Is it October yet?
Unfortunately, no, but we're here to help pass the time. From Aug. 8 to Sept. 1, The Hockey News Nashville Predators will be counting down 24 players in 24 days, profiling every current or potentially rostered player.
Today's player profile is defenseman Nicolas Hague.
24 Nashville Predators in 24 days series
Adam Wilsby
Jordan Oesterle
Andreas Engulund
Cole Smith
Michael McCarron
Justin Barron
Zachary L’Heureux
Matthew Wood
Nick Blankenburg
Brady Martin
Michael Bunting
Justus Annunen
Nick Perbix
Luke Evangelista
As an NHL prospect
Hague was a double-threat in juniors. He was a big player that could be physical and score.
In his first two seasons with the Mississauga Steelheads, Hague played in 131 games, scoring 70 points and 191 penalty minutes.
During the 2015-16 season, Hague represented Canada at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship, scoring two points in seven games. The next season, he was selected to play on the OHL All-Stars team.
That year, he was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round, 34th overall. Hague would return to Mississauga for a third season, scoring 78 points in 68 games and logging 105 penalty minutes. He was also named team captain.
In that final season in juniors, Hague played for the OHL All-Stars for a second straight season.
Professional career
Hague joined the Chicago Wolves at the end of the 2017-18 season, scoring one point in five games and logging seven penalty minutes.
For the 2018-19 season, he played the entirety in Chicago, scoring 32 points in 75 games and 38 penalty minutes. He helped the Wolves to the Calder Cup Finals that season, scoring 11 points in 22 playoff games.
He got his first call-up during the 2019-20 season, playing 38 games and scoring 11 points in Vegas. That year in Chicago, Hague had 10 points in 21 games.
In the 2020-21 season, Hague earned a full-time spot on the Golden Knights roster, scoring a career-best 17 points in 52 games and logging 31 penalty minutes. He had two points in 10 playoff games that year.
From 2021 to 2025, Hague played 274 regular season games with the Golden Knights, scoring 55 points and logging 169 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, since 2021, he's played 34 games, scoring seven points, logging 46 penalty minutes and winning the Stanley Cup in 2023.
Hague primarily played on the Golden Knights' third pairing and hasn't really shied far from that role. The 2022-23 season is the most game Hague had played in a single season, participating in 81.
On June 30, Hague was traded to the Nashville Predators for Jeremy Lauzon and Colton Sissons. He signed a 4-year, $22 million contract.
What role will he play this season?
Hauge is expected to play a large role on the Predators defense this season.
Barry Trotz has stated multiple times that he wants Hague to be on the Predators' first pairing with Roman Josi. However, Hague has never been in a top-four role in his entire career. This is going to be new territory for him.
He does fit the Predators' physical expectations with a 6-feet-6-inch, 230-pound build, but Hague has not been a consistent scorer since playing in the AHL. In his NHL career, he hasn't cracked more than 17 points in a season.
Hague's role with Josi could be more supplementary, allowing Josi to skate the puck up a little more while Hague stays back. However, if the Predators want Hague to score more, that's looking like a big ask.
Signing Hague to a big contract, in terms of both price and length, is a little risky on Trotz's part. He really hasn't proven himself in this league and Nashville is expecting a lot.
Hague could be a good piece in this defense, but having him play a top four role doesn't seem very realistic.
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