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 forward Zachary L’Heureux.
24 Nashville Predators in 24 days series
As an NHL prospect
L’Heureux billed himself as a physical forward that can score.
In his first season in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats, he scored 53 points in 55 games and logged 70 penalty minutes. That trend followed into his draft year, but with a different team.
With the Halifax Mooseheads, L’Heureux had 39 points in 33 games and 47 penalty minutes. That led to the Nashville Predators selecting him at 27th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft.
He'd return to Halifax for two more seasons, recording 98 points and penalty minutes in 99 games over those two seasons. During the 2022-23 post-season, L’Heureux scored 26 points in 20 games, helping the Mooseheads to the QMJHL Finals.
While in the QMJHL, L’Heureux began to build a long list of suspensions. He tallied nine suspensions over the course of four seasons, missing 36 games total. 10 of those games were for a fan altercation where he poked a fan with a stick.
Professional career
L’Heureux started his professional career with the Milwaukee Admirals in the 2023-24 and struggled to stay out of the penalty box.
While he had 48 points in 66 games, he had a whopping 197 penalty minutes, complemented by two suspensions for sucker punching and a fight. In the postseason, he had 15 points in 15 games, 62 penalty minutes.
During the 2024-25 season, L’Heureux played just four games with the Admirals, scoring five points, before he was promoted to the Predators roster. In his first season in Nashville, L’Heureux scored 15 points in 62 games and had 63 penalty minutes.
He was also handed a three game suspension for slew footing.
L’Heureux is in the final year of a 3-year, $2.59 million contract.
What role will he play this season?
L'Heureux absolutely, 100 percent needs to start playing cleaner. It's seemingly improved, but having at least one suspension in every league is an issue.
The jump down from 197 penalty minutes to 63 is a strong improvement, but it needs to continue. At the same time, L’Heureux's production declined. That is likely because of the transition from the NHL to the AHL, but this is going to be a big season.
If L'Heureux can prove that his game isn't reliant on being undisciplined, then that's going to be huge.
He earned his promotion to the Predators roster, showing that he can score and be physical, and the Predators likely don't want to remove that element from his game. L’Heureux has a ton of potential, but just needs to find a way to find a balance between being offensively successful and having a physical presence.
