Top Players to Watch at Predators Training Camp

The wait for Preds hockey is almost over.
Nashville Predators training camp, presented by Vanderbilt Health, kicks off on Wednesday, bringing both excitement and intrigue about the Predators rosters. With a
new face in the top six
, a
deep goaltending crop
and a
defensive shake-up
, there are plenty of storylines to keep an eye on throughout the preseason. Before camp begins, here's a look at some of the most interesting players to watch in Smashville.

Alexandre Carrier, RD
One of the most exciting storylines of the 2021-22 Predators season was the emergence of defenseman Alexandre Carrier. In addition to earning a spot on the 2021-22 NHL All-Rookie Team, the 25-year-old quickly cemented himself as
an integral piece of the Preds future
during his first full NHL season. There is a lot to like about Carrier's game - he defends the net fearlessly and finished last season with 124 blocked shots - the third-most among NHL rookies and just nine behind team captain and Norris Trophy finalist Roman Josi. He demonstrated a strong ability to drive play offensively from the blueline and became a reliable contributor on both the power play and the penalty kill. Carrier has arguably the highest ceiling of any of the Preds young defenders; if he can carry over the momentum from his breakthrough 2021-22 season, he could be primed to take on an even bigger role in 2022-23.
Dante Fabbro, RD
Carrier isn't the only young defenseman who will be battling for a spot in the top four during training camp. While Dante Fabbro was thrust into a top-four role early in his career and has yet to have the true "breakout" season that many expected from him, he is a reliable, disciplined defender who has
typically played opposite Josi on the top defensive pair
over the previous four seasons. Fabbro is entering the final year of his contract and set to become a restricted free agent at season's end, making him a prime candidate for a breakthrough season. With Carrier's emergence and the arrival of veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh, Fabbro will need to play less conservatively in his own end and demonstrate more offensive playmaking ability in order to have a real shot at remaining in the Predators top four. At just 24 years old, he has plenty of potential and is still capable of boosting his stock in 2022-23.
Tanner Jeannot, RW
After an
impactful rookie season
in 2021-22, Tanner Jeannot will be an interesting player to watch heading into this year. He led all NHL rookies last season with 24 goals scored, and he did it while averaging fewer than 16 minutes per game. He was also solid defensively on the penalty kill, with nearly one-sixth of his total ice time spent shorthanded. However, this only benefits the team if Jeannot can stay out of the penalty box himself; he racked up 130 regular-season PIM last year, which is less than ideal for one of the Predators' most reliable penalty killers. Jeannot finished the 2021-22 season with a 12-game scoring drought, but his undeniable talent over the course of the full season indicates that this won't be a sign of things to come.
Jeremy Lauzon, LD
Jeremy Lauzon came to Nashville in March via trade from the Seattle Kraken and quickly proved his value to the team in 13 critical games down the stretch. His size and physicality fit in well with the Preds identity under head coach John Hynes, prompting the team to ink the 25-year-old to a four-year, $8 million contract extension in June. Lauzon played a limited role on Nashville's third pair last season, but the signing indicates that the Preds are relying on him to take on a bigger role this season and provide a solution to defensive depth. Lauzon isn't known for generating offense (5g, 13a over 124 NHL games), and his penchant for penalty-taking contributed to the Predators' league-high 1,035 PIM last season, so discipline and offensive production are two potential areas for improvement. As he enters his first full season with Nashville, Lauzon will have more opportunities to familiarize himself with his teammates and the Preds systems, which will hopefully help him become a more confident, reliable defender.
Cody Glass, C
Cody Glass, whom the Preds acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights last summer,
spent much of 2021-22 with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals
. He tallied 62 points (14g, 48a) with Milwaukee before joining the Predators at the end of the season. He notched only one assist in eight regular-season games with the Predators and skated in two of their four playoff games. The Preds re-signed Glass to a one-year, two-way contract in June and are still hoping to see his minor-league success pay off at the NHL level. Glass has spent much of the summer skating with the Predators veterans, which should help improve both his skills and his confidence heading into camp as he looks to secure a spot on Nashville's opening night roster.
Yakov Trenin, LW
The Predators inked Yakov Trenin to a
two-year, $3.4 million contract
in early August after the winger set several career highs in 2021-22, including games played (80); goals (17); assists (7); points (24), plus-minus (+7); blocked shots (33); and hits (191). He joined Jeannot as one of just six NHL players to record at least 191 hits and 17 goals last season, and he scored three goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, tying Matt Duchene for the team lead. With five goals in 10 career playoff games, Trenin will be an integral part of the Predators quest for a ninth-straight postseason appearance.The 2022-23 season will be an important test for Trenin, who hit his stride in 2021-22 as a member of the hard-hitting "Herd" line alongside Jeannot and Colton Sissons and will look to match - and improve upon - his success from last year.
Kevin Lankinen, G
The Preds added Kevin Lankinen, another young Finnish netminder, to an already-deep goaltending field behind starter Juuse Saros this summer. Lankinen has shown flashes of greatness
on the international stage
but has yet to establish consistency at the NHL level; so, consider this his opportunity. If he gets enough reps and impresses at training camp, he could have the potential to serve as a primary backup to Saros. Lankinen, who spent the previous four seasons in the Chicago Blackhawks organization, will also have the benefit of defending the net behind Nashville's elite defense corps, which should help him gain more confidence as he looks to establish himself at the NHL level. Saros is still No. 1 in net; but as long as Lankinen can prove to be a reliable backup, the Predators crease will be in good hands.