The Nashville Predators have already started trimming the edges of their roster, and the first round of cuts says plenty about where this camp is headed. Nashville cut down to 32 players ahead of its final preseason game against the Carolina Hurricanes, sending eight players to the American Hockey League and setting up one last look before the opening night picture comes into focus.
Among the players reassigned were forwards David Edstrom, Joakim Kemell, Jake Luccini, Chase Bradley, and Ben Strinden. Defenseman Daniel Nieminen and goaltender Isak Posch were also cut, while forward Ozzy Wiesblatt was assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals after clearing waivers before the game.
There are still decisions left to make, but the roster is much easier to read now with the season opener against the Minnesota Wild set for Oct. 1. The final preseason meeting with Carolina should do the rest of the sorting.
Kemell is the name that jumps out first. Joakim Kemell needed a strong camp, and the clock is definitely ticking on the 2022 first-round pick.
He has only 18 NHL games under his belt, and his climb through the AHL has been slow. There were encouraging flashes in the first game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, when a shot rang off the post and another was turned aside by Andrei Vasilevskiy.
He was quieter offensively once Nashville’s regulars were added in the second game, though he still held up well on the defensive side.
Even so, this feels like a crucial stretch for Kemell. His game is built around his shot, which makes him the sort of player who may have to force his way into a top-six role or risk getting squeezed out. He’ll need some favorable injury luck to help his case.
David Edstrom’s path looks less encouraging right now. Nashville acquired him in the deal that sent goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Sharks, but the return hasn’t produced much so far.
The Predators did come away with Ryker Lee from the trade and the first-round pick they received from San Jose. Edstrom posted 22 points in 58 games during his first AHL season, but questions remain about whether he has enough to stick in the NHL on a consistent basis.
He’ll get more time in the AHL, and if his development doesn’t take a meaningful step, that may be where he settles.
Wiesblatt’s move was the one that raised an eyebrow. He had NHL experience and had worked his way into the conversation as a fan favorite, and he had been on the fringe of the roster even before the Predators moved Luke Evangelista.
But a hard hit knocked him out in the second preseason game, and after he cleared waivers he was sent down. There is still a practical reason for the move: once he clears, if Nashville recalls him later, he won’t need to clear waivers again on the way back down until he has either played 10 NHL games or spent 30 days on the NHL roster.
He’ll join his brother, Oasiz Wiesblatt, in Milwaukee.
With one preseason game left against Carolina on Sat., Sept. 26, 2026, the roster is close to being set. Some players have clearly pushed their way into the mix, while others still need more time in the AHL. Here’s the opening-night projection:
Filip Forsberg-Ryan O’Reilly-Matthew Wood
Alex Kerfoot-Mavrik Bourque-Jonathan Marchessault
Reid Schaefer-Jack Drury-Ross Colton
Defenseman:
Brady Skjei -Roman Josi
Nicholas Hague-Ryan Ufko
Adam Wilsby-Ilya Lyubushkin
Goalies:
Juuse Saros
Justus Annunen
Extras:
Vitali Pinchuk, Justin Barron, Nick Perbix
Just Missed:
Felix Nilsson, Cole O’Hara, Tanner Molendyk
Waived:
Adam Edstrom, Jack Achan, Hunter Skinner
In Other News...
Hurricanes Still Have One Big Roster Question Before Opening Night
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The bigger question still hanging over the group involves the blue line, where Alexander Nikishins situation has become one of the more interesting storylines around the team. Elliotte Friedman reported that the defenseman has been allowed to speak with other clubs, even though Carolina still controls his NHL rights for three more seasons, leaving the Hurricanes with an unresolved piece of business as camp winds down and the season nears. [Read more 🡒]
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Alexander Nikishins situation has become one of the more awkward September storylines for Carolina, with opening night approaching and the rookie defenseman still not settled into the lineup picture. The 23-year-old Russian blue liner arrived with plenty of upside and was supposed to be part of the teams long-term answer on the back end, but his status has only grown more complicated as the calendar has turned toward the start of the season.
Nikishin has now changed representation while his trade request remains unresolved, a sign that the pressure around his future is not easing any time soon. For the Hurricanes, that adds another layer of uncertainty to a roster that had hoped to get through camp with clarity on the blue line, and it leaves one of their most intriguing young pieces in a hold pattern as the regular season nears. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Preseason Finale Could Shape Carolinas Final Roster Decisions
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Eric Robinson, Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal are among the names worth tracking as Carolina makes those last evaluations, while the wider camp picture also includes Nashvilles latest cuts and the thinning field around the league. For the Hurricanes, the focus is less on the scoreboard than on how the roster pieces fit, and Charles Alexis Legault is one of the younger players who could leave a lasting impression with one more strong showing. [Read more 🡒]