Preds Rookie Camp: What to Watch For

Before the likes of Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi and Pekka Rinne report to Nashville in less than a week's time, those trying to become household names themselves get their chance to shine.
Predators Rookie Camp is officially underway in Music City, with
22 participants
taking the ice and hoping to catch the watchful eyes of those who make the personnel decisions in Nashville.
Each and every skater has been here before, whether through past rookie camps, development camps, or a combination of the two. They all have slightly different backgrounds, but they all arrive with the same goal - to one day call Bridgestone Arena their home rink.

Milwaukee Admirals Head Coach Karl Taylor and his staff will lead the group in Nashville before jetting off to Florida on Friday to participate in the 2018 NHL Prospects Showcase in the city of Estero on the Gulf Coast. The rookies will skate in three games - one against their counterparts from the Tampa Bay Lightning, two more against the Washington Capitals - before returning back to Nashville for the start of training camp next week.
Of course, anyone has the potential to impress over the coming days, but here are a few names to keep in mind - not only through the three contests in the Sunshine State, but also when the potential to log preseason games arrives in due time.

Eeli Tolvanen - Forward
Naming Tolvanen as one to watch is perhaps too easy, but for a player with the potential to make Nashville's Opening Night roster in less than a month, he deserves the attention.
The most highly touted prospect in the Preds organization, Tolvanen got his first taste of NHL action last spring when he skated in three games. That debut came after he set virtually every rookie record in the KHL last season, along with representing Finland at the 2018 Winter Olympics. A solid showing this weekend in Florida could go a long way in bumping his stock even higher before main camp opens.

Emil Pettersson - Forward
After inking a two-year, entry-level contract with the Preds in May of 2017, the 2013, sixth-round selection made his North American debut with the Milwaukee Admirals last season. All Pettersson did was post 13 goals and 46 points, good enough to lead the team in scoring.
The 24-year-old centerman is the second-oldest player on the Predators Rookie Camp roster and is someone who could find his way onto a shortlist for potential forward call-ups to Nashville if the opportunity presents itself.

Zach Magwood - Forward
An invitee to Nashville's development camp last June, Magwood potted a hat trick during the Future Stars game to conclude the week and earned himself a three-year, entry-level contract just days after the fact.
The forward finished fourth on the Ontario Hockey League's Barrie Colts in points last season with 59, setting career highs in games played (65), goals (27), assists (32), points and plus-minus (+27) at the OHL level. Magwood certainly made the most of his first opportunity in Gold - so how will he follow that up this weekend in Florida?
Alexandre Carrier - Defenseman
One of just two players at camp with NHL experience, Carrier remains one of the top defensive prospects in the organization. A fourth-round pick in 2015, the 21-year-old completed his second professional season with Milwaukee in 2017-18, leading all blueliners in scoring with 28 points to his name. Carrier made his NHL debut with the Preds in January of 2017, skating in two games during a trip to Western Canada.

Niclas Westerholm / Miroslav Svoboda - Goaltenders
So, the list has now jumped from five to six, but both netminders at camp are worth a mention. Westerholm and Svoboda both inked entry-level contracts last spring and are in line to make their North American professional debuts this season.
Westerholm made his pro debut with SaiPa of the Finnish Elite League last season, while Svoboda led the Czech Republic's Extraliga with 33 wins in 2017-18, helping HC Plzen record a league-leading 107 points during the regular season. If one of them is able to win the starting job with Milwaukee this season, they would instantly become the first recall option at the position if needed in Nashville.