Tomasino, Farrance Continue to Prove Themselves During Preds Rookie Camp

NHL Rookie Camp can often pose a simple agenda - help prospects develop their skills. But for defenseman David Farrance and centerman Philip Tomasino, the Predators 2021 Rookie Camp is a platform to prove that their skills are NHL-ready.
Farrance and Tomasino are two of many promising prospects competing for Milwaukee Admirals Head Coach Karl Taylor this weekend at the NHL Prospect Showcase in Tampa, Florida, and both boast a chance to contribute at the NHL level in Nashville this season.
With a number of young Predators prospects headed to Tampa - including 2021 first-round pick Zachary L'Heureux - Farrance and Tomasino bring a bit of experience to the group. Following a pair of practices in Nashville, Taylor and his squad will play games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, and these two players in particular will be heavily relied upon.

"I do have the experience… I guess I can use that experience] to my advantage," Farrance said after Thursday's opening practice. "I'm just trying to be a leader, lead by example, try to show some of the younger guys or new guys if they have any questions."
It's been well-documented Farrance has a chance to make his first Opening-Night NHL roster this season. The former Boston University defenseman is coming off of a 2020-21 campaign in which he received a
[call-up
in early April, playing in two games while registering four shots for the Predators. He is one of just two players on the rookie team with NHL experience, but has plenty more to give this upcoming season.
After receiving his first two chances with the club last year, Farrance will now be thrown back into the spotlight this weekend as one of the team's top players. But, this is a role he is all too familiar with after starring for Boston University last year and logging an NCAA defenseman-leading 1.45 points-per-game as a senior. Now, will be looking to make a similar impact for the Predators rookie team this weekend in Tampa.

"I'm just looking forward to playing hockey again, it's been a while and it should be a good couple of games," Farrance said. "I'm] just trying to play my game and produce a few points or whatever it may be - kill penalties, whatever they really need from me. I'm looking forward to the opportunity, I think it's a good opportunity to get going for main camp as well. It's a really good step for me."
Rookie Camp will also be a significant stepping stone for Tomasino, who, while drafted two years after Farrance, also owns a chance to compete at the pro level this season. The Preds' 2019 first-round pick will get his first shot at Rookie Camp this weekend after the event was cancelled last year due to COVID-19.
"It was awesome just to meet a lot of new faces here. It's cool to be back in the groove of things," Tomasino said after day one of practice. "It was really fun, and that was a hard first day out there today, but I'm looking forward to this weekend."
Tomasino looked the part of a leader at Thursday's opening practice, vocally zipping around the ice and demonstrating his competitive nature in each and every drill - something Taylor hopes is on display through the duration of main training camp as well.
"He has a competitive nature," Taylor said of Tomasino on the
[Preds Official Podcast
. "Outside of all the offensive talent and all the things he brings to the game daily, [his competitive side] was something I noticed that was a little bit different that will accelerate his growth."
After his former home - the Ontario Hockey League - postponed their season due to the pandemic in 2020-21, the Mississauga, Ontario, native competed in the American Hockey League with the Chicago Wolves. Tomasino immediately stood out, totaling a team-leading 32 points in 29 games. Following that season, Preds Development Camp and the first days of Rookie Camp, he is ready to break out in the Showcase and demonstrate that he is ready for pro camp.

"In terms of Rookie Camp, I'm trying to be the best teammate and best player I can be. Being one of the older guys here, it's going to be fun and I think we have a really good team. I'm looking forward to that challenge," Tomasino said. "I think this is a great step into main] camp for a lot of us, especially myself."
Tomasino will certainly have winning on his mind this weekend, as does Taylor and the rest of the Preds rookie team. But he will also have a greater perspective on his conscience. With main training camp on the horizon and his aspirations to make the pro roster at an all-time high, he will be looking to show that he brings a varied skill set to the table.
"[My goal is] to win all three games. That's everyone's goal here, we have talked about that. But for myself I think just being the best player and teammate I can be [is my goal]," Tomasino said. "Be a guy that you can count on everywhere on the ice, whether that's in the defensive zone to win a faceoff or to score, just to do different things. That's something I want to be on the Preds this season as well, so that's definitely my mentality, and I'm looking forward to it for sure."
Farrance and Tomasino's shot at the NHL may come this season, but they are just two of many names to watch this coming weekend as the Predators' rookie team begins the Showcase. Expect both players to put their skills on full display starting with the Predators'
[opener
at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday against Tampa Bay.