{"id":335026,"date":"2026-05-15T08:16:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T02:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=335026"},"modified":"2026-05-15T08:16:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T02:46:44","slug":"gm-candidates-for-the-predators-and-the-blackhawks-are-already-loaded-with-young-defensemen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/15\/gm-candidates-for-the-predators-and-the-blackhawks-are-already-loaded-with-young-defensemen\/","title":{"rendered":"GM Candidates for the Predators, and the Blackhawks Are Already Loaded With Young Defensemen"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Five likely GM candidates for the Nashville Predators<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean<\/a><\/strong>: After 4 months of their GM search, there continues to be no front-runner for the Nashville Predators search. Each internal and external are within the running, they usually hope to have someone named by the NHL draft at the tip of June.<\/p>\n

Five likely GM candidates for the Predators:<\/p>\n

Darren Yorke: assistant general manager, Carolina Hurricanes
Brett Peterson: assistant general manager, Florida Panthers
Bill Scott: assistant general manager, Edmonton Oilers
Evan Gold: assistant general manager, Boston Bruins
Ryan Martin: assistant general manager, Recent York Rangers<\/p>\n

Where Does the Bruce Cassidy Saga Stand?<\/a><\/p>\n

The Chicago Blackhawks may miss out on one in every of the three forwards at No. 4<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Scott Power of The Athletic<\/strong><\/a>: After the draft lottery, the Chicago Blackhawks dropped back to the No. 4 slot. There\u2019s a very good probability forwards are picked in the highest three, and that may leave a gaggle of defensemen as the following tier \u2013 Carson Carels, Chase Reid, Alberts Smits and Keaton Verhoeff.<\/p>\n

The Blackhawks have seven Dmen under 25 under contract \u2013 Artyom Levshunov<\/a>, Sam Rinzel<\/a>, Alex Vlasic<\/a>, Wyatt Kaiser<\/a>, Kevin Korchinski<\/a>, Louis Crevier<\/a> and Ethan Del Mastro<\/a>. So, choosing one other defenseman would create some future decisions. Levshunov and Rinzel are right-handed, so if picking a defenseman at No. 4, they might lean to the left-handed Carels.<\/p>\n

GM Kyle Davidson:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in search of one of the best players and who’s going to be one of the best, not immediately, but long run and who’s going to be one of the best fit,\u201d Davidson said. \u201cSo there\u2019s going to be competition if that\u2019s the direction we go and we were to draft one other defenseman, same thing if we draft one other centerman or winger. It\u2019s a contest.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wish to be one of the best team we might be. The way in which we do this is by creating competition. Again, if we\u2019ve got too many players we like, that\u2019s a very good problem to have and we\u2019ll solve that one. Because again, good players are something that\u2019s in high demand, so we are able to figure that out. We\u2019re just in search of one of the best players, then we\u2019ll find what the optimal mix is at the correct time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Davidson added that he\u2019s open to talking to groups about moving up or down within the draft.<\/p>\n

Could the Maple Leafs Trade Right down to No. 3, and Pleasing Auston Matthews<\/a><\/p>\n

The Chicago Blackhawks could add a possible top-six forward in the event that they sign and convey Roman Kantserov over from the KHL. Having the choice to draft either Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg would have only added to their top-six group, but that will not occur now at No. 4.<\/p>\n

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