Vitali Pinchuk's preseason debut for the Nashville Predators on Sept. 24 was a wild affair.
Pinchuk scored a goal and assist to help the Predators build a four-goal lead over the Carolina Hurricanes at First Horizon Coliseum, but the Hurricanes scored the next five to win 6-5, capped by Felix Unger Sorum's goal with three seconds left.
It was a disappointing result for the Predators, who are now 1-2 in the preseason, but it was a fine debut for Pinchuk. The 24-year-old Pinchuk, who signed with the Predators last spring, suffered an upper body injury on Sept. 17, missing nearly a full week of training camp.
Pinchuk wasted little time making an impact. Less than two minutes in, he collected a pass in front of the Carolina net, then tucked a goal
behind Pyotr Kochetkov to make it 1-0. His first shot, his first shift, and his first goal.
Later, Pinchuk assisted on a goal by Jonathan Marchessault, chipping the puck out of the defensive zone and setting up a breakaway to make it 3-0.
Pinchuk is one of several forwards competing for Nashville's final roster spots, along with Brady Martin, Reid Schaefer, Adam Edstrom, Cole O'Hara, and Felix Nilsson. Edstrom and O'Hara also scored goals against the Hurricanes.
The Predators have one final preseason game on Sept. 26 (2 p.m. CT) against the Hurricanes. Nashville must submit its 23-player opening night roster by Sept. 29, two days before their home opener against the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 1.
Who is Vitali Pinchuk? What to know about ex-KHL forward
Pinchuk, a 6-foot-3, 203-pound left-handed center, was one of the top KHL free agents. In six seasons with Dynamo Minsk (2020-26), the Belarussian totaled 74 goals and 73 assists in 254 games, but most of that production came in his last two seasons. In 2025-26, he scored 31 goals and 35 assists in 61 games, scoring over a point per game.
That performance attracted interest from several NHL teams, including the Predators and Los Angeles Kings. The Predators won the race, signing him to a one-year, entry-level contract worth $1 million on April 27.
Pinchuk's main skills are on offense. He has the size to hold off defenders, a strong wrist shot, and excellent vision down low in the zone. His defense may need work, and he's not the fastest player in transition, but the Predators clearly see him as an offense-first player.
That injury that kept Pinchuk off the ice muddied the picture for how the Predators plan to use him. Against Carolina, Pinchuk played with Martin and Alex Kerfoot as a bottom six center, which is likely where he'll start if he makes the roster.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com, follow him on X at @alexdaugherty1 or check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vitali Pinchuk impresses in wild Nashville Predators' preseason debut vs Hurricanes
