3 Ex-Predators Defensive Draft Picks Primed for Key Playoff Roles

The Nashville Predators are known as an organization that drafts defensemen very well and they have for a long time. Whether these d-men are still on the team, playing for playoff or non-playoff teams, or even retired, their impact has been felt around the league.

It isn't realistic to think that the Predators would have been able to keep every one of the talented defenders that they've drafted over the years. So heading into the 2024 playoffs, there are three defensemen drafted by Nashville that are currently playing for not only playoff teams, but Stanley Cup contenders. This includes Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Suter, and Sam Girard.

Mattias Ekholm

The most impactful of the three is Ekholm. That's where we'll start. He was the d-man of the group most recently moved in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers at the 2023 trade deadline. The Predators didn't appear like they were going to make the playoffs, so there was some selling going on before the deadline last season. The defense is pretty crowded and the Predators did get the value of two first round picks and more back from the Oilers, but right now Ekholm is the star of that deal.

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He leads the NHL with a +72 since the trade last season and is playing incredibly well all over the ice. He has turned back the clock offensively about five years, but retained all of the knowledge of a big shutdown number one d-man that he is. Ekholm and Bouchard have assumed the top pairing for the Oilers and are dominant shift after shift when those two are on the ice together.

The Oilers wouldn't be where they are without the Swede and Nashville might have the misfortune of facing him and Edmonton in the second round if both teams advance. Ekholm was a massive steal in the fourth round of the 2009 draft by the Predators.

Ryan Suter

Suter is now 39 years old and in his 19th season in the NHL. He is still contributing to his team, the Dallas Stars, even though his role has shrunk as he's aged even more. At a point in his career, Suter received Norris Trophy votes in 10 consecutive seasons from age 25 to 34. Now, on one of the Stanley Cup favourites this season, he is a third pairing defenseman.

He still has an important role to play though as he logs 19 minutes of ice time per game still and is a great mentor to the 23-year-old Nils Lundkvist beside him. Suter still blocks shots, plays physically, and kills penalties. The Stars are considered a very deep team this season, and with a player like this as the fifth/sixth defenseman on the team, it's clear why.

After seven years in Nashville, Suter signed a massive 13-year deal with the Minnesota Wild that he was eventually bought out from. Dallas, jumping at opportunities to sign players with something to prove, has benefited from the acquisition for the last three seasons. He was drafted seventh overall all the way back in 2003 by the Predators.

Sam Girard

Sam Girard was the most recent player of the three selected by the Predators in the draft, getting picked in the second round in 2016. He was moved just five games into his rookie season in the NHL at age 19 and has been a key member of the Colorado Avalanche ever since.

This was not a good trade for the Predators by any means and Girard's role on the Avalanche for the past seven seasons shows just what Nashville lost in a talented and quick young defenseman. At the same time, it also continued to show the scouting and development the Predators had in the organization. It also showed the hope that players like Girard would continue to emerge as they have to fill the roster.

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Unfortunately Girard suffered a concussion a week ago and is ruled out for now. But with that type of injury, timetables are very unpredictable. The Avalanche could really use him back in the lineup because when the group is healthy, the back-end is arguably the best in the league.

There is a good chance that the Predators meet 2/3 of these former defensemen in the playoffs this season. The Predators are not going to stop churning out NHLers that can make an impact like these defensemen and their impact continues to be felt around the league.

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