Corey Pronman details what to expect from the Nashville Predators’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system.
2023 Draft Grade: B+
The host team didn’t pull off the splashy draft day trade, but they still added quality prospects for their future. Matthew Wood projects as a top-six wing. Tanner Molendyk could be a second pair defenseman. Felix Nilsson and Kalan Lind are hard-working centers who have legitimate shots to make it. There’s a lot more work to do in Nashville’s rebuild, but this is a quality starting point.
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Draft Class
15. Matthew Wood, RW, UCONN (H-EAST)
February 6, 2005 | 6′ 4″ | 197 pounds
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Player comparable: Drake Batherson
Background: Wood had a highly productive 17-year-old freshman season at UConn scoring a point per game. As a 16-year-old he led the BCHL in goals and points. At both this past summer’s Hlinka Gretzky and the 2022 U18 worlds, Wood played a limited even-strength/heavy power-play role for Team Canada but at the 2023 U18 worlds he was a top forward at the tournament.
Analysis: Wood is a very gifted offensive player. He has excellent one-on-one skills and offensive IQ. He has the ability to hold onto pucks for an extra second and knows how to beat defenders with skill. He also has an excellent wrist shot and one-timer, making him a major asset on the power play. Wood is a big winger as well, so the size/skill combo has a lot of upside. However, his skating is an issue as he lacks the ability to separate and the pace of the NHL will challenge him. I wouldn’t call him an overly physical or high compete type, and I’ve seen him take nights off, but Wood is a big body who can use his frame to win battles and gets to the inside parts of the offensive zone well enough. I think he’ll be a quality top six winger who will be a big part of an NHL power play, but he may frustrate his coaches at times.
Thoughts on the pick: Wood is a very talented offensive player. It’s not easy to find first-year draft eligibles who led their NCAA team in scoring, never mind at 6-foot-4. The Predators have a lot of needs for their rebuild, but they need high-end talent most of all, and Wood provides that. He needs to round out his game and with his OK footspeed he may need two to four years before he’s ready for the NHL.
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24. Tanner Molendyk, LHD, SASKATOON (WHL)
February 3, 2005 | 5′ 11″ | 181 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Player comparable: Mario Ferraro
Background: Molendyk has played a ton of minutes for a strong Saskatoon team this season. He hasn’t put up big point totals but often isn’t on PP1 for them. He led Canada in ice time in their Hlinka semifinal win over Finland and was second in ice time in the gold medal win over Sweden. Molendyk grew significantly in a short period of time. He measured in during the summer at 5-foot-10 and 3/4 inches and is close to six feet now. He was the fifth pick in his WHL Bantam Draft.
Analysis: Molendyk is a strong two-way defenseman despite not being the biggest defender. This is because of his excellent skating ability and strong work ethic. Molendyk’s edgework is very good. He closes on checks like a pro, and is able to evade pressure at a high level. His top speed is good, not great, but he can lead a rush in the NHL. Molendyk has strong offensive instincts and skills, and can make plays from off the blue line and on the move. His size will be a minor issue as a defenseman in the NHL, but he plays hard and doesn’t shy from physical play often landing hard hits at the junior level. I think he checks a lot of boxes and projects to be a top-four defenseman.
Thoughts on the pick: Tanner Molendyk is a favorite of mine. He’s an outstanding skater who plays hard and I think moves the puck well enough too. He’s not the biggest guy, but he reminds me of guys like Alexander Romanov and Mario Ferraro, and I think he could be a second-pair defenseman. After being a defense factory for so long, Nashville hasn’t invested much draft capital of late high on defenders, so this is a much-needed boost to their system.
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43. Felix Nilsson, C, ROGLE JR. (SWEDEN-JR.)
June 22, 2005 | 6′ 0″ | 187 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Background: Nilsson was over a point per game in Sweden’s J20 league this season. He got extended time with Rogle’s SHL team but didn’t score a point. His role with Sweden’s U18 team grew as the season progressed but he couldn’t play in the U18 worlds due to a wrist injury.
Analysis: Nilsson is a skilled forward. He has strong stickhandling abilities and can often beat checkers with skill. Inside the offensive zone he’s an excellent passer who can create a lot off the perimeter. His shot is good enough to be a threat that way but he’s more of a natural playmaker. Nilsson isn’t highly physical, but he shows up every night, gets to the net and gives a solid effort. His skating is solid. He’s not explosive, but he can carry pucks up ice and create off the rush. I don’t know if the toolkit stands out enough overall, but he has a real chance to play games in a bottom six.
46. Kalan Lind, LW, RED DEER (WHL)
January 25, 2005 | 6′ 0″ | 158 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: High-end
Background: Lind has been an important part of a top WHL team this season in Red Deer. He was the third-line center for Canada’s Hlinka team in the summer. Lind was briefly hospitalized in the playoff series vs. Saskatoon following a hit to the head that knocked him unconscious. He was the sixth pick in his WHL Bantam Draft and is the younger brother of Kole Lind.
Analysis: Lind is an easy player to like with a lot of NHL attributes. He’s good at both ends of the ice and can play both center and wing. Lind’s skating stands out right away. He’s got a technically smooth stride with good power. I gave it an NHL average grade but it could easily be above NHL average. He has the puck skills to beat defenders consistently and do so at full speed. His physical edge is a major asset. Lind walks the line but is a constant pain in the rear to play against for his opponents. I don’t love his playmaking and find he plays with his head down a lot. I see a projected bottom-six forward, at either center or the wing.
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68. Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, PELICANS JR. (FINLAND-JR.)
August 23, 2005 | 6′ 0″ | 190 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Background: Kiiskinen was a strong junior player in Finland’s U20 league. He was also a go-to player with Finland’s U18 team including being named a top three player for Finland at the U18 Worlds. He made limited appearances with the Pelicans’ Liiga club.
Analysis: Kiiskinen is a well-rounded winger. He’s a strong skater whose game has a good amount of pace and energy in it. He has good speed and first-step quickness in his stride and can pull away from checkers. Kiiskinen possesses strong puck skills and offensive instincts. He can make plays on the move and from a standstill. He’s also a shot threat from the faceoff dots. I like Kiiskinen’s work ethic. I’d like to see him get to the net more, but he gives an honest effort, can win puck battles and can kill penalties too. He has a chance to make it, but I don’t see him stand out enough at either end to say exactly what his job would be in the league.
83. Dylan MacKinnon, RHD, HALIFAX (QMJHL)
January 12, 2005 | 6′ 2″ | 190 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Background: MacKinnon was a quality player for Halifax this season. He was on Canada’s U18 team this summer where he played a top-four role. He was the fifth pick in his QMJHL Draft.
Analysis: MacKinnon’s primary strength is his defensive play. He has a smooth, powerful skating stride in all directions. He closes on checks quite well due to his feet. He also brings a good level of physicality to the table and wins a lot of puck battles.Offensively, he hasn’t put up huge numbers in the Q, but I think there is some offense in him. He can skate pucks up ice well, and he shows good moments of skill and vision. If that aspect of his game was a tad more consistent I could see a future NHL player, but for now I’m unsure on that.
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111. Joey Willis, C, SAGINAW (OHL)
March 14, 2005 | 5′ 10″ | 170 pounds
Analysis: Willis got off to a great start in his first OHL season but faded a bit in the second half of the year. He’s an excellent skater with a good skill level who killed peanlties in the OHL. With his 5-foot-10 frame, the question is whether his offensive sense and touch are high-end enough.
121. Juha Jatkola, G, KALPA (FINLAND)
September 12, 2002 | 6′ 1″ | 176 pounds
Analysis: Jatkola had a solid season as a starting goalie for KalPa. The 20-year-old got some games with Finland’s national team, where he was succesful. He split starts at the summer world juniors as well. Jatkola has good quickness and hockey sense and looks like a solid pro goalie. The question is, with a 6-foot-1 frame, whether the tool kit is special enough at that size to be an NHL goalie. My lean as of now is to no, but he’s trending up and I could see myself being wrong on him.
143. Sutter Muzzatti, C, RPI (ECAC)
June 28, 2003 | 6′ 5″ | 210 pounds
Analysis: Muzzatti is a big, physical forward with some skill but whether there’s offense at higher levels is a question.
175. Austin Roest, C, EVERETT (WHL)
January 22, 2004 | 5′ 10″ | 175 pounds
Analysis: Roest had a strong second eligible draft season. He’s a very good skater, with a strong offensive skill set, who can both make and finish plays. He’s undersized, but Roest works hard enough and has good energy in his game. Whether he’s dynamic enough at barely 5-foot-10 is the question. He’s the son of Tampa executive Stacy Roest.
218. Aiden Fink, RW, BROOKS (AJHL)
November 24, 2004 | 5′ 9″ | 153 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Background: Fink was the best player in the AJHL this season leading Brooks to a AJHL title. He was a part of Brooks winning an AJHL title the prior season as well. Fink led the World Jr. A Challenge in scoring, with 12 points in 6 games. He was committed to Wisconsin but changed to Penn State following the coaching change at Wisconsin.
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Analysis: Fink’s skating and energy stand out when he’s on the ice. He has excellent speed and quickness and often pushes the pace with his skating. He’s a skilled forward who can beat defenders at full speed with his stickhandling. Fink is a shot and pass threat who can make a lot happen inside the offensive zone. His shot is a legit pro weapon, as he can pick corners from distance and will be able to beat better goalies. There’s a lot working in his favor to play in the NHL except for his frame. He’s an undersized winger and the debate will be whether he’s dynamic enough for that size or if he’s just a strong AHLer type of player. I think he plays the game the right way at that size to give himself a real chance to make it.
(Photo of Matthew Wood: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
