Another preseason injury has hit the Nashville Predators, this one aimed at 2023 first-round pick Matthew Wood.
Wood has been ruled out “week to week” with a lower body injury, the team announced on Oct. 1. He did not participate in practice at Cenntenial Sportsplex and has not practiced since playing in the team’s intrasquad scrimmage Gold Star Showcase on Sept. 26.
Wood joins defenseman Nic Hague on the preseason injury list. Hague was ruled out 4-6 weeks with an upper body injury on Sept. 24. Hague was acquired in a trade with Vegas over the summer, after which he signed a five-year contract extension with Nashville.
One of the Predators‘ first-round picks in the 2023 draft, Wood signed his three-year, entry-level contract with Nashville on March 29.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound forward has an enticing mix of size and skill. During 109 NCAA games, he scored 44 goals and 57 assists for Connecticut and Minnesota. His shooting and playmaking talent in the middle of the ice earned him an NHL debut last year. In six games, Wood recorded one assist on eight shots and 11:135 minutes per game.
It’s a disappointing development for Wood, who had looked good in training camp up until his injury. With Wood out, the Predators will likely see if Joakim Kemell, Reid Schaefer or 2025 top pick Brady Martin can take his place in the lineup.
The Predators have one more preseason game on Oct. 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes (3 p.m. CT) before they open the regular season on Oct. 9 against the Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. CT).
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.