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So far as rookies go, Magnus Chrona has fairly a little bit of expertise beneath his belt.
The 23-year-old goaltender, who was acquired by the Nashville Predators within the Aug. 23 commerce that despatched former first-round decide Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Sharks, is taking part in his first Predators rookie camp this week. He definitely stands out – not solely due to his hulking, 6-foot-6 body or his teal goalie masks – however due to the distinctive path that led him to Nashville.
Related: Nashville Predators: How Good is Each Returning Prospect in the Askarov Trade?
For starters, Chrona is the one participant at this 12 months’s rookie camp with NHL expertise. He made his NHL debut with San Jose on Nov. 4, 2023, and went on to play in eight extra video games for the Sharks final season. He appeared in a mixed 42 video games on the NHL, AHL and ECHL ranges for the Sharks group final season. The majority of his enjoying time got here with San Jose of the AHL, the place he went 6-17-6 with a 3.49 goals-against common and .894 save share in 31 video games for the Barracuda.
Initially chosen by the Tampa Bay Lightning within the fifth spherical (152nd general) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Chrona was traded to San Jose in 2021. Previous to turning professional, the Skellefteå, Sweden, native loved a four-year profession on the College of Denver, the place he received back-to-back NCHC regular-season titles and was named the league’s Goaltender of the Yr in 2022-23.
Suffice it to say, Chrona’s path to Nashville hasn’t been a direct one, however he has gained loads of perspective alongside the best way. As such, the magnitude of the chance to work intently with Predators goaltending director Mitch Korn, Vezina Trophy winner Pekka Rinne and esteemed goalie coaches Ben Vanderklok and Jason Baron will not be misplaced on him.
“The very first thing I seen about them was their love for the sport,” Chrona mentioned following Wednesday’s follow. “All the things is about hockey, and it’s at all times good to fulfill new folks. That is the way you see how massive the attitude is and the way massive the goalie world is. It is sort of exhausting from the surface, till you meet all these new people that each one have totally different views on the sport and the way it must be performed.”
Chrona is happy not solely to be taught from Nashville’s teaching workers, but in addition to develop and play alongside expert NHL prospects within the Predators’ system.
“That excites me at each single stage, whether or not it is the NCAA, AHL or NHL,” Chrona mentioned. “It is at all times thrilling enjoying with actually high-talent gamers and I feel it brings that additional glimpse into what the long run can maintain. If you’re on the school stage, you see which you could sort of evolve with [those players] to develop into knowledgeable hockey participant, after which whenever you truly get to the skilled stage, you possibly can develop collectively as a gaggle, but in addition as people.”
Chrona will proceed to see enjoying time all through the week as Predators host the Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers prospect squads in the course of the 2024 NHL Rookie Showcase at Ford Ice Middle Bellevue.
Related: L’Heureux, Molendyk & More Headline Predators’ 2024 Rookie Showcase Roster
The Predators prospects fell to Florida of their first recreation of the showcase on Friday, and they’ll face Tampa Bay Saturday at 5 p.m. CT and Carolina Monday at 1 p.m. CT.
Nashville’s roster for the match will be discovered here.
