Nilsson signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on Friday. Nilsson had 14 goals, 40 points and 14 PIM in 52 regular-season outings in 2025-26 with Rogle BK of the Swedish Hockey League. The 20-year-old was selected with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Nilsson might benefit from starting 2026-27 in the minors to focus on his development, but he should at least be a legitimate contender for an Opening Night roster spot with the Predators.
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Updated 3 weeks ago
| CENTERS | Shoots | HT | WT | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tyson Jost 17
|
L | 5'11" | 187 | 27 |
Jonathan Marchessault 81
|
R | 5'9" | 185 | 35 |
Ryan O'Reilly 90
|
L | 6'1" | 207 | 34 |
Steven Stamkos 91
|
R | 6'1" | 193 | 35 |
Fedor Svechkov 40
|
L | 6'0" | 187 | 22 |
| LEFT WINGS | Shoots | HT | WT | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Bunting 58
|
L | 6'0" | 186 | 30 |
Filip Forsberg 9
|
R | 6'1" | 205 | 31 |
Erik Haula 56
|
L | 5'11" | 191 | 34 |
|
Reid Schaefer 49
|
L | 6'5" | 226 | 22 |
Cole Smith 36
IR
|
L | 6'3" | 195 | 30 |
Jakub Vrana 19
|
L | 6'0" | 190 | 29 |
| RIGHT WINGS | Shoots | HT | WT | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Luke Evangelista 77
|
R | 6'0" | 183 | 23 |
Michael McCarron 47
|
R | 6'6" | 232 | 30 |
Ozzy Wiesblatt 89
IR
|
R | 5'10" | 183 | 23 |
|
Matthew Wood 71
|
R | 6'4" | 202 | 20 |
| DEFENSE | Shoots | HT | WT | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Justin Barron 20
|
R | 6'2" | 198 | 24 |
Nick Blankenburg 37
|
R | 5'9" | 177 | 27 |
Nicolas Hague 41
|
L | 6'6" | 245 | 27 |
Roman Josi 59
|
L | 6'1" | 201 | 35 |
Nick Perbix 48
|
R | 6'4" | 206 | 27 |
Brady Skjei 76
|
L | 6'3" | 210 | 31 |
Adam Wilsby 83
|
L | 6'1" | 188 | 25 |
| GOALIES | Shoots | HT | WT | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Justus Annunen 29
|
L | 6'4" | 210 | 25 |
Juuse Saros 74
|
L | 5'11" | 180 | 30 |
Nilsson signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on Friday. Nilsson had 14 goals, 40 points and 14 PIM in 52 regular-season outings in 2025-26 with Rogle BK of the Swedish Hockey League. The 20-year-old was selected with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Nilsson might benefit from starting 2026-27 in the minors to focus on his development, but he should at least be a legitimate contender for an Opening Night roster spot with the Predators.
O'Hara posted an assist and two hits in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Ducks. O'Hara saw 11:23 of ice time in his NHL debut, and he helped out on a Steven Stamkos tally in the first period. This was the season finale for the Predators, so expect O'Hara to be back with AHL Milwaukee for the tail end of that team's regular season as well as a playoff run. The 23-year-old should be in competition for NHL minutes in 2026-27.
Ufko bagged two apples in Thursday's 5-4 loss to Anaheim. Ufko finished the season with back-to-back two-assist games. He impressed in 18 NHL games this season. He scored two goals and added nine assists in that span. Ufko also delivered 11 goals and 33 assists in 50 games with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals this season. He's a name worth remembering for next season.
Evangelista had two assists in a 5-4 loss to the Ducks on Thursday. Evangelista finished the season on a three-game, five-point scoring streak (two goals, three assists). He put up 56 points, including 44 helpers, in 81 games, and he established career marks in assists, points (56), power-play points (17) and shots (176). Evangelista finished the season on the top power-play unit, a role that he could reprise to start next season.
Forsberg scored twice Thursday in a 5-4 loss to the Ducks. Forsberg fired six shots Thursday, and one of the goals came on the power play. He finished with 40 goals, 35 assists, 26 power-play points (11 PPG), 124 hits and 246 shots. This was the third time in the last five seasons that Forsberg hit the 40-goal plateau.
Stamkos scored twice and added an assist in Thursday's 5-4 loss to Anaheim. Stammer finished the season with 42 goals and 24 assists. He was especially effective on Thursday nights, with 14 of his snipes coming on that day of the week. Stamkos' 42 goals were his best total since 2021-22 in Tampa Bay. That's when he finished with his one and only triple-digit point total (106). At 36, Stamkos will eventually go through an age-related decline, but so far, his sniping hasn't failed him. The Preds failed to reach the postseason, so Stammer will get plenty of rest this summer to be ready for 2026-27.
Saros made 35 saves in a 5-4 loss to Anaheim on Thursday. Yes, Saros has had the worst stats of his career this year, but there are only so many miracles that a strong goalie can invoke in front of a team defense as abysmal as the Preds showed this season. He finished 28-21-8 with a 3.13 GAA and .894 save percentage. But those aren't that bad in an era when ".900 is the new .915 or .920", according to fellow netminder, Darcy Kuemper. Saros will get the rest he needs over the summer. Here's hoping the Preds get what they need to tighten things up in front of him for 2026-27.
Marchessault (undisclosed) won't play Thursday versus the Ducks, Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean reports. Marchessault will miss the last game of the season. He ends the campaign with just 31 points and 132 shots on net over 62 appearances. It's his fewest games played in a full-length season since 2015-16, so it's possible he's been playing through something. He also missed 14 contests earlier in the campaign due to a lower-body issue.