Nashville Predators assign defenseman Tanner Molendyk to WHL's Saskatoon Blades

The Nashville Predators have assigned defenseman Tanner Molendyk to the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

The Blades released a statement on their website announcing the move on Monday.

Molendyk, 19, was the last remaining junior hockey player on the Predators ' training camp roster. The team was considering keeping him on the roster for this season, but have decided to send him back to junior hockey.

Due to an agreement between the NHL and CHL, the league that govern's Canada's junior hockey leagues, Molendyk is not eligible for Nashville's minor league club, the Milwaukee Admirals, because he's only 19 years old.

Now that he's been sent back to Saskatoon, Molendyk will play the entire season in the WHL. Once the Blades season ends, he could turn pro and be assigned to the Admirals or Predators, since he would then be 20 years old.

After losing their final home preseason game to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, coach Andrew Brunette said he thought Molendyk played well. But the consideration for Molendyk's future, allowing him one more year to develop in the WHL, must have been a higher priority for general manager Barry Trotz.

With Molendyk sent to the WHL, the Predators' roster is now at 23. They must submit their opening night roster to the league by Oct. 7 at 4 p.m. ET.

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at . Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter,