Predators place former first-round pick Eeli Tolvanen on waivers

The Predators originally selected Tolvanen in the first round (No. 30 overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. The 5’10”, 191-pound winger made his NHL debut with the Predators in 2017–18 and emerged as a full-time player with the team in 2020–21.

Tolvanen scored 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 40 games with the Predators in 2020–21 but only managed one more point over 75 games with the team the following year. He’s in the second season of the three-year, $1.45 million AAV contract he signed with the Predators in 2021.

The Predators sit in fifth place in the NHL’s Central Division with a 12–11–2 record and 26 points through 25 games this season. They’ve lost back-to-back games, most recently falling by a 3–2 score at home against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon.

Through 135 career games over parts of five seasons with the Predators, Tolvanen has 25 goals and 51 points. He also has one goal in seven playoff contests with Nashville.

We’ll find out on Monday afternoon whether Tolvanen clears waivers. Based on the current standings, the teams with the first dibs at claiming Tolvanen (in order) are Anaheim, Chicago, San Jose, Columbus and Arizona.