The Nashville Predators signed Frédéric Allard to a three-year entry level contract Friday afternoon. The 18-year old defenseman becomes the second member of the Predators’ 2016 Draft Class to sign his entry level contract following defenseman Samuel Girard who signed his deal on Wednesday. Both are due to join their respective teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the 2016-17 season.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (September 30, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the team has signed defenseman Frederic Allard to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Allard, 18 (12/27/97), has played the last three seasons with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL). In 2015-16, he played 64 games, amassing 59 points (14g-45a). He scored 11 power-play goals, two game-winning goals, and recorded 34 penalty minutes. Allard played 62 games for the Sagueneens in 2014-15, recording 30 points (2g-28a) and 24 penalty minutes. In 2013-14, Allard recorded 23 points (4g-19a) and 26 penalty minutes in 61 games.

Nashville’s fourth choice, 78th overall (third round), in the 2016 Entry Draft and a native of St. Sauveur, Quebec, Allard is currently attending 2016 Predators Training Camp. He skated 21:24 on Tuesday in the Preds’ second preseason game against the Florida Panthers, a 2-1 victory.

Unlike Girard, I wasn’t able to get an up close look at Allard this Summer at the Predators Rookie Development Camp as he was still nursing an injury at the time. The good news is that he was fit and factored into the Pre-Season activities for the Predators which should serve him nicely heading into his last junior playing season with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL).

Allard’s development in Chicoutimi saw a relatively incremental change from his rookie QMJHL season to his second but last season proved to be explosive. His best previous goal scoring production went from 4 goals (2013-14) to 14 goals and his best previous assists total went from 28 assists (2014-15) to 45 assists. The 2016 NHL Draft really was needed to replenish the Predators defensive depth and it appears that the scouts did an outstanding job finding quality early and often in this year’s class.

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