Who Does Zachary L'Heureux Replace on the Predators Next Season?

Zachary L'Heureux is having himself a stellar rookie season in the AHL for the Milwaukee Admirals. After an impressive regular season, he has picked up his play to an even higher level in the playoffs.

The 21-year-old is leading the AHL playoffs in goals with 10 and points with 15 in just 14 games. L'Heureux finished second on the team in goals (19) and points (48) to only Egor Afanasyev.

There will be a lot of discussions as to which prospects might be traded this summer for an upgrade and who deserves to be on the Nashville Predators next season. With the play of L'Heureux, there becomes less and less doubt that he should have a spot in the NHL next season in a third line role or higher.

This is where it gets complicated for Nashville. L'Heureux has done so well so early on that he has seemingly jumped the line. The AHL rookie still has two more years before he can't be called up and sent down freely. As for prospects like Afanasyev, Philip Tomasino, and Juuso Parssinen, all three now require waivers starting next season. Logically, there just isn't enough space for everyone.

Related: Predators Have to Move or Lose One of Tomasino, Parssinen, or Afanasyev

The Predators' first instinct might be to give a better opportunity to the young players who could be lost through waivers if they don't make the team. But Barry Trotz and company should and will likely be leaning towards the decisions that make the Predators the best they can be come next season.

If a younger player still on his entry-level deal and ineligible for waivers has stepped up and made roster decisions tough come training camp, that is a good thing. If there weren't already plans to make a trade and move one of Afanasyev, Tomasino, or Parssinen, L'Heureux's play might push the envelope.

Who's Out If L'Heureux Is In?

So let's assume that L'Heureux does make the Predators out of training camp next season. Who is pushed out? I'm set on the coming decision by Nashville that one of the three prospects mentioned above will be traded this summer. That doesn't mean that there will be any more spaces freed up though as I imagine one would be part of a package for a top-6 forward or even an impactful defensive upgrade.

Liam Foudy and Jaret Anderson-Dolan would both probably be out of an NHL job with the Predators. That is if either are qualified as they are both RFAs and didn't do very much with Nashville this season.

There are three notable UFA forwards - Jason Zucker, Anthony Beauvillier, and Kiefer Sherwood. It's impossible to picture more than one returning if a spot might be taken by L'Heureux. From potential everyday players, Cole Smith and Cody Glass would also be on the fence. Either could be pushed to a healthy scratch more often than not or right out of the NHL with their spots taken.

With all of the money the Predators have, there will have to be a few major moves made this summer, the first coming at or right before the 2024 draft. I don't expect all of the free cap space to be filled, but as a team coming off a playoff appearance with time winding down on Roman Josi's impact and potentially Juuse Saros' time with the team, Nashville has to make steps forward to get even better.

Having more than enough players to choose from is a good problem to have, but a problem that has to be dealt with this summer and in training camp nonetheless. L'Heureux has almost arrived in a big way and he's only going to keep getting better.

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