Nashville Predators sign 2021 first-round selection Fedor Svechkov to entry-level contract
Predators’ GM David Poile made another big move on his way out the door in Nashville by inking 2021 first-round pick Fedor Svechkov to a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday.
The #Preds have signed forward Fedor Svechkov to a three-year, entry-level contract. @celerocommerce | #Preds https://t.co/7iEcfeGAGI
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) May 5, 2023The 20-year-old Svechkov was considered one of the best two-way forwards in his draft and has gained plenty of professional experience in the years since.
Svechkov scored 4 points in 27 KHL games during the 2022-2023 season but has played most of his hockey in the VHL, Russia’s second-highest tier.
Since debuting in the VHL as a teenager in 2020-2021, Svechkov has scored 15 goals and 53 points in 82 games, including 31 points in 30 games during the 2021-2022 season for SKA-Neva.
A whirlwind 2022-2023 season saw the Russian play in three separate leagues (the KHL, VHL, and junior MHL), and Svhechkov’s game could benefit from the consistency offered by an uninterrupted campaign with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals, where he is likely to suit up in 2023-2024.
Though Poile signed Svechkov, he will soon step down to be replaced by Barry Trotz. The duo was there when the Predators played their first NHL season as GM, a role Poile has held ever since, and coach of the newly-founded franchise, respectively.
In his swan song in Nashville, Poile has done everything possible to roll out the red carpet for his replacement.
At the trade deadline, Nashville jettisoned defenseman Mattias Ekholm and wingers Nino Niederrieter and Tanner Jeannot for a veritable draft class worth of high-leverage picks; Jeannot alone netted five selections.
Because the Predators still have franchise linchpins Roman Josi and Juuse Saros in place and missed the playoffs by just 3 points after their deadline sale, Trotz may use his draft war chest to trade for the players Nashville needs to make a deep postseason run.
Thanks to prospects like Svechkov and Reid Schaefer, acquired in the Ekholm trade, he can do so without jeopardizing the Predators’ future.