Preds Prospect Report: Prokop and Matier's Hot Start & Del Gaizo's Debut

With November now underway, a pair of Predators defensive prospects have each gotten off to a good start with Nashville’s newest ECHL affiliate, the Atlanta Gladiators.

After six games with Atlanta, Luke Prokop and Jack Matier have each tallied four points, with Prokop recording one goal and three assists and Matier the inverse. Both blueliners are currently +5 on the young season.

Matier, who’s skating in his first professional campaign this year, additionally recorded the first multi-goal and multi-point game of his ECHL career on Sunday against the South Carolina Stingrays, scoring twice in the third period to hand his club the 4-2 win.

Prokop, on the other hand, recorded all four of his points during a three-game point streak from Sunday, Oct. 29 to Friday, Nov. 3.

Both Matier and Prokop are currently projected to conclude their seasons with 36 points in 72 games.

Preds fans can track both blueliners’ seasons - as well as offensive prospect Nolan Burke’s - through the Atlanta Gladiators website or social media channels, or by purchasing a FloHockey streaming subscription.

Del Gaizo’s Dream Come True

On Saturday, Predators defensive prospect Marc Del Gaizo took to the ice for his long-awaited National Hockey League debut against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.

After two games, Del Gaizo now has as many points under his belt - recording the first of his NHL career on a Filip Forsberg tally against Edmonton and the second two nights later on Michael McCarron’s game-opener against the Calgary Flames.

“Since being in training camp, I've kind of had that chip on my shoulder,” he said to Predators Beat Reporter Emma Lingan. “I’ve played one game here; that's great and all, but I definitely want to stick around for as long as I can and prove that I can play here.”

Click here to read Del Gaizo’s thoughts on his NHL debut.

And click here to read the latest Predators prospect report.