Nashville Predators select Kalan Lind with No. 46 overall pick in 2023 NHL Draft

On Thursday, the Nashville Predators selected Kalan Lind from the WHL Red Deer Rebels with the No. 46 pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Lind is an aggressive forward lauded for his checking ability and disruptiveness in the offensive zone. Red Deer has become a force in the WHL over the past two seasons thanks in no small part to the physicality of the forward, who racked up at least 80 penalty minutes during both campaigns.

Lind scored 16 goals and 44 points in 43 games during an injury-hit season. His offensive impact was also a factor in 2021-2022 when he scored 20 goals despite beginning the season as a 16-year-old.

The best version of Lind is a pest who makes defensemen and goaltenders uncomfortable with constant pressure on the forecheck. While he runs a bit light, Lind can be a valuable puck-possession winger for Nashville when he fills out his 6-foot frame.

“Like energy? You’ll love Lind. He brings it every shift, getting in your face and making you pay on the scoresheet,” Daily Faceoff’s draft analyst Steven Ellis said. “Lind has the makings of a fan favorite for the way he gives it his all every game. He’s a future middle-six forward with the potential to step up in a pinch.

Though Lind does not have a blistering shot or elite playmaking skills, he brings offensive impact by constantly driving the net-front area and keeping offensive possessions alive for his teammates. That physicality will have helped Lind’s stock in a draft heavy on skill players but generally lacking in grit.

Lind will not be a franchise-changer in Nashville, but his game is always at a premium in the NHL. If he can occupy a bottom-six role or open up opportunities for more polished teammates, Lind will be a welcome addition at that level.