Grading the Organizational Depth Additions of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators stole the spotlight in free agency by signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Skjei, re-signing Alexandre Carrier, and extending Juuse Saros, but the team also made minor moves that shored up their organizational depth. These signings didn't make waves, but are necessary with other players moving on to keep a strong system and AHL team in place.

There have been five organizational depth players signed in the offseason thus far who weren't in the system prior. This includes Kieffer Bellows, Vinnie Hinostroza, Jake Lucchini, Nick Blankenburg, Matt Murray. They will be given a grade based on impact each should have in the organization and more importantly in the AHL in 2024-25.

Kieffer Bellows - A

Bellows is a former first-round pick from 2016, but is now past his time to show any form of breakout as there won't be very many more opportunities for the 26-year-old. He may only have 95 games played in the NHL in his career, but he isn't expected to start or spend time with the Predators next season. He was very effective in the AHL last season for the Toronto Marlies, scoring 27 goals and 49 points in 52 games. He still has a little potential and is still fighting for an opportunity in the NHL, giving him that extra drive to succeed.

Related: Do Nashville Predators Offer Kieffer Bellows Final Breakthrough Opportunity or is it Too Late?

Vinnie Hinostroza - B+

Hinostroza is a little bit on the older side, but the Predators know exactly what they are getting with the 30-year-old winger. He has a good amount of NHL experience in that he can easily be one of the first callups to the NHL if the injury bug strikes Nashville.

Hinostroza has 54 goals and 151 points in 374 games in his career, spending four straight seasons between 2018 and 2022 in the NHL. He split time between the NHL and AHL last season, recording 16 goals and 35 points in 42 games with Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and one goal and three points in 14 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He should be one of, if not the first player called up to fill in on the fourth line as needed. If there's a need for players from the AHL to be called up later in the season, experience will play a factor.

Jake Lucchini - B

Jake Lucchini is more of a career AHLer, but seemed to have recently broken through in his late 20s. He will be nothing more than a fourth line player and won't make the Predators out of training camp, but similar to Hinostroza, should be one of the first called up if bodies are needed.

Lucchini played 40 games for the Minnesota Wild last season, scoring just two goals and recording five points, but scored 11 goals and 23 points in 30 AHL games with the Iowa Wild. He was a very productive AHL player for his two seasons in the Ottawa Senators organization before heading to Minnesota, but he should only have an impact with the Milwaukee Admirals next season.

Nick Blankenburg - A

Next season will only be Nick Blankenburg's third out of university and he has the potential to still make his way into the NHL. The 26-year-old is still relatively young for a d-man and when he has played games in the NHL, he has been solid enough. Nashville's d-core is strong and deep, but the RD could easily work his way into being the first callup.

Blankenburg should be a top defenseman in the AHL and even scored four goals and 14 points in 36 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022-23. Considering his potential and what he has shown so far in his professional career, he should really shore up the back-end in Nashville's organization for two years.

Matt Murray - B+

The Predators locked in their starter Saros for eight more years and Scott Wedgewood signed for two years. After that, Yaroslav Askarov will get the best look as long as he is with the organization, which might not be long. If he is traded before the end of next season, the signing of Matt Murray is going to look very good. But if Askarov sticks around throughout the season, bringing in Murray as organizational depth in net is not a bad thing at all.

Murray is 26 years old and has played four games for the Dallas Stars over the past two seasons. His numbers aren't incredible in the AHL, finishing last season with a .896 SV% in 31 games and .911 SV% in 34 games the season prior out of university, but he doesn't lack value in the Predators organization now. Murray may not see any NHL time next season, but will be a good number two in the AHL or fallback option if Askarov is moved.

Barry Trotz did amazing work all around this offseason and even if it doesn't pay off immediately, it should eventually. The Predators organization is looking taken care of at every level.

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