The Predators season ended a month ago without a sniff of the playoffs, but a number of Nashville’s younger players are seeing postseason time with Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.

None has made a better impression so far than forward Fedor Svechkov, Nashville’s first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Svechkov made his NHL debut with the Preds during the 2024-25 season, eventually playing 52 games and — in a more significant role than initially anticipated — totaling eight goals and nine assists.

The 22-year-old Russian made a huge impact in Milwaukee’s decisive Game 5 overtime victory against Rockford last weekend.

Svechkov’s first goal of the contest came in the second period, tying the score 2-2.

“If he doesn’t score that goal, I don’t know if we come back in the game,” Milwaukee coach Karl Taylor told reporters.

“Because we were taking on water there. We didn’t like our game. So that was a big moment for us to start believing again and get back to level. Then we felt we were going to have a chance to fight our way back into the game.”

Only 1:38 into overtime, Svechkov produced his second goal of the game, giving the Admirals a 4-3 win and ending the best-of-five series with three straight Milwaukee victories.

This is the second straight season Svechkov has competed in the AHL playoffs, as he totaled 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 15 contests last season.

Through six playoff games this year, Svechkov has recorded five points (three goals, two assists), the second-best total on the team behind Kieffer Bellows (three goals, three assists).

“He’s just more mature in his game,” Taylor said of Svechkov. “He’s more of a leader right now for us.

“There’s growth in his [face-off success], growth in how he carries himself and there’s growth in the expectation [placed on him]. He’s on our number one line, and we expect him to produce and score.”

That production will come against top opposition every night, which should only help Svechkov’s development.

“The other team knows [he’s the top Milwaukee center],” Taylor said. “He’s going to get the best defensive pairing and the best defensive line. He’s got to stare it down and deal with it.”

The Admirals lost Game 1 of their best-of-five series against the Texas Stars, falling 4-2 on Thursday. Game 2 is Sunday before the series moves to Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Svechkov and Bellows aren’t the only two Milwaukee players who saw time with Nashville this season.

Some others include defenseman Marc Del Gaizo (one goal, four assists in six AHL playoff games); forward Ozzy Wiesblatt (one goal, four assists in six games); forward Joakim Kemell (one goal, three assists in six games); and defenseman Spencer Stastney (one goal, one assist in six games).

Taylor had some interesting comments on Stastney, who split time between the AHL and NHL this season. He missed training camp and the first two months of the season for personal reasons.

“He’s doing good,” Taylor said. “He’s still an elite skater. We’re still trying to get him to [take more chances and] make more mistakes because of his skill and speed. He’s a safe player for us and we appreciate that. But we also want to see him create.”