Predators’ Prospects Breakdown: The Summer Ahead - Centers

Today is the final installment of a wholesale look at the Predators’ organizational pipeline. This is a position-by-position analysis based on what this summer will hold and what the future will dictate. You can check out the first installment—focusing on wingers—here and the second installment - goalies - here and the installments on defensemen here and here.

Once again, an explanation of what this is all about:

I will provide a look at what the organization has at each position, a graded breakdown of every players’ present and future, and contract situation.

Each player will be assigned four numbers and a label: a skating grade, a puck skills grade, an AHL ability grade (if they aren’t already in the AHL, we know they can play in their current league), an NHL potential grade, and a three-year projection.

Grades will be assigned on a 2-8 scale (if you’re familiar with the 20-80 scale it’s the same thing). On this scale, 5 represents an NHL average grade, whereas 2 represents - well, hopefully, I won’t be assigning any 2’s - and 8 represents a generational talent or skill level. I’m borrowing this from a few sources - I know Corey Pronman has used it for a while, so hopefully, it makes sense.

The list below is a tiered ranking of the centers in the organization. This ranking factors current production and also future in the organization.

Eric Dunay

Players Under Contract: Emil Pettersson, Yakov Trenin, Frederick Gaudreau, Tyler Gaudet, Anthony Richard

Players on Reserve: Patrick Harper, Pavel Koltygin, Grant Mismash, Thomas Novak, Rem Pitlick

Impending UFAs: Cody Bass, Trevor Smith

AHL Contracts: Mark Zengerle [UFA]

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Emil Pettersson, 24, Milwaukee Admirals

Skating: 5.5

Puck Skills: 6.0

AHL Ability: 6.0

NHL Potential: 5.0

3-Year Projection: NHL/AHL Bubble Player

Pettersson is a very interesting skater. Drafted in 2013 as a point-per-game player in the SuperElit league in Sweden, the organization waited all four years allowed to sign him to an entry-level contract. In the meantime, Pettersson scored 65 points in 105 games and 49 in 96 Allsvenskan games.

A slow start to his 2016-17 seemed to doom his chances of signing with the organization, but he finished the season with 26 points in 27 games for Vaxjo in the SHL. Additionally, Pettersson had a very impressive rookie season in North America - much like Vladislav Kamenev.

At 24 years old, he’s physically mature and has the skill to be a solid, pass-first center in the NHL. I was admittedly down on him as a prospect for a while, but Pettersson has really shown his game over the past year and a half. If opportunities open up in Nashville this season, expect him to see a little regular season action.

Pettersson has one year left on his entry-level contract with a cap hit of $742.5K

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Yakov Trenin, 21, Milwaukee Admirals

Skating: 5.5

Puck Skills: 6.5

AHL Ability: 6.0

NHL Potential: 5.5

3-Year Projection: Middle-6 NHL Center/ Wing

Earlier this year, I reported that Yakov Trenin was heading to the KHL for the 2018-19 season. This was rumored at some point in the winter and graduated to all but confirmed in the spring. Fast forward a month or so and fans are confused seeing his name on the organization’s summer development camp roster.

Here is my take on the situation (some of this is fact and some is speculation with context): Trenin didn’t need to try hard to express how frustrated he was with this past season. He missed time after a scary hit, was buried down the lineup or in the press box when he returned, and only scored 16 points in 44 games. I don’t think Trenin used the KHL as leverage with the organization. I’m fairly positive he is/was genuinely interested in playing their (he chose Major Junior over the Russian ranks as a teenager). I don’t think the organization was ready to give up on him and has done some damage control the past few months. I think Dean Evason was likely gone no matter if he was hired elsewhere or not, and it’s possible Poile and Nichol saw this as an opportunity to reassure Trenin of his spot at the top of the depth chart in Milwaukee.

Regardless, Trenin can be an NHL player; he has all the tools (hands, passing ability, size & strength, two-way game, net-front presence, etc.). The organization is cultivating a few players with similar styles of play that could be a factor in the Milwaukee coaching search.

Trenin has two years remaining on his entry-level contract with a cap hit of $730.8K.

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Frederick Gaudreau, 25, Milwaukee Admirals

Skating: 5.5

Puck Skills: 6.0

AHL Ability: 7.0

NHL Potential: 5.5

3-Year Projection: Bottom-6 NHL Center/ Wing

Everyone’s favorite Stanley Cup breakout star: Freddy Hockey. Gaudreau posted another dominant season in the AHL in 2017-18 scoring 22 goals and 43 points in 54 games. In 20 games in Nashville, Gaudreau managed 3 assists.

At 25 years old, Gaudreau has most likely done all he can in the AHL, but there still is no clear path to a full-time NHL roster spot for him. If Nashville doesn’t add another forward via trade or free agency, he’s forward #13. No matter what, Gaudreau likely sees spot time this season but is in the AHL full-time. It might take the organization moving on from Miikka Salomaki for Gaudreau to see more ice time.

Gaudreau has two years remaining on his current contract with a cap hit of $666K. He will be an unrestricted free-agent at its conclusion.

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Tyler Gaudet, 25, Milwaukee Admirals

Skating: 5.0

Puck Skills: 5.0

AHL Ability: 5.0

NHL Potential: 4.0

3-Year Projection: Middle-6 AHL Center/ No longer with organization

Gaudet was acquired at the trade deadline to stabilize the lineup and help the Admirals’ coaching staff figure out who - on a roster full of hybrid centers/wings - plays best where. He was very satisfactory down the stretch for Milwaukee.

You can read a full breakdown of his game here.

I suspect the acquisition of Gaudet means the end of Cody Bass and maybe Trevor Smith’s time in Milwaukee. Next season’s depth chart should look something like this: Trenin/ Petterson/ Richard or Moy/ Gaudet down the middle provided no one else is brought in and Trenin fits better at center under a new coaching staff.

Gaudet just signed a one-year extension with a $650K cap hit. He will be an arbitration-eligible, restricted free-agent next summer.

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Anthony Richard, 21, Milwaukee Admirals

Skating: 6.0

Puck Skills: 6.5

AHL Ability: 6.5

NHL Potential: 5.0

3-Year Projection: Top-6 AHL Center

If you’ve followed my writing for a minute, you will know that Richard is my breakout candidate for the Admirals this season. I legitimately believe he might be the most underrated prospect in the organization.

Richard was drafted in the fourth round in 2015 with high upside. In two seasons with the Admirals he has scored 16 and 36 points in 55 and 75 games respectively. He has yet to find a solid spot in the lineup with frequent linemates, but he was third on the Admirals in primary points per 60 minutes this past season and shoots an absurd amount. Read more on that here.

Richard has enough talent to make it to the NHL, but it is still a ways away. Regardless, I can see him becoming a dominant AHL player in the next year.

Richard has two years remaining on his contract with a $688.3K cap hit.

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Patrick Harper, 19, Boston University

Skating: 5.5

Puck Skills: 6.5

AHL Ability: 6.5

NHL Potential: 6.0

3-Year Projection: Top-6 AHL Center

When talking about prospects, it can be hard to remember how young these players are when we clamor for them to be NHL-ready for seemingly forever. Harper was subject to a fair amount of criticism this season. He began the year as a likely Hobey Baker candidate, stalled his production at times against big teams, often looked invisible at the World Junior Championship, and finished the season sidelined with illness.

But, what if I told you he scored 21 points in 20 games? That’s right! A productive season. It’s hard for me to get a read on Harper. He’s got loads of skill, but I’m curious how his game would translate to the NHL. Sometimes he plays more like a wing than a center, and I’d much rather have that shot of his on the outside and in tight.

Mark Harper down as a dark horse Hobey Baker candidate this season and as a likely Milwaukee Admiral in 2019-20.

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Pavel Koltygin, 19, Drummondville Voltigeurs

Skating: 6.0

Puck Skills: 6.5

AHL Ability: 6.0

NHL Potential: 5.5

3-Year Projection: Top-6 AHL Center

Koltygin is another prospect crush of mine. Drafted after a 47-point rookie performance in the QMJHL in 2016-17, the organization saw a player with loads of raw skill and room to grow. His sophomore season didn’t show much growth.

Koltygin is a good skater with excellent hands. He protects the puck very well and can skate circles around defenders in all three zones. There are concerns that his work ethic isn’t there to showcase his skill. I don’t completely buy that, but we’ll see.

Koltygin ran into some ice time troubles in Drummondville this season as the Voltigeurs were serious Memorial Cup contenders. It will be no different in 2018-19 requiring Koltygin to really establish himself. If he can, this kid can be an impact player in the pros.

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Grant Mismash, 19, University of North Dakota

Skating: 5.0

Puck Skills: 6.5

AHL Ability: 6.0

NHL Potential: 5.5

3-Year Projection: Top-6 AHL Center

I admittedly wasn’t as high on Mismash as many were when he was drafted by the organization last summer. Simply put, I thought there was too much emphasis put on his physical style of play for him to adapt to the new NHL. His freshman season at UND really impressed me, however.

He quietly put up 9 goals and 22 points in 38 games for an offensively-inconsistent Fighting Hawks team. Additionally, he collected NCHC All-Rookie Team honors. I think Mismash has the potential to be a good middle-6 scorer in the NHL (i.e. Craig Smith but more aggressive on the forecheck). But, first I want to see him put up elite collegiate numbers against NCHC competition; his sophomore season could be a huge one.

He’s an example of a prospect that comforts me a bit on the organization’s depth down the middle.

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Thomas Novak, 21, University of Minnesota

Skating: 7.0

Puck Skills: 6.0

AHL Ability: 5.5

NHL Potential: 4.5

3-Year Projection: Middle-6 AHL Center/ No longer with organization

All the word is on Novak is that there isn’t much holding him back from being a steady NHL player. Part of me doesn’t see it. He’s very skilled and has shown the ability to be an excellent pivot on top lines, the powerplay, and the penalty kill. He had a solid 26-point season at Minnesota this year but centered Tyler Sheehy and Rem Pitlick often.

I think he’ll end up being a productive AHL forward, but a severe knee injury his sophomore season really set him back.

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Rem Pitlick, 21, University of Minnesota

Skating: 6.0

Puck Skills: 7.0

AHL Ability: 6.5

NHL Potential: 5.5

3-Year Projection: NHL/ AHL Bubble Player

The man acquired with the draft pick exchanged for Jimmy Vesey’s rights, and he’ll never be anything else. Just kidding. Rem Pitlick is, in fact, one of four players to score 40 goals in a season in the USHL since 2002. And, he’s lit it up at the University of Minnesota the past two years: 32 points in 36 games and 31 points in 38 games.

Pitlick is another very solid center prospect who is close potential-wise to Patrick Harper. He won’t have Casey Middlestadt to play with this upcoming season, so his offensive numbers could dip, but I’m not concerned.

I would hedge my bet that Pitlick signs an entry-level contract next summer. Or at least the organization attempts to sign him then after his junior year.

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Cody Bass, 31, Milwaukee Admirals

Skating: 5.0

Puck Skills: 4.5

AHL Ability: 4.5

NHL Potential: 3.0

3-Year Projection: Retired

Bass is among a myriad of veteran skaters in Milwaukee, yet I am confident his time in the organization is done. He only appeared in 34 games this season and 13 last season due to injury. Although seen as a solid leader, he has become an expendable player. This will be positive for younger players moving forward.

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Trevor Smith, 33, Milwaukee Admirals

Skating: 5.5

Puck Skills: 6.0

AHL Ability: 6.0

NHL Potential: 4.0

3-Year Projection: Retired or no longer with organization

The captain of the Admirals is a pending free agent, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go. Smith has been excellent in two seasons in Milwaukee including 17 goals and 43 points in 66 games this year. He has been a fixture down the middle of the top two lines and has brought a much-needed veteran presence to that locker room.

However...he is 33 years old, and the organization has to decide how many of these veteran AHL players they want to keep around next season. Players like Anthony Richard and Yakov Trenin will be counted on to make a bigger impact and that could push someone like Smith out the door.

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Mark Zengerle, 29, Milwaukee Admirals

Skating: 6.0

Puck Skills: 5.5

AHL Ability: 5.5

NHL Potential: 3.0

3-Year Projection: No longer with organization

Zengerle was claimed off waivers and signed by the Admirals to an AHL contract back in November and had a solid season: 5 goals and 32 points in 57 games.

I like Zengerle as a depth guy in the AHL, but I’m not sure the organization brings him back. Scott Nichol and a new coaching staff might have a different preference on the AHL contracts they had out.

Eric Dunay

All stats are courtesy of eliteprospects.com. All contract information is courtesy of capfriendly.com.