The WHL has been solid hunting ground for the Predators over the years with some notable draft picks having played for the team. There has been somewhat of a shift lately to more European targets at the draft but even in the most recent event the Preds took a couple of WHL players.
Nashville has build from within for the most part and have had a special knack for finding future NHL defencemen. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are two obvious examples but add Ryan Ellis, Jonathan Blum, Roman Josi and Kevin Klein to the mix and you have a pretty solid track record.
Magnus Hellberg, another gigantic European goalie, arrives in North America this year ready to make a name for himself. Chet Pickard is going the opposite route as he has decided to play in Sweden for the coming season.
Collegian Chase Balisy begins his junior season at Western Michigan where he has been a leading scorer for the Broncos in both of his years at the program.
Austin Watson is ready for pro hockey after a fine career in the OHL with Windsor, Peterborough and London.
The player that has my attention coming into the new year is not a guy that the Preds will look to for scoring but when they need a spark. He might be a few years away but if all goes as planned, he'll be a crowd favorite when he arrives in Nashville.
