Struble Settling In, Ready to Make the Most of New Opportunity With Preds

Jayden Struble admittedly “found himself lost” on a couple of occasions in his Predators debut on Saturday night in Ottawa - but can anyone really blame him? 

After the Preds acquired the physical defender in a trade from Montreal on Friday night - just 24 hours ahead of his first game with his new team - there was only so much time for Struble to get acclimated before puck drop. 

Logistically, the Predators only being a 90-minute car ride down the road in the Canadian capital certainly helped a bit, and the chance to get a morning skate in with his new teammates ahead of that night’s game didn't hurt either. 

But if Struble felt a bit discombobulated at all against the Senators, he barely showed it. 

The 25-year-old blueliner dished out six hits (second on the team), blocked two shots and had two takeaways (tied for first) in just over 19 minutes of ice time - and was part of a defensive effort that saw the Preds hold the Sens without a shot on goal for a period of over 22 minutes of game play, while pacing the club in a number of analytical categories as well. 

And the early returns were glowing. 

“I loved his game,” Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette said of Struble’s debut following Monday’s practice in Nashville. “I really thought he controlled gaps with his feet, and in his battles, he won most of his battles where he's physical and on top of things. I thought he fit in really well with [Adam Wilsby on a pair]. It's a one-game viewing that we had, but I'm very impressed with him.”

“He was great,” Preds Captain Roman Josi said of Struble. "That's not easy to get the call the night before and come the next morning, play right away, play in a different system, new team, new teammates. There’s a lot going on, and I thought he did a great job.”

As Struble got his bearings about him on Monday morning at Centennial Ice Rink, he already felt a bit more settled to start his third full day on the Nashville roster. 

“It’s a weird situation, my first time getting traded, so it was definitely a hectic couple hours there, but it’s been great,” Struble said Monday. “First game I thought went pretty well adjusting to systems and stuff like that, but I’m just excited to get to know guys and try to build something here.”

Struble hit the ice in Nashville for the first time on Monday morning as the Preds got back to work following a three-game trip through eastern Canada. Not only did the team collect four out of a possible six points on the swing, they also returned home with a defenseman who can help them now and in the future. 

Originally selected 46th overall in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Canadiens, Struble has skated 56, 56 and 59 games, respectively, in each of the last three seasons with Montreal while racking up 360 hits during that span

As Predators President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Chris MacFarland looks to improve the blueline, Struble is certainly set to be part of the mix.

“Any time you can put yourself in a better opportunity, you just want to seize it and make the most out of it,” Struble said. “So, that's what I'm going to do. It’s kind of an everyday thing, getting settled in here, just make sure I'm present every day, and try to learn and just get better every day.”

Struble, who says he’s been to Nashville on a few occasions previously for concerts and the like, is now looking forward to finding a place to live and getting settled in the days and weeks to come. 

“There’s definitely worse places to go to,” Struble said Saturday of being traded to Nashville. “It definitely makes it a little bit easier coming here to such a great city.”

A multi-sport athlete who appeared in the 2014 Little League World Series as a 12-year-old first baseman, Struble eventually chose the hockey route, which has certainly worked out. 

And while being traded just days ago was a new experience for the Rhode Island native, he’s more than ready for a fresh challenge and a club offering a chance to further establish himself as a solid, reliable, everyday NHLer. 

“That'd be great,” Struble said of the chance to find a regular role. “That’s the goal, and it starts with myself and just being consistent, playing how I can play every game. Hopefully I get the chance to stay in, but it’s up to me to take the opportunity.”

If his first impression was worth anything, Struble will likely keep hearing his number - which is now No. 3 after sporting No. 38 in his Preds debut - called with regularity in Nashville. 

“He brought a lot of physicality, and I thought he defended really well,” Josi said of Struble. “He’s a great skater and made a lot of plays. It’s hard on a new team and new system, new teammates, and I thought he played a great game.”