This past season was the biggest of defenseman Tanner Molendyk's career.
The Nashville Predators' 2023 1st round draft pick started his final season in juniors with the Saskatoon Blades, where he was on a point-per-game pace (21 points in 21 games).
He also competed in the IIHF World Junior Championships for the first time in his career, scoring two points in five games with Team Canada, which finished in fifth place.
Upon returning to the WHL, Molendyk found himself on the move, having been traded to the Medicine Hat Tigers.
He only benefited from the trade, scoring 26 points in 28 games and reaching the Memorial Cup Championship game.
En route to the Tigers' first Ed Chynoweth Cup championship and Memorial Cup appearance in 18 years, Molendyk scored 20 points in 18 games.
In the offseason, the big question remains: Is Molendyk ready to step into the Predators lineup?
One area where the Predators' defense is in need of improvement is scoring depth, which would help compensate for the shortcomings at center.
Roman Josi and Brady Skjei have already proven that they can get involved from the blue line, but there's a drop-off from there.
The Predators are expecting a lot of Nic Hague, who only had 12 points last season. Nick Perbix's numbers were a bit better at 19 points and had 24 the season before. Both Nick Blankenburg and Justin Barron had fewer than 17 points last season.
Considering Molendyk's continued success at the junior level and the need to expand scoring depth in the defense, it's absolutely worth trying him in the third pairing or possibly the second.
From his junior highlights, it is clear that he is a player with the confidence to take the puck below the blue line and has good control of it. While he'll need to adjust to the NHL pace, in juniors, he has shown himself to be a strong skater.
In possibly wanting to "remold" the Predators' defensive model, Molendyk would be a substantial addition or at least a good piece to put in place to start the season. Figuring out a defensive identity is critical for this team, and if Molendyk can help, why not have him up?
There are two potential downsides to this.
Shot variation is one of them. Nashville has six lefties and only three righties. Molendyk is also a lefty, meaning that the imbalance can get bigger.
This isn't a huge problem, as most NHL defensemen can play on both sides, but if the Predators wanted their defensemen to play on their strongest sides, Molendyk would fall down the pecking order.
The other thing is Molendyk's build. At 6 feet and 181 pounds, he'd be on the smaller end of the Predators' defensemen.
Considering Nashville wants Josi and Hague on the first pairing, who average nearly 6-foot-3-inches and 223 pounds between them, the Predators are looking for size and strength.
All of this really sums up to training camp being crucial for Molendyk, as it showcases his speed and skill against the rest of the roster.
Splitting time between Nashville and Milwaukee wouldn't be bad either, as it would help Molendyk become comfortable in the pros while also providing a bit more flexibility in the AHL.
