Towering ex-Rangers forward thriving after trade, sets career high in goals

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectSo, you thought Alexis Lafreniere was having a breakout season? Wait til you hear what his former New York Rangers teammate Adam Edstrom is doing in Nashville.Edstrom scored his sixth goal of the season on Tuesday night, helping the Predators upset the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 in Music City. Those six goals already represent a new career high in just 15 games for the towering 6-foot-7 forward. That puts Edstrom on a 34-goal pace this season.Adam Edstrom with his career high 6th goal of the season. What a find he’s been. pic.twitter.com/T41XhmIF2k— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) November 4, 2026Now, let’s not get carried away. His track record suggests that whopping 24.0 shooting percentage won’t last over a full season, not to mention that the oft-injured forward never played more than 51 games in an NHL season.But give credit where credit is do. The 26-year-old from Sweden certainly blossomed after the Rangers traded him to the Predators for a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Edstrom scored 10 goals in 97 games over three seasons with the Rangers, topping out with five goals and nine points in 2024-25.However, Edstrom quickly gained the trust of Predators coach Andrew Brunette, who put him on the third line with center Jack Drury and a rotating host of forwards on the other wing. He scored a pair of goals against the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth game of the season on Oct. 8, and currently has goals in consecutive games for Nashville, which is 6-4-5 after the stunning victory over Carolina.“The pucks are going in,” Edstrom said with a smirk Tuesday after being asked about his goal-scoring success so far with the Predators. “It’s been great playing with Ross [Colton] and Jack, they’re two great hockey players and I think we’re out there every game creating chances. It’s fun seeing the puck go in the net, so hopefully that continues.”Former Rangers forward Adam Edstrom appreciates Predators ‘put a lot of confidence in me’Edstrom is averaging a career-high 14:59 TOI, and his expected goal share 5v5 of 57.40 percent is best among Predators forwards, per Natural Stat Trick. In New York, Edstrom’s best xGF was 46.33 percent in 35 games last season.The Rangers had high hopes — literally and figuratively — for Edstrom and fellow giant Matt Rempe (6-foot-9) a year ago. The Twin Towers began the season on an energetic and hard-hitting fourth line with veteran center Sam Carrick. But before too long Rempe mangled his thumb in an October 2025 fight with Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks, Edstrom missed three months with a lower-body injury, and the Rangers traded Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres.Danny Wild-Imagn ImagesCredit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConnectSo much for that version of an identity line. Edstrom finished with five points (three goals, two assists) last season, and then the Rangers dealt him to the Predators ahead of the draft in June. Though healthy again, Rempe appeared in just his third game this season in New York’s 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday — and been a healthy scratch 13 times already.Edstrom is third on the Predators in goal scoring, two off Steven Stamkos’ team leading eight, and his seven points are fifth on the team. For comparison, he’d be tied for second on the Rangers with six goals — Oliver Bjorkstrand also has six — and three behind team leader Lafreniere, who has nine.And, no, there’s no real serious comparison between Lafreniere — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft — and Edstrom, selected No. 161 overall the year before. But if you were asked who’s start to 2026-27 is a bigger surprise, you’d likely choose Edstrom.“I think since Day 1, the coaches and everyone in the organization put a lot of confidence in me,” Edstrom said. “I think my playing time is bumped up quite a bit, and I’m getting a chance to show what I can do every night. So, I’m going to keep giving it my all.”Related HeadlinesRangers NCAA prospects report: Malcolm Spence helps Michigan bounce backRangers European prospects report: Chrenko to play international tournamentRangers Daily: 2 things can be true about Blueshirts captain; NHL Power RanksRead more at Forever Blueshirts