Predators’ Prospects Breakdown: The Summer Ahead - Goalies

Today is the second 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.

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 positioning grade, a reaction ability 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 goalies in the organization. This ranking factors current production and also future in the organization.

Eric Dunay

Players Under Contract: Niclas Westerholm, Miroslav Svoboda, Troy Grosenick

Players on Reserve: Tomas Vomacka, Konstantin Volkov, Karel Vejmelka

Impending UFAs: Matt O’Connor, Anders Lindback

AHL Contracts: Jake Paterson [UFA]

—---------------------------------------------------—

Niclas Westerholm, 20, SaiPa U20

Positioning: 5.5

Reaction & Recovery: 6.5

AHL Ability: 6.0

NHL Potential: 5.0

3-Year Projection: Full-time AHL goalie

A lot of the goalies on the list have been the feature of one of my breakdowns recently, so I will link to many of those. Check out my breakdown of Westerholm here.

Westerholm is a pretty big body with solid positioning. He could use some work on his mechanics, but reacts and recovers nicely for a goalie of his size. There is a possibility he is in Milwaukee next season, but the Svoboda signing suggests he’ll play full-time in the SM-liiga. At 20-years-old, a backup job in Finland’s top league is not too shabby.

I have Westerholm ranked fourth on my list in the organization, but he’s third potential-wise. I don’t know if he has long-term NHL potential, but it’s so hard to predict goalies at this age. This season in the SM-liiga will tell us a lot.

Westerholm’s three-year, entry-level deal begins next season with an $825,833 cap hit. There’s also a European Assignment clause in the deal meaning his chances of being in Milwaukee this season are even slimmer. Additionally, there is almost $300 K in performance bonuses over the contract’s three years. At its conclusion, Westerholm will be a restricted free agent.

Side note: Westerholm just graduated!

—---------------------------------------------------—

Miroslav Svoboda, 23, HC Plzen

Positioning: 6.0

Reaction & Recovery: 6.5

AHL Ability: 6.5

NHL Potential: 5.5

3-Year Projection: NHL/AHL bubble goalie

Svoboda was a really solid pickup for the organization. He’s one of few goalies in this breakdown who I think can have an impact in Nashville. He was stellar in the Czech Republic this season and has been for a few seasons now. Read more about Svoboda here.

In regards to Svoboda’s playing style, I am in love with his stance in the crease and how he manages that space. It seems airtight to me. He is, however, susceptible to getting pulled too far out of position laterally.

Svoboda signed a two-year deal with a $767.5K cap hit and a $70K salary in the AHL. He’ll be a restricted free agent in two years. I like his chances a lot to be the starter in Milwaukee by the end of next season. Svoboda’s ceiling to me is likely a really solid NHL backup, but I am very much looking forward to seeing a couple years in the AHL from him. I think once he adjusts he could be fairly dominant in Milwaukee.

—---------------------------------------------------—

Troy Grosenick, 28, Milwaukee Admirals

Positioning: 5.0

Reaction & Recovery: 6.5

AHL Ability: 5.0

NHL Potential: 3.5

3-Year Projection: No longer with organization

Grosenick was acquired at the 2018 trade deadline from the San Jose Sharks and had a decent 7-game run for the Admirals this season. Check out more on Grosenick from my trade deadline recap.

Grosenick isn’t much to write home about and has no future in Nashville, but he does provide good stability in Milwaukee this coming season. One has to imagine that the organization hopes to have a more balanced one-two punch in net this season in Milwaukee and not tiring out one starter like with Anders Lindback this past season.

Grosenick’s contract expires after the 2018-19 season, and he will be an unrestricted free agent. Something to note along with his $650K cap hit is that he is guaranteed $275K in salary this season even in the minors.

—---------------------------------------------------—

Tomas Vomacka, 19, Lincoln Stars

Positioning: 6.0

Reaction & Recovery: 6.5

AHL Ability: 6.5

NHL Potential: 6.0

3-Year Projection: Starting AHL Goalie

Vomacka is the top of the organization’s depth chart. The 2017 fifth-round pick easily has the highest potential of any goalie on this list. At 19-years-old, Vomacka had a stellar rookie season for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL and will carry that success to the University of Connecticut next season.

Along with several honors this season, Vomacka displayed impressive positioning, very good vision and tracking abilities, and a knack to shut down games. At this point, I expect Vomacka to be at UConn for at least two years (maybe three). It depends on how much time he sees behind Rangers’ prospect Adam Huska this upcoming season. At UConn, Vomacka will face some real solid Hockey East competition including the Preds’ three Boston University prospects.

To double down, something that has really impressed me with Vomacka is his demeanor and ability to stretch games for all they’re worth. It’s not quantifiable, but he displayed a natural ability to keep his team in the game when they had shouldn’t have been at only 19 years of age.

Vomacka remains on the Preds’ reserve list until August 15, 2022. This may fluctuate based on how long he stays in college.

—---------------------------------------------------—

Konstantin Volkov, 20, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg

Positioning: 6.0

Reaction & Recovery: 5.5

AHL Ability: 6.0

NHL Potential: 5.5

3-Year Projection: Starting KHL goalie

Volkov is lower on my depth chart for two reasons: the depth chart ahead of him in the SKA organization and because I’m unsure of his likelihood to ever come overseas. Regardless, he had a really excellent season primarily in the MHL and VHL. In 25 MHL games for SKA-1946, Volkov finished with a 1.59 GAA and a .935 SV%. This coming season Volkov should start or split time for SKA-NEva of the VHL and hopefully snag a few KHL starts, too.

If he does come overseas, I think Volkov could be a good backup or AHL starter at the least. My guess is the organization would like to see consistent starts in the KHL from him first; it could be a season or two before that’s the case. But, to add some perspective, if he is a good starter in the second-best league at 22 or 23 then I’d say he’s a fairly successful prospect.

Since the NHL does not have a transfer agreement with the KHL, Volkov is on the Predators’ reserve list indefinitely.

—---------------------------------------------------—

Karel Vejmelka, 22, SK Horacka Slavia Trebic

Positioning: 5.5

Reaction & Recovery: 5.0

AHL Ability: 4.5

NHL Potential: 4.0

3-Year Projection: No longer with organization

Vejmelka, drafted in 2015, is still a decent prospect despite likely being replaced on the organizational depth chart recently. At 22 years old, Vejmelka had a really solid season. He played 10 games in the top Czech league for two clubs including a 6-game, 1.81 GAA, .937 SV% run for HC Kometa Brno. He also started 14 games in the second Czech league for SK Horacka Slavia Trebic.

I like Vejmelka as a sound player, but he doesn’t stand out on paper and likely has little future in the NHL. This coming season he should be a full-time goalie for HC Kometa Brno in the top Czech league. It’s likely a make or break season for his future in the organization. Vejmelka is currently unsigned and will remain on the Predators’ reserve list until June 1st, 2019.

Unless Vejmelka stuns for Brno this season, it’s likely he goes unsigned come next June. I see Svoboda’s signing as a possible indictment for his future, but we will see.

—---------------------------------------------------—

Anders Lindback, 30, Milwaukee Admirals

Positioning: 6.0

Reaction & Recovery: 5.0

AHL Ability: 6.5

NHL Potential: 5.0

3-Year Projection: Retired or no longer with organization

Lindback was one of the best signings by the organization last summer. I don’t think the brass anticipated he would have to put up the season he did, but here we are. Lindback started a remarkable 56 games and posted a 2.82 GAA, a .908 SV%, and a 1.93 Goals Saved Above Average (GSAA). At many points, he carried the Admirals.

@CudmoreColin

Despite Lindback’s incredible season, it looks like the organization will not re-sign him. On the other hand, this is a decent sign of the confidence they have in Miroslav Svoboda adjusting well to the AHL.

—---------------------------------------------------—

Matt O’Connor, 26, Wheeling Nailers

Positioning: 4.5

Reaction & Recovery: 4.5

AHL Ability: 3.0

NHL Potential: 2.0

3-Year Projection: Retired or no longer with organization

O’Connor was signed last summer to be a backup in Milwaukee and, let’s just say, that did not fair well. O’Connor started two games in Milwaukee and then bounced between Atlanta, Quad City, Manchester, Wichita and Wheeling in the ECHL. He finished the season with no stint below 3.00 GAA and only managed a plus-.900 SV% for one team - Manchester in two total games.

O’Connor, once a highly-coveted collegiate free agent has likely played himself out of pro hockey. The organization will not be bringing him back this summer.

—---------------------------------------------------—

Jake Paterson, 24, Allen Americans

Positioning: 5.0

Reaction & Recovery: 4.5

AHL Ability: 3.5

NHL Potential: 2.0

3-Year Projection: Retired or no longer with organization

Paterson was a Admirals’ signing last summer after posting one of the best seasons in the ECHL in 2016-17. Last year, he bounced a lot between the AHL and ECHL as the Admirals’ goaltending carousel was ever-moving but finished the season strong in 14 games with the Allen Americans.

Paterson has no impact on the Predators, but I could see the Admirals re-signing him as minor-league depth. Fun fact: in 2012, the Detroit Red Wings drafted Paterson ahead of Matt Murray and Frederik Anderson in the third round.

Eric Dunay

All statistics are courtesy of eliteprospects.com or Colin Cudmore. All contract information is courtesy of capfriendly.com.