Nashville Predators On SI

Nashville Expands Analytics Department With Front Office Hire

The Predators hired Hayden Speak as its Director of Research and Development.

Joe Gaither

Dec 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the Nashville Predators logo on the jersey of goaltender Justus Annunen (29) during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Dec 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the Nashville Predators logo on the jersey of goaltender Justus Annunen (29) during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations Chris MacFarland announced on Thursday that the organization has hired Hayden Speak as the new Director of Research and Development. Speak will focus on expanding the franchise's analytics department. He will create research models to evaluate the team and its competitors, and build tools to support the coaching staff with its game preparation.

“We are strongly familiar with the type of work Hayden produces, and it speaks for itself,” MacFarland said in a press release. “We are excited to add another person with significant NHL experience to our ever-expanding hockey analytics department.” 

Speak spent the last seven seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, working for current Predators Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Rob Blake for six. He began his NHL career as an analyst for the Kings before being promoted to senior analyst of amateur analytics, and then manager of research and development ahead of the 2025-26 season.

He earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from Central Florida, an MBA from UMass Lowell and a master's degree in computer science from Georgia Tech and spent time as a lead hockey researcher in the OHL for the Mississauga Steelheads from 2016-19.

Nashville Predators 2026-27 Schedule (All Times Central)

October 2026

  • Oct. 1 - vs. Minnesota Wild - 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 3 - vs. Dallas Stars - 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 6 - at Toronto Maple Leafs - 6 p.m.
  • Oct. 8 - at Montreal Canadians - 6 p.m.
  • Oct. 10 - at Ottawa Senators - 6 p.m.
  • Oct. 13 - vs. Vegas Golden Knights - 7:45 p.m.
  • Oct. 15 - vs. San Jose Sharks - 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 17 - vs. St. Louis Blues - 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 22 - at Boston Bruins - 6 p.m.
  • Oct. 24 - at Pittsburgh Penguins - 6 p.m.
  • Oct. 25 - vs. Colorado Avalanche - 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 27 - vs. New York Islanders - 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 29 - vs. Washington Capitals - 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 31 - vs. Tampa Bay Lightning - 1 p.m.

November 2026

  • Nov. 3 - vs. Carolina Hurricanes - 7 p.m.
  • Nov. 5 - at Colorado Avalanche - 8:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 7 - vs. St. Louis Blues - 12 p.m.
  • Nov. 10 - at Los Angeles Kings - 9 p.m.
  • Nov. 11 - at Anaheim Ducks - 9 p.m.
  • Nov. 13 - at Vegas Golden Knights - 9 p.m.
  • Nov. 15 - at San Jose Sharks - 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 17 - at Minnesota Wild - 7 p.m.
  • Nov. 21 - vs. Pittsburgh Penguins - 5 p.m.
  • Nov. 25 - at Dallas Stars - 7 p.m.
  • Nov. 27 - vs. Utah Mammoth - 12 p.m.
  • Nov. 28 - at Detroit Red Wings - 6 p.m.
  • Nov. 30 - vs. Ottawa Senators - 12 p.m.

December 2026

  • Dec. 3 - vs. Chicago Blackhawks - 7 p.m.
  • Dec. 5 - vs. Columbus Blue Jackets - 1 p.m.
  • Dec. 6 - at St. Louis Blues - 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 8 - at Calgary Flames - 7 p.m.
  • Dec 10 - at Vancouver Canucks - 8 p.m.
  • Dec. 12 - at Seattle Kraken - 9 p.m.
  • Dec. 15 - vs. Seattle Kraken - 7 p.m.
  • Dec. 18 - at New York Rangers - 6 p.m.
  • Dec. 20 - at New Jersey Devils - 6 p.m.
  • Dec 22 - vs. Winnipeg Jets - 7 p.m.
  • Dec 26 - vs. Detroit Red Wings - 6 p.m.
  • Dec 28 - at Florida Panthers - 6 p.m.
  • Dec 29 - at Tampa Bay Lightning - 6 p.m.

January 2027

  • Jan. 1 - vs. Florida Panthers - 1 p.m.
  • Jan. 2 - at Carolina Hurricanes - 6 p.m.
  • Jan. 5 - vs. Edmonton Oilers - 6:30 p.m.
  • Jan. 7 - at Winnipeg Jets - 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 9 - at Minnesota Wild - 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 10 - at Colorado Avalanche - 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 12 - vs. Philadelphia Flyers - 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 14 - vs. Montreal Canadiens - 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 16 - at Buffalo Sabres - 6 p.m.
  • Jan. 18 - at New York Islanders - 2 p.m.
  • Jan. 20 - vs. Vancouver Canucks - 1 p.m.
  • Jan. 21 - at Philadelphia Flyers - 6 p.m.
  • Jan. 23 - vs. Los Angeles Kings - 4 p.m.
  • Jan. 26 - vs. Vegas Golden Knights - 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 28 - at San Jose Sharks - 9 p.m.
  • Jan. 30 - at Anaheim Ducks - 9 p.m.
  • Jan. 31 - at Utah Mammoth - 7 p.m.

February 2027

  • Feb. 2 - at Utah Mammoth - 8 p.m.
  • Feb. 13 - vs. Anaheim Ducks - 12 p.m.
  • Feb. 16 - vs. New Jersey Devils - 7 p.m.
  • Feb. 18 - vs. Toronto Maple Leafs - 7 p.m.
  • Feb. 20 - at Columbus Blue Jackets - 4 p.m.
  • Feb. 21 - at Washington Capitals - 5 p.m.
  • Feb. 23 - vs. Winnipeg Jets - 7 p.m.
  • Feb. 25 - vs. Edmonton Oilers - 7 p.m.
  • Feb. 27 - vs. Los Angeles Kings - 7 p.m.

March 2027

  • March 2 - vs. Colorado Avalanche - 7 p.m.
  • March 4 - vs. Utah Mammoth - 7 p.m.
  • March 6 - vs. Minnesota Wild - 7 p.m.
  • March 9 - at St. Louis Blues - 7 p.m.
  • March 11 - at Edmonton Oilers - 7 p.m.
  • March 13 - at Winnipeg Jets - 2:30 p.m.
  • March 15 - at Calgary Flames - 8:30 p.m.
  • March 17 - at Vancouver Canucks - 9 p.m.
  • March 20 - vs. Boston Bruins - 4 p.m.
  • March 23 - vs. New York Rangers - 7 p.m.
  • March 26 - at Chicago Blackhawks - 7 p.m.
  • March 27 - at Dallas Stars - 7 p.m.
  • March 30 - vs. Buffalo Sabres - 7 p.m.

April 2027

  • April 1 - vs. Chicago Blackhawks - 7 p.m.
  • April 3 - vs. Calgary Flames - 2:30 p.m.
  • April 6 - vs. Seattle Kraken - 7 p.m.
  • April 8 - at Chicago Blackhawks - 7 p.m.
  • April 10 - vs. Dallas Stars - 6 p.m.

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Joe Gaither
JOE GAITHER

Joe Gaither covers the Nashville Predators for Nashville Predators On SI. He also oversees videos and podcasts for Alabama Crimson Tide On SI/BamaCentral. He began his sports media career in radio in 2019, working for three years in Tuscaloosa covering the University of Alabama and other local high school sports. In 2023 he joined BamaCentral to cover a variety of Crimson Tide sports and recruiting, in addition to hosting the “Joe Gaither Show” podcast. His work has also appeared on the Boston College, Miami, Missouri and Vanderbilt college On SI sites.

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