With their months’ long contract standoff finally resolved, Nashville Predators forward Luke Evangelista made his training camp debut on Oct. 6 at Centennial Sportsplex, nearly three weeks after camp began and just three days before the home opener on Oct. 9.
After his first practice in nearly five months, Evangelista explained his perspective, expressing relief that it was finally over.
“Obviously no one wanted it to go this long. Myself included, and I’m sure they would say the same,” he said. “But right now I’m just happy to be back. Happy to put it behind me and focus on the season.”
Evangelista and the Predators agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal on Oct. 4, keeping the 23-year-old in Nashville through the 2026-27 season.
The length of the delay in the negotiations was surprising to many. Now that it’s resolved, coach Andrew Brunette must figure out where to put Evangelista in the lineup.
In his first practice, he skated with Fedor Svechkov and Steven Stamkos, alternating shifts with rookie winger Joakim Kemell. Kemell had a good camp and impressed in the team’s final preseason game, a 3-2 overtime win on Oct. 4 over the Hurricanes.
How former Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis assisted Evangelista
Because Evangelista was not permitted to participate in training camp, he had to get creative. Not only did he go back home to skate with his junior team, the London Knights (OHL), he hooked up with former Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis during the initial stages of camp.
“He was running me through some one-on-one skates,” Evangelista said.
The news that Ellis, who has not been with the Predators since 2021, is back skating at all may be surprising, given his recent injury history.
Ellis played 562 games for the Predators in 11 seasons, with 76 goals and 199 assists, before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on July 17, 2021. After playing four games, he suffered a hip injury that more or less ended his career. He last played on Nov. 13, 2021.
Ellis signed an eight-year, $50 million contract on Aug. 14, 2018, which runs through the 2026-27 season. On Oct. 5, the Flyers traded Ellis’ contract to the San Jose Sharks in a move to clear salary cap.
For Evangelista, working with a former top NHL defenseman was crucial to getting back up to speed before camp.
“It’s tough to replicate that game speed and the battle drills when you’re on your own,” Evangelista said.
The Predators open the regular season against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Bridgestone Arena on Oct. 9 (7 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network).
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex atjdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.