RD Ryan Ufko , Milwaukee Admirals, AHL(2021, 115th, NSH)

[PanniniClaus]

Pretty crazy still on page 1. Then again he also wasn’t a high pick either.

Some teams know how to draft defenseman. The Preds are certainly up there. He seemingly has a very good chance to make the NHL next year…he’s undersized but smart.

Carrier-Fabbro-Ufko is too small of a right side though long-term (I guess they have Schenn still though). Wonder if they let Carrier go or keep him and package Fabbro up?

Fabbro seems to have fallen out of favor.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Pretty crazy still on page 1. Then again he also wasn’t a high pick either.

Some teams know how to draft defenseman. The Preds are certainly up there. He seemingly has a very good chance to make the NHL next year…he’s undersized but smart.

Carrier-Fabbro-Ufko is too small of a right side though long-term (I guess they have Schenn still though). Wonder if they let Carrier go or keep him and package Fabbro up?

I don't think he has any chance to make the NHL next year, but he's certainly doing very well in his initial cameo in the AHL. The Admirals are regularly using 7D in their lineup, but he has been used over others like Livingstone, Prokop, and Matier who were all first year pros this season.

Given that the Predators likely see Statney and Del Gaizo graduate from the Milwaukee D corps, it's more likely that Ufko will get a full year of seasoning in the minors next season. Over the longer haul, who knows what the Preds right side will look like. They seem to like Carrier, although to me he's over-utilized and something of a weak link already. Fabbro is better than Carrier IMO, but the Preds don't see it that way and seem likely to move Fabbro. Most likely the Preds will attempt to address their right-side defense long term via free agency.