The Canadian Juniors
Returning for their second Development Camps, all five of the CHL players in this group were selected by Nashville at the 2023 NHL Draft.
Fresh off a Memorial Cup championship, fourth-round pick Joey Willis returns for his second Predators Development Camp this week. The 5-foot-10, 181-pound center served as alternate captain for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit this season and put up career highs in points (50), assists (36), plus-minus (+25) and game-winning goals (2).
First-round pick Tanner Molendyk (24th overall) served as alternate captain for the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades and established career highs in points (56), goals (10), assists (46), power-play goals (2) and plus-minus (+40), despite appearing in the fewest games since making his WHL debut in 2020-21.
Second-round pick Kalan Lind (46th overall) saw similar successes, serving as alternate captain for the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels and reaching career highs in points (45), assists (29) and power-play goals (10).
Aged out from competition in the WHL, sixth-round pick Austin Roest (175th overall) is poised to make his professional debut with Milwaukee this season. Roest will have his work cut out for him joining a loaded Admirals forward group, but if the production from his final junior season holds - the Everett Silvertips captain scored 71 points (38g-33a) in 61 games - he could fit right in.
The only other member of this group besides Willis not currently signed by the Predators, third-round pick Dylan MacKinnon (83rd overall) will also be at this week’s camp. Though his production is modest compared to a blueliner like Molendyk - he recorded 16 points (3g-13a) in 64 games - MacKinnon is still a capable, shutdown defenseman. Dealt from the Halifax Mooseheads to the Moncton Wildcats earlier this month, the change of scenery could prove positive for the young blueliner’s development.