Nashville, Tenn. (July 26, 2021) - Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the team has signed defenseman Frederic Allard to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the AHL level for the 2021-22 season.

The big stage and bright lights were absent again this year, but for the six players who were selected by the Predators in the 2021 NHL Draft, dreams still came true.

After Nashville added a pair of prospects - forwards Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux - in Round 1 of the Draft on Friday night, the Preds spent Saturday making four more picks over the final six rounds to complete the weekend with three additional forwards and three new defensemen in the system.

A virtual setting that saw Nashville's European scouts remain overseas instead of inside the Draft room at Bridgestone Arena, and considering the challenges brought on by the pandemic that made scouting players over the past year tougher than ever, the Preds were more than satisfied with their haul by the time the final pick had been made.

Nashville, Tenn. (July 24, 2021) - The Nashville Predators made six selections in the 2021 NHL Draft from the team's draft headquarters at Bridgestone Arena, taking three forwards and three defensemen.

"We were very pleased with the way this year's draft went," Predators Assistant General Manager/Director of Scouting Jeff Kealty said. "Before the draft we tried to implement a strategy and go into it with that in mind, and we felt we did that. We're very excited about everyone we picked."

The draft's first night saw the Predators take two players in the first round for just the second time in franchise history and the first time since 2008.

The Predators entered the night knowing they were going to add one elite player to their organization, but by the time Round 1 of the 2021 NHL Draft was complete, Nashville had a pair of top prospects.

Friday evening saw the Preds select Russian center Fedor Svechkov with pick No. 19 in the Draft, and before the first round was out, Nashville had completed a trade to snag forward Zachary L'Heureux at No. 27 by sending picks 40 and 51 in this year's Draft to Carolina.

The deal was worth it for the Preds, and for just the second time in franchise history, Nashville ended the opening night of the Draft with a pair of first rounders as the infusion of youth into the organization continues.

Nashville, Tenn. (July 23, 2021) - The Nashville Predators made two selections in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft on Friday from the team's draft headquarters at Bridgestone Arena, taking forward Fedor Svechkov with the 19th overall pick and forward Zachary L'Heureux with the 27th overall pick. L'Heureux was selected after Nashville acquired the 27th overall pick from the Carolina Hurricanes for the 40th and 51st overall picks in this year's draft.

"It's always exciting to get the players you wanted to get," Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile said. "I like where we're going with our younger forwards. With Svechkov and L'Heureux, in addition to Philip Tomasino, Egor Afanasyev, Luke Evangelista, Eeli Tolvanen, Tanner Jeannot, Mathieu Olivier and Cody Glass, I think we are heading in the right direction with where I'd like to go with our forward group."

Add the 2021 NHL Draft to the list of things that have never been done quite like this before.

The Predators are currently scheduled to make eight selections over the two-day event, which begins with the first round on Friday night at 7 p.m. CT, and Nashville's brass has been finalizing their lists this week to determine exactly who they'd like to take with pick No. 19 and beyond.

Yes, the virtual format the Predators and the rest of the NHL dealt with last year remains the same - Preds scouts and management will make their picks from inside a Bridgestone Arena conference room again instead of the floor of an NHL arena - but the preparations leading into this year's version of the annual event come with plenty of caveats.

A busy offseason continues for the Preds as Ryan Ellis is traded to Philadelphia, Philippe Myers and Cody Glass are acquired and Calle Jarnkrok departs via the Expansion Draft. Plus, the 2021 NHL Draft and free agency are on the horizon. Voice of the Preds Pete Weber joins Brooks Bratten to break everything down, interview Myers and answer listener questions.

• Preds continue busy offseason with trades to acquire Cody Glass and Philippe Myers
• Interview with defenseman Philippe Myers
• Seattle Kraken select Calle Jarnkrok in Expansion Draft
• Preds prospect Luke Prokop announces he's gay
• Answering your Twitter questions

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The Nashville Predators pride themselves on always saying "yes" to anything that comes their way. By bringing in other organizations that hold themselves to high standards, they can give back to their communities in bold, expansive new ways.

On Thursday, the Predators hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of the Lee Company Dek Hockey Rink, located next to the Bellevue Family YMCA.

The 150-foot-by-70-foot concrete dek rink will be used for street hockey leagues and tournaments, expanding programming that is already in place at the Antioch and Bellevue Ford Ice Centers. In addition, it will also provide free learn-to-play opportunities and host various Bellevue Family YMCA activities.

Break out those planners - there's an 82-game slate once more.

The Predators have announced their 2021-22 regular-season schedule, and after the shortened 56-game campaign earlier this year, the NHL has planned to return to a full calendar with almost seven months of action to come.

Nashville is set to host 40 of those 82 games at Bridgestone Arena, plus one at Nissan Stadium - home of the Tennessee Titans - in the 2022 NHL Stadium Series™ contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 26.

As usual, there are plenty of items to highlight, including 12 Saturday home dates, 15 back-to-backs, and a number of former players set to return to the Music City for the first time since departing the organization.

All 82 games will ultimately offer two important points in the standings, but some outings stand out above the rest when it comes to the "must-see" category in the months ahead.

Nashville, Tenn. (July 22, 2021) - The Nashville Predators will begin their 24th NHL season presented by Fifth Third Bank with a four-game homestand starting Oct. 14 against the League's newest franchise, the Seattle Kraken.

Following a shortened 56-game regular season in 2020-21, in which Nashville only played teams from a realigned Central Division, the 2021-22 campaign will see the Predators return to an 82-game schedule, headlined by 40 contests at Bridgestone Arena and a 2022 NHL Stadium Series™ tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nissan Stadium on Feb. 26. Game start times will be announced at a later date.

The Predators will take part in Seattle's second-ever game as an NHL franchise and then shift to contests against Carolina, Los Angeles and the New York Rangers from Oct. 16-21 to close out the homestand. The first of 15 scheduled back-to-backs follows on Oct. 23-24 at Winnipeg and Minnesota, October's only two road games, with Nashville closing out the season's first month with home games vs. San Jose (Oct. 26) and the New York Islanders (Oct. 30).