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 Nick Perbix.
24 Nashville Predators in 24 days series
As an NHL prospect
A rarity in the NHL Draft, Perbix was selected out of high school, picked 169th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
During his senior year at Elk River High School in Minnesota, he scored 40 points in 25 games and was a finalist for the Mr. Hockey statewide award. The following season, he'd join the Omaha Lancers in the USHL.
In his first junior year, Perbix scored 29 points in 56 games and had a plus/minus of 19. He also had two points in four playoff games that year.
He'd commit to St. Cloud State University for the 2018-19 season and play there until 2022. In four seasons, Perbix recorded 89 points in 135 games and just 71 penalty minutes. In his senior year, he'd earn All-NCHC First Team honors.
During his senior year, Perbix had the opportunity to play for the United States at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. He had one point in four games as the United States finished fifth.
Professional career
Perbix joined the Syracuse Crunch for the final 12 games of the 2021-22 season, where he scored eight points in 12 games and recorded one point in five playoff games.
He'd only play two games in Syracuse the next season, earning a call-up to Tampa for the majority of the season. Perbix played in 69 games, scoring 20 points for a plus/minus of 11 and logging 22 penalty minutes. He played in six playoff games, scoring three points.
In the 2023-24 season, he played a career high 77 NHL games, recording 24 points, 22 of them being assists, and just 10 penalty minutes. Last season, Perbix had 19 points in 74 games and 20 penalty minutes.
As a free agent this offseason, Perbix signed a 2 year, $5.5 million contract with the Predators.
What role will he play this season?
There was a lot of talk about how Nicolas Hague was the Predators' best signing in the offseason, but statistically, it was Perbix.
They didn't lock him down on a long contract, but he's a defenseman who's proven to be a little bit more offensively active and isn't in and out of the penalty box. Specifically, with the 22 assists during the 23-24 season, he can get players the puck.
On the back end, the Predators need more defensemen who can push the puck. Roman Josi and Brady Skjei have done that, but that effort needs to be spread up and down the lineup, or at least expanded in the first two pairings.
Perbix hasn't done a ton of scoring in his NHL career, but he has the potential to be an active defender if put in the right situation. He should be getting a run at working with Josi or Skjei and getting the chance to elevate his game.