Predators' Cole O'Hara: Picks up assist in NHL debut
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O'Hara posted an assist and two hits in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Ducks.
O'Hara saw 11:23 of ice time in his NHL debut, and he helped out on a Steven Stamkos tally in the first period. This was the season finale for the Predators, so expect O'Hara to be back with AHL Milwaukee for the tail end of that team's regular season as well as a playoff run. The 23-year-old should be in competition for NHL minutes in 2026-27.
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Predators' Ryan Ufko: Second straight two-assist game
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Ufko bagged two apples in Thursday's 5-4 loss to Anaheim.
Ufko finished the season with back-to-back two-assist games. He impressed in 18 NHL games this season. He scored two goals and added nine assists in that span. Ufko also delivered 11 goals and 33 assists in 50 games with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals this season. He's a name worth remembering for next season.
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Predators' Luke Evangelista: Ends season on three-game streak
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Evangelista had two assists in a 5-4 loss to the Ducks on Thursday.
Evangelista finished the season on a three-game, five-point scoring streak (two goals, three assists). He put up 56 points, including 44 helpers, in 81 games, and he established career marks in assists, points (56), power-play points (17) and shots (176). Evangelista finished the season on the top power-play unit, a role that he could reprise to start next season.
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Predators' Filip Forsberg: Hits 40 goals for third time
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Forsberg scored twice Thursday in a 5-4 loss to the Ducks.
Forsberg fired six shots Thursday, and one of the goals came on the power play. He finished with 40 goals, 35 assists, 26 power-play points (11 PPG), 124 hits and 246 shots. This was the third time in the last five seasons that Forsberg hit the 40-goal plateau.
Predators' Steven Stamkos: Big three-point game in finale
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Stamkos scored twice and added an assist in Thursday's 5-4 loss to Anaheim.
Stammer finished the season with 42 goals and 24 assists. He was especially effective on Thursday nights, with 14 of his snipes coming on that day of the week. Stamkos' 42 goals were his best total since 2021-22 in Tampa Bay. That's when he finished with his one and only triple-digit point total (106). At 36, Stamkos will eventually go through an age-related decline, but so far, his sniping hasn't failed him. The Preds failed to reach the postseason, so Stammer will get plenty of rest this summer to be ready for 2026-27.
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Predators' Juuse Saros: Can't invoke miracle in finale
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Saros made 35 saves in a 5-4 loss to Anaheim on Thursday.
Yes, Saros has had the worst stats of his career this year, but there are only so many miracles that a strong goalie can invoke in front of a team defense as abysmal as the Preds showed this season. He finished 28-21-8 with a 3.13 GAA and .894 save percentage. But those aren't that bad in an era when ".900 is the new .915 or .920", according to fellow netminder, Darcy Kuemper. Saros will get the rest he needs over the summer. Here's hoping the Preds get what they need to tighten things up in front of him for 2026-27.
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Predators' Jonathan Marchessault: Not playing Thursday
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Marchessault (undisclosed) won't play Thursday versus the Ducks, Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean reports.
Marchessault will miss the last game of the season. He ends the campaign with just 31 points and 132 shots on net over 62 appearances. It's his fewest games played in a full-length season since 2015-16, so it's possible he's been playing through something. He also missed 14 contests earlier in the campaign due to a lower-body issue.
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Predators' Nicolas Hague: Won't play in season finale
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Hague (upper body) is expected to miss Thursday's season finale against Anaheim, per Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean.
Hague will finish 2025-26 with three goals, 15 points, 47 PIM, 76 hits and 54 blocks in 62 appearances. Nashville didn't make the playoffs, but Hague is signed through 2028-29, so he's set to be back with the Predators next season unless he's traded.
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Predators' Roman Josi: Absent from lineup for finale
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Josi (undisclosed) won't play Thursday versus the Ducks, Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean reports.
Josi will miss the Predators' regular-season finale and finish the campaign with 55 points in 68 appearances. The 35-year-old defenseman recently battled an upper-body injury that cost him one game. Despite missing this contest, Josi's status for the IIHF World Championship, which is in his native Switzerland, has yet to be determined.
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Predators' Juuse Saros: Protecting home goal Thursday
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Saros will guard the home goal versus the Ducks on Thursday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.
Saros will get the nod in the season finale after taking a seat for the Predators' last two contests. He has had the worst year of his career with a 3.13 GAA and an .894 save percentage over 59 appearances. Saros will face a Ducks team that is still hungry to secure better positioning in the postseason, so this won't be an easy matchup.
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Predators' Cole O'Hara: Called up for season finale
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O'Hara was recalled from AHL Milwaukee on Thursday.
O'Hara will get a look in the Predators' regular-season finale, and this will be his NHL debut. The 23-year-old has done well in his first AHL campaign with 19 goals and 44 points across 65 appearances. It's not yet clear who he'll be replacing in the lineup Thursday versus the Ducks.
Nieminen signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Nashville on Tuesday.
Nieminen had five goals and 17 points in 47 regular-season games for the Lahti Pelicans of Finland's Liiga in 2025-26. His entry-level deal with the Predators begins in 2026-27. Nashville selected the 20-year-old blueliner with the 163rd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
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Predators' Roman Josi: Logs helper in loss
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Josi notched an assist and two shots on goal in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Sharks.
Josi missed Thursday's game versus the Mammoth due to an upper-body injury, but he's been back for the last two contests. He has a goal and six assists over his last six outings. Despite his strong play down the stretch, the Predators fell short of a playoff spot. Josi has 13 goals, 55 points, 181 shots on net and 101 blocked shots over 68 contests this season. It's possible the defenseman will be invited to the IIHF World Championship, which is being hosted by his native Switzerland in May.
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Predators' Ryan Ufko: Bags two helpers Monday
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Ufko distributed two assists and recorded two shots on net in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Sharks.
Ufko played a hand in both of Luke Evangelista's goals late in the third period, including the primary helper on his goal with just over a minute remaining. The pair of apples raised Ufko up to seven assists, nine points, 11 shots on net, 10 hits and 12 blocked shots across 17 games this season. The 22-year-old blueliner has continued to impress in his late-season trial with the Predators and has three assists over his last four games. He has a strong chance to make Nashville's roster at the start of the 2026-27 campaign, giving him upside in dynasty-based fantasy leagues.
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Predators' Luke Evangelista: Finds twine twice in loss
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Evangelista netted two goals on three shots in Monday's 3-2 loss to San Jose.
Evangelista dialed in down the stretch to keep the Predators in contention for Monday's win with two goals in the final five minutes of regulation. With the pair of twine finders, he now has 12 goals, 54 points, 173 shots on net and 21 blocked shots across 80 games this season. The 24-year-old winger has taken a big step forward this season, securing career highs in most major stat categories. He holds increasingly strong value in dynasty-based fantasy leagues and should continue to operate at the heart of Nashville's offense for seasons to come.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Yields two goals in loss
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Annunen stopped 20 of 22 shots on goal in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Sharks. San Jose's third goal was scored on an empty net.
Annunen continued his strong stretch of play in Monday's clash despite the loss, as he kept the Predators within one goal for the majority of the contest. Overall, the 26-year-old netminder has a 10-12-2 record, a 2.68 GAA and a .906 save percentage across 28 appearances this season. Over his past seven appearances, he's been elite with a 1.59 GAA and a .948 save percentage. With the Predators officially out of playoff contention, Annunen has a strong chance to appear in the team's season finale against the Ducks on Thursday.
Hague (upper body) is unavailable for Monday's home matchup versus San Jose, per Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.
Hague's last chance to return to the lineup in the regular season will be Thursday versus the Ducks. The left-shot blueliner's injury is seemingly not a minor one, as Monday's matchup has major playoff implications.
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