Why defenseman Tanner Molendyk's age might delay his Nashville Predators debut

Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk wants to play in the NHL this season — and based on the skills he has showcased at this week's rookie camp, he has a chance to do so.

But his age and an agreement between the NHL and Canadian Hockey League (CHL) might prevent that from happening.

The CHL — which is three leagues combined into one, with the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) — and the NHL have an agreement that says drafted players cannot play in the minors (the American Hockey League) before they turn 20 or have completed four CHL seasons.

Drafted players can leave the CHL before they turn 20 to play in the NHL, but they cannot be assigned to the AHL until they turn 20.

Molendyk and fellow rookie defenseman Andrew Gibson, who Nashville acquired in a trade with Detroit in late June, are 19 years old and have not yet completed four seasons in the CHL.

That means both players, unless they make the Predators roster out of training camp, must head back to their junior hockey teams for this season — Molendyk to Saskatoon (WHL) and Gibson to Sault Ste. Marie (OHL).

This agreement, in principle, is a good one. It allows the CHL to continue to thrive as the sport's premier junior hockey league while also allowing top prospects to leave junior hockey for the NHL.

But 19-year-olds like Molendyk and Gibson can be caught in limbo.

Two paths for Nashville Predators prospects Tanner Molendyk, Andrew Gibson

Molendyk said Thursday that he sees benefits in both routes for his 2024-25 season.

"Both [options] would be cool," he said. "Either going back to junior, showcasing more of what I have. Of if I do get a chance to come play [in the NHL], that would be a dream come true. I've worked really hard for that."

Molendyk, who scored 10 goals and 46 assists in 50 games for the Blades last season, doesn't have much left to prove at the junior level. He was one of the WHL's best overall defensemen last year and wouldn't be able to improve on that status much this season.

The Predators might choose to take advantage of the agreement's "trial period" clause, which allows under-20 players to play in up to nine NHL games before choosing to send the player back to junior hockey or to begin their NHL entry-level contract.

This is what Nashville did with Samuel Girard in 2017. As a 19-year-old, he played in five games for the Predators, then was traded to Colorado in a deal to acquire Kyle Turris from Ottawa.

A nine-game trial for Molendyk or Gibson would give general manager Barry Trotz more time to weigh options.

Molendyk said he hasn't had discussions with the team regarding his plans for the season, while Gibson remains focused on rookie camp to prove he belongs in the NHL.

"My goal is to get a regular-season game in," Gibson said. "It's been a goal of mine to play in the NHL. People say it's tough to make it as a 19-year-old, but people do it. I'll be disappointed if that doesn't happen, but it will drive me to work even harder."

Because at least seven defensemen are ahead of Molendyk and Gibson heading into training camp — Roman Josi, Brady Skjei, Alex Carrier, Jeremy Lauzon, Luke Schenn, Dante Fabbro and Spencer Stastney — it seems likely we won't see either player in the NHL until 2025-26.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Defenseman Tanner Molendyk's age might delay his Predators debut