The Nashville Predators are investing in their blue line's future, securing defenseman Daniel Nieminen to a three-year, entry-level contract set to begin with the 2026-27 NHL season.

The 20-year-old Finn is coming off his second strong season with the Pelicans in Liiga, Finland's top professional league. In 47 games this past season, he tallied 5 goals and 12 assists, bringing his two-year Liiga totals to 9 goals and 19 assists in 86 games. He has also showcased his skills on the international stage, registering 9 assists in 20 games for Team Finland.

Standing at 6-foot and 187 pounds, Nieminen is described as an excellent skater who leverages his mobility to impact the game at both ends of the ice. This profile fits perfectly within the Predators' established system, which has a proven track record of developing mobile, two-way defenders like captain Roman Josi, Spencer Stastney, and Ryan Ufko.

Nieminen was a sixth-round selection (163rd overall) by Nashville in the 2025 NHL Draft. He now becomes the second player from the Predators' 2025 draft class to sign an entry-level deal, joining forward Brady Martin. This signing signals the organization's commitment to building defensive depth for the long haul, adding another promising piece to their pipeline.