Clarkson University goalie makes a save in the butterfly position.

Prospects

Preds Prospects Report: March — Part I

by
Eric D
April 7, 2023

Whether overseas or here in North America, every Nashville Predators prospect’s regular season has wrapped up (and some postseasons too). With the Frozen Four and CHL playoffs underway, I took a look at each player in the pipeline, what they accomplished this season, and where they’re headed for the 2023-24 campaign.

Nolan Burke (F)

Currently helping lead the Sarnia Sting in the OHL playoffs, Nolan Burke led all Preds prospects in scoring this season with 50 goals and 82 points in 56 games. The 20-year-old undrafted center will make the jump to the AHL next year with hopes of being a big piece of Milwaukee’s offense. He could join the Admirals for the playoffs, too, if Sarnia’s Memorial Cup hopes end early.

^{Originally tweeted by Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) on March 18, 2023.}

Alex Campbell (F)

Things will look different for Alex Campbell’s fourth year of NCAA hockey. The 2019 third-round pick entered the transfer portal after three years at Clarkson and is headed to Northeastern University next season. I like this move a lot. Campbell’s game began to plateau in the ECAC, and the Hockey East will be a serious enough challenge to help prove if he’s got an NHL future or not. I’ve been a big fan of the speedy winger, and he’ll join the Huskies looking to build on his 76 points in 93 career college games.

Semyon Chistyakov (D)

Two years after winning a KHL championship, Semyon Chistyakov and Avangard Omsk are once again chasing a title. Playing in the Eastern Conference final right now, Chistyakov chipped in five goals and 27 points in 58 games this year—his best offensive campaign to date. While Nashville pushed hard to sign him to an entry-level contract (as they did a few years ago), Chistyakov has ultimately decided to stay in Russia, signing a three-year contract extension with Omsk last month.

Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (F)

Playing alongside Alex Campbell at Northeastern next season will be Gunnarwolfe Fontaine. The junior set a career-high in goals (10) and points (30) this season in 35 games for the Huskies, but just 13 of his points were primary ones scored at even strength. He’ll be looking to play a dominant senior season in order to land an entry-level contract when his four years in college are up.

^{Originally tweeted by Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) on February 14, 2023.}

Ethan Haider (G)

Previously Alex Campbell’s teammate, Ethan Haider is currently in no man’s land. The junior goaltender—whose save percentage has declined each of the last two seasons—has entered the transfer portal but hasn’t decided on a landing spot. With Nashville’s pipeline thin in-net, there are plenty of reasons to sign Haider after his senior year. But the question remains: where will that be?

Adam Ingram (F)

Adam Ingram’s freshman season at St. Cloud State was uninspiring for the most part. He played mostly fourth-line minutes and only really got a chance to showcase his talent on the power play; just six of his 23 points in 41 games were primary ones scored at even strength. With much of their older core moving on, St. Cloud State will lean on Ingram much more next season, where improvements in his skating and puck strength will be expected.

Simon Knak (F)

Simon Knak posted a career year in the Swiss League with HC Davos, notching eight goals and 23 points in 50 games. When Davos was beleaguered by injuries and illness, Knak filled in well in the top six, recording a four- and three-game point streak. Knak signed a three-year extension with Davos in October, and he’ll look for an expanded offensive role in 2023-24.

^{Originally tweeted by Preds Prospects (@OnTheFuturePBR) on February 3, 2023.}

Kasper Kulonummi (D)

A rising star in Nashville’s pipeline, Kasper Kulonummi had one of the best seasons by a defender in U20 SM-sarja history. He finished the 2022-23 campaign with 11 goals and 43 points in 36 U20 games plus appeared in ten Finnish Liiga games. In the playoffs, Kulonummi added 12 points in 12 games on his way to a U20 SM-sarja championship with Tappara. Kulonummi has another year left on his contract, but Tappara has a stacked depth chart. If he can’t crack their Liiga top six, he could be on the move to another organization or to North America next year.

Zach L’Heureux (F)

L’Heureux didn’t make his season debut for the Halifax Mooseheads until Thanksgiving as he was recovering from an injury. But then he scorched the QMJHL with an unreal scoring pace, finishing with 21 goals and 42 points in 33 games. His regular season ended on a sour note with a ten-game suspension due to an altercation with a young fan; now, he’s tracking to get back on the saddle and be an impact player for the Mooseheads in the playoffs. Their Memorial Cup hopes may prevent him from joining the Admirals this spring, but he should be in Milwaukee next season.

^{Originally tweeted by Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) on February 3, 2023.}

Jack Matier (D)

Jack Matier had a career season for the Ottawa 67’s, recording 13 goals and 49 points in 58 games—leading all blueliners in Ottawa in both categories. He’ll be an important piece for the 67’s as they too look to make a run at the Memorial Cup. And next season, he’ll look to join a busy Milwaukee Admirals’ blue line.

Chase McLane (F)

Chase McLane’s junior year at Penn State is not what he hoped for. The 2020 seventh-round pick didn’t play until November due to injury and then was in and out of a deep Nittany Lion’s lineup. When he did see the ice, it was mostly in a fourth-line role. The 22-year-old will need a big senior season to prove he deserves an NHL deal.

Anton Olsson (D)

In his third full season in the SHL, Olsson continued to struggle in adjusting to the pro-level game. Skating as Skellefteå AIK’s sixth or seventh defender most nights, Olsson totaled three goals and seven points in 41 games, but he also earned a brief demotion to their U20 squad. Olsson has two more seasons to earn an entry-level contract, but there haven’t been enough improvements in his skating or hockey sense to justify that right now.