Check out the 8 Predators selections from the 2024 NHL Draft

The Nashville Predators collected eight promising players from the junior hockey ranks this weekend at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas.

First-round pick Egor Surin topped the group after being selected 22nd overall. Surin spent most of last season playing in the Russian Junior Hockey League, where he recorded 52 points in 42 games.

“We’re really, really excited to have him,” Predators head amateur scout Tom Nolan said in a statement. “He’s just a combination of hard work, character and great skill set – his motor is always running. He’s a centre – we’re always looking for centres – and he plays hard, is really physical and brings a lot of skill set.”

Nashville came away from the draft with three centers, a pair of right wingers, a left winger, a defenseman and a goaltender. General manager Barry Trotz made two minor trades, sending the No. 59 pick to Philadelphia in exchange for the No. 77 and another third-round pick in 2025, then trading the No. 119 pick to the New York Rangers in exchange for No. 127 and a 2026 seventh-round pick.

Each of the Predators’ draft picks is expected to participate in next week’s development camp, which begins Monday with physicals, includes three days of on-ice workouts at Centennial Sportsplex and concludes Saturday, July 6, with the Future Stars game at Ford Ice Center Bellevue.

Here’s a quick overview of each choice:

Round 1, No. 22: Egor Surin, C, Loko Yaroslavl (Russia)

Trotz told reporters Friday night that he was “on the phone probably for five or six picks in a row” with the goal of moving up and selecting Surin. Fortunately for Nashville, the 17-year-old was ultimately relegated to No. 22. His all-out style of play led to a team-high 22 goals, 30 assists and 108 penalty minutes last season, but it also earned him a professional call-up to the Kontinental Hockey League for three games.

2nd round, No. 55: Teddy Stiga, C, NTDP (USHL)

Nashville may have pulled off a major coup by grabbing Stiga late in the second round. Several outlets — including Daily Faceoff, Elite Prospects and Sportsnet — considered him a potential first-rounder. The Boston College commit is a major offensive threat, as he showed with 128 points in 95 games in all competitions in 2023-24.

Round 3, No. 77: Viggo Gustafsson, D, HV71 (Sweden)

Gustafsson won’t turn 18 until September 11, making him one of the youngest players eligible for this year’s draft. He is already 1.88 m tall and weighs 89 kg. He therefore has plenty of time to develop and develop his skills on the blue line. Gustafsson had 25 points and a plus-21 rating in 46 games last season.

Third round, No. 87: Miguel Marques, RW, Lethbridge (WHL)

Marques spent parts of the last three seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Western Canada Hockey League, but he has taken his playmaking ability to the next level in 2023-24. He led the team with 74 points (28 goals, 46 assists) in 67 games, more than triple his point total from the previous year.

Third round, pick #94: Hiroki Gojsic, RW, Kelowna (WHL)

Moments after acquiring Marques, Nashville rejoined the WHL. Gojsic had 50 points (21 goals, 29 assists) in 68 games with the Kelowna Rockets after making the jump from the British Columbia Hockey League for the 2023-24 season.

4th round, 99th pick: Jakub Milota, G, Cape Breton (QMJHL)

If the Predators decide to trade Yaroslav Askarov, it will help them to have another goalie on their roster. Milota went 18-11 with a 2.82 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in the QMJHL last season. He was also the primary goaltender for the Czech Republic during the IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

Round 4, pick #127: Viktor Nörringer, LW, Frölunda (Sweden)

Nörringer, another 17-year-old Swede, is less than two weeks older than Gustafsson. The 1.90m, 88kg player presents himself as a power forward with a knack for scoring goals. He accumulated 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) in 48 games, splitting his time between Frölunda Hockey Club’s U18 and U20 teams.

7th round, 213th pick: Erik Påhlsson, C, Dubuque (USHL)

Nashville chose Påhlsson, who had 72 points (28 goals, 44 assists) in 57 games in the USHL last season. At 20 years old, he is the most experienced of the eight selections. The Sweden native is expected to join 2023 Predators first-round pick Matthew Wood at the University of Minnesota next season.

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