Nash Daily: Predators Spending Wisely, Swayman’s New Deal

The Nashville Predators have a top-10-level farm system, which only got better after adding a pair of 2023 first-round picks in forward Matthew Wood and defenseman Tanner Molendyk.

In our Nashville Hockey Now post-draft prospect rankings, we ranked the Predators’ top 20 prospects and analyzed the top 10, which includes eight former first-round picks.

The #Preds have arguably the deepest farm system in franchise history. Four players in the top 10 have already made their NHL debut & three more could do so this year

Here are my 2023 Nashville Predators prospect rankings:https://t.co/2CTvoOJAgO

— Michael Gallagher (@MGsports_) August 1, 2023

After cutting bait with Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene’s hefty contracts before the start of free agency, the Predators jumped three spots in The Athletic’s contract efficiency rankings.

Nashville moved up from No. 19 last season with four contracts graded a D-level or worse — Johansen, Colton Sissons, Jeremy Lauzon and Mattias Ekholm — to No. 16 this year with just one D-level contract — Ryan McDonagh.

Cody Glass (two years, $5 million), Roman Josi (eight year, $72.472 million) and Tommy Novak (one year, $800,000) are the only 2023 contracts graded a B-plus or higher.

Around the NHL and National Hockey Now

Boston Hockey Now: Goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who posted a 24-6-4 record with a .920 save percentage and 2.27 goals-against average last season, was awarded a one-year, $3.47 million contract through arbitration

Jeremy Swayman, signed 1x$3.5M by BOS, is a young goalie coming off a very strong season even adjusting for the Bruins' team defence. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/yAXuePLLME

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) August 2, 2023

Detroit Hockey Now: After cutting ties with disappointing former sixth overall pick Filip Zadina, the Red Wings have a few other players who are feeling the pressure to score more in 2023

L.A. Hockey Now: Former Predator Kevin Fiala is one of three Kings players who benefit most from the team’s offseason moves, which includes trading for former No. 3 overall pick Pierre-Luc Dubois

Vegas Hockey Now: The Golden Knights proved that age is just a number, winning the Stanley Cup with a roster whose average age was close to 30

NHL.com: After passing over the Predators and several other teams during free agency, Vladimir Tarasenko explained why he joined the “hungry” Ottawa Senators.

Follow Michael Gallagher on Twitter @MGsports_