Former Trail Smoke Eaters captain Jake Lucchini has signed a two-year contract with the NHL’s Nashville Predators.
Lucchini signed a two-year, two-way deal with the Predators after skating in a career high 40 games with the Minnesota Wild last season.
The 29-year-old forward scored two goals and five points with the Wild in 2023-24. He also played in 30 games for the Minnesota affiliate in the AHL, Iowa Wild, notching 11 goals and 23 points and finishing fourth on his team in power-play goals with four.
The Predators were one of the busiest NHL teams during Day 1 of the free agency period, July 1.
Nashville GM Barry Trots also signed top veteran NHLers Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Skjei, and Scott Wedgewood.
“Today was a very good day for our team and the organization, but also for the players,” Trotz said. “I mean, when you start getting texts from your players saying, ‘I’m excited,’ I think that really says a lot.
“It’s a statement for the rest of the NHL that these players will come to Nashville. These players see what we’re doing with our franchise. We have lots to offer and we’re very determined to win.”
The team made a few other depth signings in Vinnie Hinostroza, Nick Blakenburg, and goalie Matt Murray, who along with Lucchini, may start the season with the AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals.
“Lucchini brings a veteran presence, and is a player that is able to step into a role on the NHL team if injuries or other trades occur,” read an Admirals release.
“He is very solid on the power play and is able to make quick plays in transition, which will be very helpful for an Admirals team that struggled on the power-play this past season.”
Undrafted, the 6-foot, 181-pound Lucchini has played in 267 career AHL games with Iowa, Belleville, Laval and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, tallying 70 goals and 160 points over parts of seven seasons.
After making his junior hockey debut with the Nitehawks in 2010-11, Lucchini played in the KIJHL for part of the 2011-12 season then made the jump to the BCHL with his hometown Trail Smoke Eaters.
Lucchini played three seasons for the Smoke Eaters, and served as captain in his final year scoring 35 goals and 82 points, before heading to Michigan Tech.
