Nashville Predators forward Joakim Kemell (25) tries to shoot the puck past Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) on October 9, 2025 at Bridgestone Arena. JOHN RUSSELL/NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Joakim Kemell thought his first NHL goal might get waved off.

Shortly after receiving a centering pass from Filip Forsberg in a 3-2 loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 29, Kemell was pushed by Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak into goaltender Jonas Johansson, causing the puck to trickle into the net. The tally stood.

Kemell, known for his electric shot, found irony in the fact that his milestone moment was mostly luck.

“We talked around with friends about it, but I really don’t care,” he said. “It’s (my) first goal. It’s still a goal.”

The Predators are hopeful the unconventional goal is the start of a productive career for their 2022 first-round pick. It also served as his first NHL point in his 10th career game.

“For any young player, they get that goal and seem to breathe a little bit and get some mojo out of it and a little confidence,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. “You could tell in his game after that point, he played at a higher level than he was playing before.”

Kemell is trying to prove he belongs in the world’s premier hockey league as he grinds through bottom-six minutes during the Predators’ ongoing playoff push.

The 21-year-old right wing made Nashville’s opening-night roster last October, was reassigned to the minors after two games and didn’t return to the Predators until the team traded Michael Bunting to the Dallas Stars on March 5.

“Every time when I get on the ice, I have an opportunity to play well and show I (deserve) a spot on the roster every night,” Kemell said. “That’s what I’m going to do every day.”

Kemell’s hunger to be back in the NHL was evident the day he was recalled from the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals last month. He was told around 2 p.m. he was needed for Nashville’s game that night against the Boston Bruins and boarded the next flight out of Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport.

Kemell landed in Nashville at 6:30 p.m. and was rushed directly to Bridgestone Arena by Predators director of team services and player relations Brandon Walker, who navigated the eight-mile journey efficiently enough to give the rookie about five minutes to get ready for puck drop.

“Just a little stretching, then I got the pads on and went on the ice,” said Kemell, who logged 12:24 of ice time in a 6-3 win. “(After) a few shifts, you get warmed up.”

Kemell likely would have rejoined the Predators sooner if his year in Milwaukee had gone according to plan. The Finland native was slumping at the time of his promotion, registering just one assist across 12 AHL games from late January to early March and 29 points total in 46 games this season.

“There were times when I was there and things didn’t go my way,” he said. “It was a little bit hard getting (goals) and getting points. But I worked hard, went through it and feel good now.”

There’s no time to sweat the past anyway. The Predators are counting on rookies like Kemell, Matthew Wood and Reid Schaefer and second-year forwards Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov to be contributors.

“We need some of these kids to step up, make some big plays and score some big goals,” Brunette said. “I think (Kemell is) capable of it.”

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