Nashville, Tenn. (Aug. 27, 2026) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager Chris MacFarland announced today that Hayden Speak has been hired as Director of Research and Development. Speak will have a prominent role in the organization’s continued goal of expanding its analytics department; lead the development of research models that evaluate teams and players across all levels of hockey; and build tools that support the coaching staff with its game preparation, among other areas of responsibility.
“We are strongly familiar with the type of work Hayden produces, and it speaks for itself,” MacFarland said. “We are excited to add another person with significant NHL experience to our ever-expanding hockey analytics department.”
Speak joins the Predators after spending the previous seven seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, where he worked for then-Kings GM and current Nashville Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Rob Blake for six campaigns. He began his tenure with the Kings as an analyst before being promoted to senior analyst of amateur analytics and then manager of research and development ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Speak, who also spent time as lead hockey researcher for the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads from 2016-19, earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Central Florida, an MBA from UMass Lowell and a master’s degree in computer science from Georgia Tech.
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