State of the Franchise: Predators

GM Burkholder on the Rebuild, Roster, and the Road ahead

By Brooks Bratten – Nashville Predators Beat Writer

When Neil Burkholder was named General Manager of the Nashville Predators, he walked into an organization at a crossroads. The club had veteran leaders still capable of competing and not much in regards to a future. With a tight cap space, not much draft capital, and a farm system that was lacking, Burkholder made the call that many executives avoid: Nashville was entering a rebuild.

But to Burkholder, that word doesn’t mean tearing it all down for the sake of tearing it down. It means building smart, staying competitive, and creating a foundation for the next decade.

“We had to be honest about where we are,” Burkholder explained. “If you sit in the middle of the DCHL too long, you never move forward. We decided to strip this roster to the studs. We’re keeping key veterans, but we’re opening space for our young players to grow. That’s how you build something sustainable.”

Leadership and Identity

The Predators will be led on the ice by newly appointed captain Jacob Trouba, who steps into the role after being acquired in free agency. The 31-year-old defenseman’s physicality, voice in the room, and veteran presence made him the clear choice.

“Jacob embodies toughness, accountability, and the mentality we want as an organization,” Burkholder said. “He sets the standard.”

Veterans Reilly Smith and Brian Dumoulin will wear the A’s, providing balance to the leadership core. Both bring a calm professionalism that Burkholder believes will guide the younger players.

Identity-wise, the GM was blunt:

“We may not out-flash you, but we’ll out-compete you. Every shift, every night, we’ll make opponents earn every inch.”

The Current Roster

The 2025–26 Predators roster is a study in contrasts: veterans anchoring key roles while prospects push for ice time.

Up front, Robby Fabbri, Reilly Smith, and Lawson Crouse headline a hard-working top line. Mark Jankowski, Nino Niederreiter, and Oskar Sundqvist provide versatile depth, while newcomers Maxim Tsyplakov and Samu Tuomaala add offensive potential.

The bottom six is where the future begins to take shape. Eduard Šalé, Jan Myšák, and Samuel Helenius represent the younger wave — each expected to show they can handle the nightly grind of DCHL hockey.

On the back end, the defense is big, steady, and physical. Trouba and Marcus Pettersson form the anchor pairing. Dumoulin and Nick Jensen bring experience on the second pair, while Ilya Lyubushkin and Will Borgen make life miserable for opposing forwards on the third.

Between the pipes, 34-year-old Jake Allen provides a stabilizing veteran presence, while 22-year-old Dylan Garand will be given opportunities to prove he can be the next man up.

“Jake gives us reliability,” Burkholder said. “But it’s also about Dylan showing he can take on DCHL minutes. That balance is key.”

Behind the bench, Lane Lambert continues his run as the Predators coach, but this time he is tasked with guiding this transitional group.

The Farm System and Depth

If the DCHL roster represents the present, the Milwaukee-based farm system represents the future.

Forwards Dylan Duke, Felix Unger-Sørum, and Jakub Stancl highlight a forward corps that Burkholder believes can push for call-ups. On defense, Aleksi Heimosalmi, Artem Grushnikov, and Daniil Miromanov provide depth and versatility.

In net, Talyn Boyko and Vyacheslav Peksa are developing as longer-term projects.

“We’ve got options in every position,” Burkholder said. “That’s how you sustain success.”

Draft Capital: The War Chest

Perhaps the most striking piece of the Predators’ future is their draft arsenal. Nashville owns 16 picks in the top 100 selections in next year’s draft class — including four first-rounders and five second-rounders.

“That’s franchise-altering capital,” Burkholder emphasized. “We can draft elite talent, or we can leverage those picks in trades for proven players. Either way, it gives us control of our future.”

This draft stockpile complements an already deep prospect pool. Names like Victor Eklund, Konsta Helenius, and Cole Reschny headline the forward ranks, while defenders Logan Hensler, Adam Jiricek, and Theo Lindstien project as long-term top-four options.

Goaltending prospects Sergei Ivanov and Timofei Obvinstov round out a system that Burkholder describes as “one of the deepest I’ve ever seen.”

“You can never have too many defensemen, too many centers, too many goalies,” he said. “Some will make it here, some might become assets in trades. That’s how you create flexibility.”

Cap Space and Opportunity

Alongside prospects and picks, Nashville enters the season with $17.6 million in available cap space — a luxury few teams can match.

“That flexibility is a weapon,” Burkholder said. “We’re not going to spend just to spend. But if the right trade or free agent comes along, we’ll be ready. We’re also open to taking on contracts if it means adding picks or prospects. Every option is on the table.”

The Season Ahead

So what should fans expect in 2025–26?

Burkholder stressed that while playoffs remain a goal, success will be measured differently.

“We want to compete, no doubt about it,” he said. “But we’re not going to judge this year solely on wins and losses. The real measure is whether our young players take steps, and whether we continue to grow our culture.”

For Predators fans, that means a team that will work relentlessly, battle every night, and showcase flashes of the future along the way.

“This season is about building habits, competing with pride, and showing our fans what’s to come,” Burkholder added. “When this rebuild clicks — and it will — Nashville will have a team built to last.”

Looking Long-Term

The vision Burkholder outlined is clear: keep a strong veteran core, give young players opportunity, and use cap space and draft capital as leverage to build a contender.

“We’re building for the next decade, not just the next month,” he said. 

“Fans will see the payoff. It might take time, but when it happens, it’s going to be special.”

For a city that has embraced the underdog mentality before, the message resonates. The Predators aren’t just entering a rebuild — they’re reshaping their future, one draft pick, one prospect, and one season at a time.