The Predators have made their second trade this week, announcing the acquisition of forward prospect Ryder Rolston from the Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations.
Rolston, 23, was a fifth-round pick of the Avalanche in 2020, but was traded to Chicago the following year in exchange for Carl Söderberg. The son of longtime NHLer Brian Rolston stands at 6’1″ and 174 lbs and can play all three forward positions, although he’s a natural winger.
The Boston native signed his entry-level contract with Chicago in 2023 after three years at Notre Dame, where he totaled 18 goals and 35 assists for 53 points in 93 games. He spent all of last season on assignment to AHL Rockford, where he made a marginal impact in his first professional campaign with 10 goals, nine assists, 19 points, and a -5 rating in 62 appearances.
This season, it’s become quite clear that Rolston doesn’t have much of a future in the Blackhawks organization. He’s played in only six of Rockford’s 15 games and has one goal with a -3 rating.
He now moves to the Predators organization and will report to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee as he looks for more ice time. Rolston has historically been lauded as a good skater, and while that’s carried over to the pros, the Blackhawks evidently ran out of patience for the rest of his game to develop and wanted more space for higher-ceiling prospects in the organization to continue developing.
As is often the case with NHL trades involving minor-leaguers and future considerations, the swap will likely be completed by Milwaukee sending a player signed to an AHL contract to Rockford.
Rolston is in the second season of his three-year entry-level contract. He carries a cap hit of $895K in the NHL and will be a restricted free agent in 2026.
The love child of Brian Rolston and Canadiens/Bruins right-winger Michael Ryder.
A minor correction for the second paragraph: Ryder Rolston was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2020, not the Blackhawks.
Fixed, appreciate it!
Yes! This is the move that will propel the Preds forward! :/
The average transaction by a NHL team involves a fringe NHLer/AHLer. There are more of these players.
This is an average NHL transaction.
You missed the sarcasm in my post.
I didn’t miss it at all.
Yes, you missed it.
No, I didn’t miss his tired, obvious criticism of it not being a major move wrapped up in sarcasm.
Just pointing out that the average move is meaningless.
Have a wonderful day. :)
You missed it and are trying too hard to run cover.