Two Top Prospects Make Latest Cut As Predators Trim Roster To 26

After the Nashville Predators’ fourth preseason game, they’ve cut down their roster to 26 players after kicking training camp off with 61.

Among those sticking around are 21-year-old Luke Evangelista and 22-year-old forward Philip Tomasino. Evangelista scored seven goals and 15 points in 24 NHL games last season while Tomasino logged five goals and 18 points in 31 NHL games. Both were key cogs in the Milwaukee Admirals postseason run, combining for six goals and 25 points as the Ads made it to the AHL Western Conference Final.

Several skaters are still vying for spots on the team including forwards Mark Jankowski, Tomasino, Kiefer Sherwood, Michael McCarron, Cole Smith and Evangelista plus defensemen Marc Del Gaizo and Jeremy Lauzon.

Forward Nolan Burke will remain with the team while he recovers from offseason surgery. Burke has been skating before each practice with assistant coaches trying to get back in game shape before reporting where the organization would like him to be. Odds are he’ll be sent to the Milwaukee Admirals once he is cleared for action.

Essentially, the Predators are down to 25 since Burke has yet to see any preseason action and has been a limited participant dating back to development camp in July.

Here’s a look at Nolan Burke skating before the main group. pic.twitter.com/ieCDzIbU9c

— Nick Kieser 🏒 (@KieserNick) September 29, 2023

Among the notable players sent to Milwaukee on Sunday are forwards Egor Afanasyev, Joakim Kemell, Zachary L’Heureux, Reid Schaefer, and Fedor Svechkov, defensemen Jake Livingstone and Spencer Stasteny, and goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.

Nashville now has 16 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders. The deadline to set opening-night rosters is Monday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. CT.

Until then, Nashville has a home-and-home preseason series against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday and Friday this week.

The Predators have the day off on Monday and will then report to Centennial Sportsplex for practice at 11 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Their final practice at the Bellevue Ford Ice Center was Sunday at 10 a.m.

Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick