Inside Draft War Room, Preds Outline Plan for 89th Pick

Just as the meeting began to wind down, the debate became spirited.
Following Round One of the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas - an opening night that did not see the Predators make a selection - Nashville scouts, coaches and management voiced their thoughts on the best course of action to take on Saturday morning as the draft resumes.
The topic that brought about the conflicted opinions? The most efficient way to enter American Airlines Center after different portals were utilized among the group on Friday evening. No detail is too minuscule to get right in this setting.

Predators fans should actually take solace in the fact that this was the most passionate argument late on Friday night. It means the Nashville staff is more than ready for Rounds Two through Seven, a period that will see them make five selections in a span of about four hours, beginning with No 89.
That is, of course, if everything stays status quo.
Preds Assistant General Manager and Director of Scouting Jeff Kealty - seated next to Head Coach Peter Laviolette and three seats down from General Manager David Poile at the rectangular table - ran the session as the attendees discussed a myriad of different scenarios that could play out on the draft floor before it's all over.
What if another team calls with a trade offer? What if the Preds want to move up or down in the order? Is there a player they would be willing to sacrifice another pick to get?
"You're trying to guess who's going to take who and who could be there for your pick," Kealty said following the session. "You're checking your list and trying to find the players that you really want. Sometimes there are trades that allow you to do that… and that's when the preparation comes in, that's where knowing what you want to do with your picks and being ready to go is just huge."
Past drafts have seen those special players be available in the later rounds for the picking - Viktor Arvidsson, Mattias Ekholm and Pekka Rinne, just to name a few. Those players become an option, Kealty says, as the draft "spreads" and teams begin to take the players they simply carry that gut feeling alongside.

"It's that strategy that comes in and says, 'this is a guy that we really want and he can be there in the fourth round,' and when you can prepare that way, it really allows you to… target who you want," Kealty said. "We're hoping that it plays out that way, and we've had some success in some of those area. We've had our misses too, but you do the work, you prepare and our guys do a great job with all of that."
Everything was discussed in the meeting that went no longer than 15 minutes, just as one might expect a well-versed staff to operate when they've had over 360 days to prepare their study guides.
After Chief Amateur Scout Tom Nolan, North American Amateur Scout Ryan Rezmierski and European Scout Janne Kekalainen - among others - offered up their expertise, it was Kealty and Poile who essentially came to the conclusion that Nashville may just have to standby and wait for No. 89 to arrive.
Even though the third round doesn't carry the same appeal an early selection, the group knows they'll still add five exceptional hockey players to their pool. Perhaps even one or two who will become NHL regulars in due time.
So, as they refueled with their toasted ravioli, flatbread pizzas and drinks, ideas were considered and plans were reinforced for whatever may come their way in the heart of Texas.
And yes, everyone knows which entrance they'll be using on Saturday.