens to have a score to settle with Minnesota–that’s right–we’re talking about the Nashville Predators. Going through Sunday, we’ll break down Nashville’s major additions and subtractions, strengths and weaknesses, prospect pool, 2013 draft class and team outlook.

Nashville has never been the most offensively dynamic team, however, the pieces are in place for that to change in the coming seasons. Today, we’re taking a look at Nashville’s prospect pool. Per NHL.com, here are the Preds’ top-10 prospects:

"1. Seth Jones, D:  Jones was ranked the No. 1 North American skater by NHL Central Scouting after finishing 2012-13 with 14 goals, 56 points and a plus-46 rating in 61 games to help the Winterhawks to their best regular-season record. He led Western Hockey League defensemen in scoring and earned the Jim Piggott Trophy as its rookie of the year. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound 18-year-old had five goals and 15 points in 21 WHL playoff games en route to the 2013 championship. “Seth is a special prospect and we were fortunate to be in position to select him,” Predators general manager David Poile said. “As a player, he brings so much to our organization, from size you can’t teach to a skill set that every team hopes to add and a personality and maturity that will allow him to grow and develop with our veteran core and other young players.”2. Filip Forsberg, C/LW: A 2012 first-round pick (No. 11) of the Washington Capitals, Forsberg, 18, had 33 points in 38 games with Leksands in 2012-13 to help promote the team to the Elitserien from the second division in Sweden for the upcoming season. He gained valuable experience late in the NHL season when he played five games for the Predators and had one assist and 14 shots on goal. Forsberg (6-1, 186) was acquired from the Capitals in exchange for Martin Erat and Michael Latta in April. “I think it was great experience for him,” Kealty said of Forsberg’s time in Nashville. “He’s a higher prospect with a lot of talent and upside, so to expose him to a handful of games and having him work with us will really help him entering this season.”3. Austin Watson, RW: A prototypical power-forward at 6-4, 202, Watson is regarded as a solid two-way player who can do a little bit of everything. The 2010 first-round pick (No. 18) had 20 goals and 37 points in 72 games with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League in 2012-13. The 21-year-old played six games with the Predators last season, scoring one goal and averaging 12:42 of ice time. “He can handle the puck and has a good reach, is very responsible,” Kealty said. “He can take faceoffs, kill penalties, block shots, and his offensive game is growing. He’s grown and gotten better every year since we’ve drafted him … he’s stronger and more mature in all facets.”4. Mattias Ekholm, D: Before the selection of Jones at the 2013 draft, the 6-4, 176-pound Swede might have been regarded as the organization’s top defensive prospect. He had a solid rookie season with Nashville’s American Hockey League affiliate in Milwaukee, with 10 goals, 32 points and a plus-15 rating in 59 games. He probably would have played more than one game for the Predators if not for an injury that sidetracked the 23-year-old’s development. “He’s really mobile and good on the transition with the way he can turn the puck up ice,” Kealty said. “He can get involved in the offense; he had a very good first full year in North America and adjusted to the way the game is here with his defensive play and work in his own end. He gained experience in Nashville and hopefully can come into camp and be ready to go.”5. Colton Sissons, C/RW: The 19-year-old versatile forward sustained a pair of untimely injuries last season, the first coming at Christmas to knock him from contention for a roster spot with the Canadian entry in the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship. The second occurred late in the season and during the WHL playoffs. The 6-1, 194-pound right-handed shot finished with 28 goals, 67 points and a plus-43 rating in 61 regular-season games for the Kelowna Rockets. Predators general manager David Poile said Sissons reminds him of Nashville forward Mike Fisher and the organization is very high on his ability. “Overall, we’re happy with his development,” Kealty said of Sissons. “He’s another guy with a solid two-way game. He has good leadership qualities and that speaks volumes to his character. He’s a real well-rounded player.” Sissons told The Tennessean, “I just want to play professional hockey this year, and I’m going to do everything in my power to do so.”6. Brendan Leipsic, LW: The feisty forward led the WHL with 120 points (49 goals) in 68 games last season and had 103 penalty minutes. He had 10 goals and 24 points in 21 playoff games to help the Portland Winterhawks win the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champion. Leipsic, 19, has averaged a little more than a point-per-game in 201 career games in the WHL with 93 goals and 211 points. “I’d compare Brendan to a Brad Marchand type of player,” Kealty said. “He’s a smaller guy (5-9, 165) but doesn’t play small. He’s fearless, he’ll hit you, and he wants to be involved in the game. His 120 points last year speaks to the type of offensive capability he has.”7. Magnus Hellberg, G: The 6-5, 196-pound goaltender enjoyed a solid North American debut last season with Milwaukee, finishing 22-13-0 with six shutouts, a 2.14 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. Whenever Hellberg’s NHL career takes flight, there’s no doubt comparisons between him and Anaheim Ducks prospect John Gibson, who was drafted one spot behind the Swede, are inevitable. Hellberg was selected in the second round (No. 38), and Gibson, who many felt was the top goalie on the board at the 2011 draft, was No. 39. Predators goalie coach Mitch Korn said there was a huge learning curve for Hellberg, 22, last season. “It’s not the fact that [the ice in North America] is narrower, it’s the fact what the narrower ice does,” Korn told The Tennessean. “It makes pucks come to the net quicker. It creates more traffic. It makes rebounds way more dangerous. It makes every shot that’s propelled at the net more dangerous. It just changes the way the game is played.”8. Miikka Salomaki, LW: The 20-year-old Finn (5-11, 198) will spend the 2013-14 season with the Admirals, marking his first season in North America. The 2011 second-round pick (No. 52) played for Karpat in SM-liiga the past three seasons, where he totaled 25 goals, 50 points and 153 penalty minutes in 122 games.9. Jimmy Vesey, LW: He certainly impressed as a rookie at Harvard University in 2012-13. After getting 11 goals and 18 points in 27 games, Vesey (6-1, 194) was voted Ivy League Rookie of the Year and was selected to the ECAC All-Rookie Team. The 20-year-old won a gold medal with the United States at the WJC, chipping in with one goal and six points in seven games.10. Pontus Aberg, LW: The 5-11, 192-pound right-handed shot finished his second season with Sweden’s Djurgarden, leading the team with 40 points (12 goals) in 52 regular-season games. Djurgarden holds Aberg’s contract rights to the end of the 2013-14 year, so the 19-year-old likely will spend one more season in Sweden before coming to North America."

What a well-rounded list of prospects. Hockey’s Future gives us a better glimpse of Nashville’s youth as a whole. These prospects have all the makings of quality NHLers. The Preds’ pool is filled with quality character guys, great two-way players who can play a full 200′ game and, even with the departure of Blum and the promotion of Jones, there’s still good depth on the blue line. Aside from Hellberg, however, there is a lack in depth in the crease, and only Forsberg has the makings of a top line player. What’s interesting is the No. 9 (out of 10) rating given to Jones. According to HF, a “9” rating is described as:

"Elite Talent – possesses the potential for greatness, a perennial All-Star throughout his career.Defense: Nicklas Lidstrom, Zdeno Chara, Chris Pronger Forward: Ilya Kovalchuk, Joe Thornton, Eric Staal Goaltender: Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Henrik Lundqvist"

Forsberg is the only other prospect close to that, and he’s rated an “8”:

"First-Line Forward/ No. 2 Defenseman / No. 1 Goaltender – players with definite skill that might be just a cut below elite status, but still possessing All-Star potential.Defense: Dan Boyle, Duncan Keith, Kimmo Timonen Forward: Patrick Marleau, Jason Spezza, Mike Richards Goaltender: Cam Ward, Marc-Andre Fleury, Tomas Vokoun"

Nashville has a very good looking prospect pool, but the time for drafting elite defenders is over for a while. Preds GM David Poile has to start addressing his team’s serious lack of offensive firepower, and the only way of doing that may be through the draft. Connor McDavid, anyone?