Red Deer Rebels forward Kalan Lind is headed to music city.
On Thursday morning the Nashville Predators selected Lind in the second round 46th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
“It’s an amazing experience, being here and in the city and you get drafted to the hometown team. It’s country vibes, like Saskatchewan,” Lind said in a media scrum after his selection.
“I’m loving it already.”
The 18-year-old Shaunavon, Sask. product notched 43 points in 44 games during the 2022-23 regular season and added five points in 10 playoff games.
when you just got drafted and your phone is blowing up pic.twitter.com/lAeDauDdI0
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 29, 2023
Lind said he’s thrilled to join the Predators.
“I just know it’s a great organization and I kinda watched them growing up,” he said.
“I’ve been here a couple times, and watched a couple of playoff games against Anaheim the one year, so it’s pretty cool. They’re a great team, first-class organization. It’s going to be awesome… the crowds are amazing it was one of the loudest buildings I’ve ever been in. It’s going to be awesome to play in front of these fans one day.”
The Rebels forward hopes he can bring the same style of game he’s known for in Red Deer, to Nashville in the not-too-distant future.
“I’m a very hard-working, 200-foot player that’s going to be really physical and in guy’s faces. Little bit gritty and I’ve also got some offense upside as well,” he said.
Lind joined Saskatoon Blades forward Tanner Molendyk and University of Connecticut forward Matthew Wood, who were also drafted by the Predators in the first round.
All three were teammates on Team Canada who won gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer in Red Deer.
Kalan’s brother, Kole Lind who played for the Kelowna Rockets was drafted 33rd overall in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks.
