There were zero trades made Wednesday during the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena.
Incoming Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz “tried like crazy” to snag a top-five pick but, like every other GM, came up short of finishing a deal.
Thursday was a different story.
Ten picks into the second round the Predators moved up in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings, giving them the 43rd pick in exchange for the 47th and 147th pick. It was the first trade of the draft.
The Predators used the pick on Felix Nilsson, an 18-year-old center/forward from Sweden. The 6-foot, 179-pounder had 19 goals and 22 assists in 36 games last season for the Roble BK junior team.
Three picks later the Predators picked winger Kalan Lind of Red Deer of the WHL.
The two will have an extended stay in Nashville, with the Predators’ development camp beginning this weekend.
“This is awesome,” Lind said to Nilsson moments after they were picked. “We don’t even have to fly to development camp.”
Nilsson said one of his hockey idols is fellow Swede and Predators forward Filip Forsberg, who shortly after the pick sent Nilsson a video message.
“He’s an amazing player,” Nilsson said. “He’s a big celebrity (in Sweden).”
When asked his initial reaction to being picked by the Predators, Lind hardly could mask his enthusiasm.
“It’s country vibes, like Saskatchewan,” he said. “I’m loving it already or sure.”
The Predators traded one of their third-round picks, No. 79 overall, to the Dallas Stars for a third-and sixth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Dallas chose center Brad Gardiner with the pick.
Trotz and Poile didn’t stop there. They traded one of their fourth-round picks, No. 115 overall, to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2024 fourth round pick, originally owned by Chicago. The Lightning took Jayson Shaugabay with the pick.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators open Day 2 of 2023 NHL Draft with flurry of trades
