Why this is another 'prove it' year for up-and-down Nashville Predators' Philip Tomasino
With all of the attention at Nashville Predators training camp focused on new additions Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei, some returning players might go unnoticed until they prove themselves noticeable.
That includes 23-year-old forward Philip Tomasino .
Tomasino — who signed a one-year contract with the Predators the day before camp opened — is back for the fourth year in a row. And yet again, he's eager to prove his value to the coaching staff.
"For me, every year is a 'prove it' year," he said Saturday. "Regardless of the contract situation. I'm not taking any game for granted."
A first-round draft pick in 2019, Tomasino still holds promise as a scoring winger in the NHL. But his development in Nashville has hit roadblocks — the coronavirus pandemic, two coaching changes and front office turnover have all been part of his erratic path.
After a hopeful 2021-22 rookie season, where he scored 11 goals and 21 assists in 76 games under then-coach John Hynes, Tomasino didn't make the team out of camp in 2022. He spent half of the season in AHL Milwaukee, then was called up late to fill an injury-depleted Predators roster.
Last year, in Andrew Brunette's first season as coach, Tomasino made the team out of camp, but couldn't hold on to a consistent role. He was sent down to Milwaukee in February, where he helped the Admirals in their Calder Cup playoffs run.
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After the season, Brunette spoke honestly about Tomasino's future , saying he needed to see significant improvement for Tomasino to have a future in Nashville.
So far, Tomasino has been doing and saying all the right things.
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"I feel like I've been pretty good out there," he said after Saturday's practice. "The pace has been really good. That goes for everyone, everyone's been competing hard."
Early in camp, he has been working with center Colton Sissons and winger Luke Evangelista. During intrasquad scrimmages, that line scored four times, including two goals by Tomasino.
"I love playing with those guys," Tomasino said. "They're both really smart players. [Sissons] is a really hard-working guy, wins a lot of puck battles. [Evangelista] is really creative and smart. We mesh really well, we have different parts to our game that complement each other."
As a restricted free agent, Tomasino was given a qualifying offer in July, which allowed the team to retain his rights. But as the weeks went by with no deal signed, there was some question about whether the team would keep him.
He eventually signed a one-year deal worth $825,000 at the NHL level. Because it's a one-way contract — which means he gets paid the same salary at the NHL and AHL level — Tomasino has a good chance of staying in Nashville this season.
More importantly, Brunette has seen progress from Tomasino.
"I just want to see the best version of him that I can," Brunette said Friday. "[Tomasino's line] worked well together. They look really good. Probably the third-best line out there, I would say."
A third-line role with Sissons and Evangelista could give Tomasino an opportunity to find consistent production this season. Evangelista's scoring touch and Sissons' center-ice stability would allow Tomasino to flex his playmaking muscles at even strength.
When his contract expires next summer, he once again will be a restricted free agent. Which likely means another "prove it" deal.
"I'm really grateful to be back here," Tomasino said. "I love playing here, this is where I want to be. Really lucky that I have the belief from management and coaching staff."
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