As the NHL preseason winds down, several Nashville Predators prospects’ 2023-24 campaigns are well underway. Some of the Predators’ most recent draft class have taken the ice in their respective pro leagues, and other prospects in the pipeline are looking to solidify their spot at the top of their squads’ lineups.
Semyon Chistyakov
A year or so ago, it might have seemed like Semyon Chistyakov would be playing in North America this season. His KHL contract was expiring, and David Poile was courting him hard. But in March of this year, the 22-year-old defender signed a three-year extension with Avangard Omsk, ensuring he won’t sign with Nashville before 2026.
Chistyakov—who has a KHL title and 135 games of pro experience under his belt—has spoken about his desire to become a number-one defender in Russia, and he has a legitimate shot to do so. The 2019 fourth-round pick has been easing his way back into Omsk’s lineup after recovering from wrist surgery and was recently elevated to top-pair minutes. He’s scored one goal and three points in five games while still averaging just 14:32 of ice time per night.
Kasper Kulonummi
At just 19 years old, Kasper Kulonummi is now playing full-time in the Finnish Liiga. The 2022 third-round pick had a historic season in the U20 SM-sarja last year and has now been elevated to Tappara’s top squad. He potted two assists in four games during Tappara’s early season Champions Hockey League play and has since added one assist in eight games of league play. Don’t expect a major breakout campaign this year as he’s averaging just over 12 minutes of ice time per night, but this season should be a springboard to a top-four role in 2024-25 or an entry-level contract.
Kulonummi should also compete for a spot on Finland’s 2024 World Junior Championship (WJC) roster.
Anton Olsson
A year older than Kulonummi, Anton Olsson has begun another campaign with Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish league. I didn’t see much progression in his game last season when he played 41 contests for the parent club and four for Skellefteå’s U20 squad. It’s also clear to me that Skellefteå’s coaching staff doesn’t have the most confidence in Olsson either; he remains seventh on their blue line in ice time (by a wide margin) at under 11 minutes each night.
Nashville’s negotiating rights for Olsson don’t expire until June 2025, but this could be a make-or-break year for his development.
Vladislav Yeryomenko
Similar to Anton Olsson, Vladislav Yeryomenko is finding himself on the outside looking in. The 24-year-old defender is suiting up for his fifth season in the KHL and his second for Metallurg Magnitogorsk. After skating in a career-low 39 games last year, he’s appeared in just four games so far this year, registering one assist. In Metallurg’s ten other games, he’s been a scratch for the first-place team.
Yeryomenko likely won’t ever come back to North America or sign an entry-level deal with Nashville, and he’s probably close to his ceiling in the KHL as well.
Jesse Kiiskinen
Nashville’s 2023 third-round pick, Jesse Kiiskinen, has graduated to a full-time role in the Finnish Liiga, playing for a two-win Pelicans squad. The 6’0″ winger has been playing mostly bottom-six minutes, and you can tell he’s continuing to adjust to the pace of a pro league. While the tenacious winger—who’s recorded one assist in seven games—is gaining valuable experience, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him return to the U20 SM-sarja for some extra minutes this year.
Like Kulonummi, he’s expected to contend for a role on Finland’s WJC roster this winter too.
Felix Nilsson
Taken 25 spots before Kiiskinen, Felix Nilsson has bounced between the SHL and the J20 Nationell this year. He’s gone scoreless in six games for Rögle BK but has posted one goal and three points in three games for Rögle BK J20. The 18-year-old has primarily centered the senior team’s fourth line, and I expect he’ll continue appearing in U20 contests here and there to accumulate more ice time. As he looks to establish himself as a serious asset in the SHL, Nilsson will be playing for a WJC roster spot as well.
Simon Knak
Hitting the ice for his fourth season in Switzerland’s top professional league, Simon Knak is taking on a much bigger role for HC Davos. The 2021 sixth-round pick, who appeared in two games for the Milwaukee Admirals last year, is lining up as Davos’ top left winger and looking to build on the eight goals and 23 points he scored last year.
Through nine games, Knak has recorded five assists, including two primary ones scored at even strength. While he’s yet to find the back of the net, Knak’s offensive impact has been felt as he’s recorded a 25.16% relative goals-for rate in just over 125 minutes of even-strength ice time.
Knak is signed in Switzerland through the 2025-26 season.
Juha Jatkola
The newest goalie added to Nashville’s pipeline, Juha Jatkola is once again the starter for KalPa of the Finnish Liiga. After appearing in 40 games last regular season, Jatkola has seen the ice in six contests so far this year, and his results have been underwhelming. The 21-year-old netminder holds a 0.863 save percentage and has allowed 3.608 goals below average.
Jatkola has recorded a save percentage better than 0.900 in just two of his outings, but he also isn’t facing a ton of shots, averaging just 22.6 shots per contest. I’m not concerned about this sluggish start to the year, but Jatkola will certainly not want to yield more starts to his backup Stefanos Lekkas.
Konstantin Volkov
After a stunning 2022-23 campaign where he recorded a 0.928 save percentage and five shutouts in 31 games, Konstantin Volkov is back to his old tricks with Dynamo Moscow. In four contests this year, Volkov has already notched one shutout and a 0.936 save percentage and hasn’t lost. His 0.750 goals saved above average (GSAA) doesn’t sound impressive, but that’s relative to a 0.930 average save percentage, which will certainly come down as the season progresses.
He’s now competing with both Ilya Konovalov and rookie Maxim Motorygin for the net, so Volkov might not get as many starts this year; but the 26-year-old’s career resurgence looks legitimate.
Nashville Spartans
The Nashville Spartans are a junior hockey organization that competes in the USPHL, considered one of the top leagues in North America for NCAA college prospects. Go here to buy tickets to the next home game: https://www.nashvillespartanshockey.com/tickets
