Predators sign Joey Willis to three-year, entry-level contract

The 19-year-old Willis has 21 goals and 23 assists for 44 points in 38 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Saginaw Spirit and Kingston Frontenacs this season. In 172 career OHL regular-season games, Willis has 50 goals and 88 assists for 138 points.

In 28 career OHL playoff games, Willis has eight goals and nine assists for 17 points. He helped the Spirit win the Memorial Cup last spring, defeating the London Knights in the championship game.

Willis was also a part of the 2025 U.S. World Junior Championship squad, recording two assists in two games.

Taken in the fourth round by the Predators in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Elmhurst, Ill., native was part of the Chicago Mission AAA youth hockey system before declaring for the OHL and joining the Spirit.

The Frontenacs are 35-16-5-3 with 78 points, tied for second in the Eastern Conference.

It’s been a difficult 2024-25 campaign for the Predators. Now 3-7-0 in their last 10, Nashville’s overall record is 21-32-7 with 49 points, second-last in the Central Division and the third-worst record in the NHL.

Offseason acquisitions Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos have been underwhelming, with Marchessault scoring 18 goals and 45 points this season, while Stamkos has 17 goals and 33 points, numbers that will likely be the lowest of his career over a full season.

Filip Forsberg leads the team in all offensive categories with 22 goals and 32 assists for 54 points, and captain Roman Josi has nine goals and 29 assists for 38 points.

Ryan O’Reilly, whose name has been mentioned in trade talks ahead of this Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline, has 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points. The 34-year-old has two more seasons left on his contract with an annual average value (AAV) of $4.5 million.