Nashville Predators
Why Second-Rounder Teddy Stiga Views Predators As ‘The Right Spot’

Teddy Stiga couldn’t avoid the NHL Draft projections. He just didn’t put much stock in them.
Some outlets – like Daily Faceoff (No. 17) and Elite Prospects (No. 24) – graded Stiga as a likely first-round pick. Other analysts – like TSN’s Bob McKenzie (No. 43) – ranked him a bit lower.
So when the 18-year-old forward had to wait until the second round and pick No. 55 to hear his name called by the Nashville Predators on June 29 in Las Vegas, he wasn’t disappointed.
“You never know where you’re going to go,” Stiga told Nashville Hockey Now at Predators development camp earlier this month. “Personally, I saw myself all over the board. I didn’t really go into it with any expectations. I was just hoping to hear my name eventually.
“Obviously, you could say it went longer than some people thought, but for me, I think it was the right spot. It doesn’t really matter where you go. Now it’s time to put in the work.”
Stiga could turn out to be a draft-day steal if he eventually becomes an impact player in Nashville.
The 5-foot-10, 178-pounder blossomed into a bona fide scoring threat with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) last season, registering 60 goals and 68 assists in 95 games across all competitions.
Former Predators forward and current NHL Network analyst Scott Hartnell described Stiga as “a great fit” for the organization shortly after the pick was announced.
“Teddy Stiga will provide hard-nosed play, a little bit of offense – maybe secondary offense at the NHL level – but (he’s) relentless,” Hartnell said on the TV broadcast. “He’s always all over it. He’s around (the puck) every shift.”
Predators pro development coach Mark Borowiecki came away with a similar impression after watching Stiga skate with Nashville’s other top prospects the first week of July.
“His motor and his compete (are) excellent, and he’s got the skill to go with it,” Borowiecki said. “He made some fantastic plays out there. It’s a very small sample size in the middle of the summer, but I’m definitely excited to watch him grow.”
Stiga wrapped his first trip to Nashville by suiting up for Team Blue in the Future Stars Game, which he started on a line with Predators first-rounders Egor Surin and Matthew Wood. For Stiga, development camp was all about the experience.
“It’s my first time wearing a visor, so that was pretty cool,” he said. “It’s just fun to have the NHL logo on the back of your pants and kind of live out the first steps of my dream.”
Stiga will play for Boston College this season. The Boston native was set on returning home – choosing the Eagles over Boston University and Harvard – after spending the last two years in Michigan with the USNTDP.
He envisions the length of his college hockey career as flexible.
“I think definitely two years to just grow my game and get used to playing against bigger, older guys,” he said. “From there, whether it’s two years and I’m ready or if it’s three or four or whatever that may be, I don’t want to rush anything. I want to come (to Nashville) when I’m ready and be able to make a difference.”
Stiga was listed as a center during the draft but played left wing in the Future Stars Game. His smaller frame could limit his ability to play down the middle in the NHL, which may explain why teams shied away from making him a first-round pick.
The self-proclaimed “undersized guy” is doing something about that, though.
“I think the biggest thing for me right now is just getting stronger, especially from the waist down,” Stiga said. “I think it will help me with my skating and become a lot more explosive, being able to protect pucks and whatnot. Obviously in the NHL, you’re going against men every night. I think I need to put on a lot more mass.”
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