NEWARK, N.J. As the Predators try to retool their identity, they went back to their usual method of drafting players who they consider hard to play against.
“A little bit of underdog guys, but they’re really hard guys,” general manager David Poile said of his 10 picks. “This is one of the things we were trying to do in the draft is get a little more bite to our game with some of these guys.”
You can find the full list of Predators draft picks here.
Outside of the first-round pick, defenseman Seth Jones, the rest of Nashville’s draft didn’t appear high in skill or scoring. But the Predators believed they added the necessary size and grit. Overall the 2013 draft class was considered by many to be the NHL’s best since 2003.
Nashville’s desire to add size was none more evident than its second pick (64th overall), Jonathan-Ismael Diaby, a 6-foot-5, 223-pound bruiser from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
“Diaby was a huge, huge player. Along with Seth Jones and him, that’s two of the bigger players, and that’s certainly what we wanted to accomplish,” Poile said.
Felix Girard, a center the Predators took in the fourth round (95th overall), had been through the draft once before.
“He went back to junior, and he’s really a hard player. And that’s one of those things we talked about was just a hardworking guy,” Poile said.
Poile seemed to be quite high on Nashville’s second fourth round pick, goaltender Juuse Saros (99th overall), who was the top rated European goaltender available according to the NHL’s central scouting.
“A lot of people from the outside come to me and say, ‘this guy is an unbelievable athlete with what he can do,’ ” Poile said.
Jones on right: Predators coach Barry Trotz pumped the brakes on the idea that Jones could be paired with Shea Weber next season.
After Nashville drafted Jones, a Predators spokesman tweeted that Trotz said at the draft table, “He is playing with Weber.”
Following the draft, Trotz pointed out a major hurdle in this plan — both play the right side.
“They’re right handed shots, so it’s not running very high in my mind,” he said.
Later Trotz added that he could put the two together at training camp, “Just for the experience factor.”
Kostitsyn almost gone: Poile said forward Sergei Kostitsyn continues to negotiate with Avangard Omsk of the KHL in Russia.
If Kostitsyn, who still has one year left on his Nashville contract is successful in bolting the NHL, then the Predators will loan him to the KHL, Poile has said.
In that case, according to Poile, Nashville won’t have to pay Kostitsyn his $3 million salary, but it will be on the hook for his salary cap hit.
Halischuk, Blum upate: Poile said he was trying to work out trades with forward Matt Halischuk and defenseman Jonathon Blum. If he couldn’t figure out a deal for either, he said he will decide whether to send the pending restricted free agents qualifying offers, which would need to be tendered by July 2.
Mueller, Yip gone: Pending unrestricted free agent forwards Brandon Yip and Chris Mueller won’t be back with the team next year, according to Poile.
